Institute of Space and Astronautical Science explained

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
Native Name:ISAS
Native Name R:Japanese: Uchū Kagaku Kenkyūsho
Acronym:ISAS
Preceding6:-->
Superseding6:-->
Agency Type:-->
Jurisdiction:Japan
Headquarters:Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Language:Japanese
Leader Title8:-->
Leader Name8:-->
Spaceport:Uchinoura Space Center
Owners:for more than one owner -->
Employees:353 (FY2018)
Budget:¥13.5 billion (FY2018)
(US$ billion)

, or ISAS, is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes which played a major role in Japan's space development. Since 2003, it is a division of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).[1]

History

The ISAS originated as part of the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, where Hideo Itokawa experimented with miniature solid-fuel rockets (Pencil Rocket and) in the 1950s. This experimentation eventually led to the development of the Κ (Kappa) sounding rocket, which was used for observations during the International Geophysical Year (IGY). By 1960, the Κ-8 rocket had reached an altitude of 200 km.

In 1964, the rocket group and the Institute of Aeronautics, along with scientific ballooning team, were merged to form within the University of Tokyo. The rocket evolved into the L (Lambda) series, and, in 1970, L-4S-5 was launched as Japan's first artificial satellite Ohsumi.

Although Lambda rockets were only sounding rockets, the next generation of M (Mu) rockets was intended to be satellite launch vehicles from the start. Beginning in 1971, ISAS launched a series of scientific satellites to observe the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Since the launch of Hakucho in 1979, ISAS has had X-ray astronomy satellites consecutively in orbit, until it was briefly terminated by the launch failure of ASTRO-E.

In 1981, as a part of university system reform, and for the mission expansion, ISAS was spun out from University of Tokyo as an inter-university national research organization, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.

ISAS was responsible for launching Japan's first interplanetary probes, Sakigake and Suisei, to Halley's Comet in 1985. It also launched Hiten, Japan's first lunar probe, in 1990. The Nozomi probe was launched in 1998 in an attempt to orbit Mars, but the spacecraft suffered system failures and was unable to enter orbit. In 2003, ISAS launched the Hayabusa spacecraft, the first asteroid sample return mission in the world.

Later in 2003, three national aerospace organizations including ISAS were merged to form Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The English name Institute of Space and Astronautical Science is still used, although the Japanese name was changed to 宇宙科学研究本部 (literally, Space Science Research Division, whereas the previous name's literal translation was Space Science Laboratory). In 2010, the name was changed back to the previous . Under JAXA, ISAS continues to be responsible for space-based astronomy, and lunar and planetary exploration missions.

List of spacecraft by ISAS

Launch failures, cancelled projects, proposals etc. are not listed.

Before establishment of JAXA

Launch date Name before launch Name after launch Mission
11 February 1970 Technology demonstration
16 February 1971 MS-T1 Technology demonstration
28 September 1971 MS-F2 Ionosphere / cosmic-ray / solar-radio observation
19 August 1972 REXS Ionosphere / magnetosphere observation
16 February 1974 MS-T2 Technology experiment
24 February 1975 SRATS Thermosphere and sun
19 February 1977 MS-T3 Technology experiment
4 February 1978 EXOS-A Aurora and ionosphere
16 September 1978 EXOS-B Magnetosphere and thermosphere observation
21 February 1979 CORSA-b X-ray astronomy
17 February 1980 MS-T4 Technology experiment
21 February 1981 ASTRO-A Solar X-ray observation
20 February 1983 ASTRO-B X-ray astronomy
14 February 1984 EXOS-C Mesosphere observation
8 January 1985 MS-T5 Technology experiment / Comet observation
19 August 1985 PLANET-A Comet observation
19 August 1987 ASTRO-C X-ray astronomy
22 February 1989 EXOS-D Aurora observation
24 January 1990 MUSES-A Lunar flyby / Interplanetary technology experiment
30 August 1991 SOLAR-A Solar X-ray observation (with NASA / UK)
24 July 1992 GEOTAIL Magnetosphere observation (with NASA)
20 February 1993 ASTRO-D X-ray astronomy (with NASA)
18 March 1995 SFU Multi-purpose experiment flyer (with NASDA / NEDO / USEF)
12 February 1997 MUSES-B Space VLBI technology development
4 July 1998 PLANET-B Mars atmosphere observation
9 May 2003 MUSES-C Planetary sample return technology development

After establishment of JAXA

Launch date Name before launch Name after launch Mission
10 July 2005 ASTRO-EII X-ray astronomy
24 August 2005 INDEX Technology / Aurora research
21 February 2006 ASTRO-F Infrared astronomy
22 September 2006 SOLAR-B Solar observation
14 September 2007 Kaguya Lunar orbiter
20 May 2010 PLANET-C Venus atmosphere observation
14 September 2013 SPRINT-A EUV observation
3 December 2014 Hayabusa2 Asteroid sample return
17 February 2016 ASTRO-H X-ray astronomy
20 December 2016 ERG Magnetosphere research
20 October 2018
(in transit)
MMO MioExploration of Mercury as part of the BepiColombo mission with ESA
14 April 2023 JUICE Ganymede exploration (with ESA / NASA)
6 September 2023 XRISM X-ray astronomy
6 September 2023 SLIM Lunar landing demonstration

Future missions

Planned launch date Name Mission
2024 Asteroid observation (with ESA)
2025 Near Earth objects multi-flyby
2026 Phobos sample return
2026 Infrared astronomy (with NASA)
July 2028[2] Solar observation
2028 Infrared astrometry
2030 Gamma-ray burst observation
2032 CMB astronomy
2035 X-ray astronomy (with ESA / NASA)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JAXA History. JAXA Official Website (English). February 21, 2013. 22 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222165858/http://www.jaxa.jp/about/history/index_e.html. dead.
  2. Shimizu . Toshifumi . SH54A-03 The SOLAR-C EUVST mission: Coronal physics advanced by novel EUV spectroscopy . . 15 December 2023 . 26 December 2023.