Update: The U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Space Operations Center has indicated that Astro-H has broken up. Update: Analysis shows ASTRO H breakup occurred 26Mar @ 0142z+/- 11mins. JSpOC confirmed breakup @ 0820z. @JAXA_en @SpaceTrackOrg — JSpOC (@JointSpaceOps) March 28, 2016 Original story: The Japanese Space Agency, JAXA has lost communications with the Astro-H X-ray astronomy […]
The German and Japanese Space agencies have announced a strategic partnership agreement which seeks to leverage both nations’ technological expertise to strengthen commercial and scientific space efforts. Among the items specifically cited in the press release is research into reusable launchers. DLR and JAXA strengthen cooperation JAXA Press Release: Today (25 February 2016), the German […]
Overnight Japan lofted the ASTRO-H X-Ray Observatory into Low Earth Orbit. As is the custom, the spacecraft was given an additional name, “Hitomi” to go along with the formal designation. Hitomi literally means the pupil of the eye, or aperture, in Japanese, but also connotes a broader meaning of the wisdom or insight which can […]
The next supply mission to the International Space Station will have to wait a few more days. Over the weekend, Mitsubishi Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) elected to delay Sunday’s planned launch of the H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI5” or (HTV5), due to concerns over weather at the Tanegashima Space Center. The new […]
JAXA, the Japanese space agency successfully launched the Hayabusa2 spacecraft on its way to an asteroid sample return mission overnight. Liftoff, which took place aboard a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA rocket, designated #26, took place at 1:22:04 PM Japan Standard Time on Wednesday. December 3rd from the Tanegashima Space Center. According to JAXA, the launch […]
With the current focus on difficulties in the U.S./Russian relationship and its implications for the International Space Station, it may be easy to overlook the fact that both Europe and Japan are major partners in the station as well. This English language video gives a good overview of the Japanese space program’s activities in […]
JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, announced today that it has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop Japan’s next generation, flagship launch vehicle. From the official announcement: “The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) made an announcement to the private sector on February 27, 2014, to compare their proposals and select a prime contractor who can […]
The joint NASA/JAXA GPM Core Observatory lifted off today from the Japanese Space Agency’s Tanagashima Launch Complex, successfully deploying from its carrier rocket moments later. Today’s launch took place aboard the H-IIA rocket, which is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The H-II family consists of two boosters, the H-IIA and the larger and more powerful […]
Officials with NASA and the Japanese Space Agency JAXA have given the go ahead for tomorrow’s launch of the Global Participation (GPM) Core Observatory, a precipitation measuring satellite which will launch from Japan aboard a HII-A rocket. Liftoff is scheduled during a one hour window beginning at 1:37 pm EST, 3:37 am Japan Standard Time, […]
While most eyes are probably on California, and Sunday’s tentative maiden launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 V1.1, one of the more interesting weekends in recent aerospace history kicks off just after midnight tonight at 12:45 a.m. (1:45 p.m. Saturday Japan Standard Time) with Japan’s second attempt to launch its new Epsilon booster. JAXA, the […]
Recent Comments