Institute of Space and Astronomical Science (ISAS)
The Institute of Space and Astronomical Science (ISAS) is Japan's national space agency, focusing primarily on scientific and engineering research in space exploration and astronomy. ISAS was established in 1981 as an inter-university research institute and became a part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2003.
History
Objectives and Activities
ISAS's primary objectives include:
- Conducting research in space science, including planetary exploration, astrophysics, and solar system studies.
- Developing and launching scientific satellites and probes.
- Advancing space technology through the development of launch vehicles like the Epsilon Rocket series.
- Collaborating with international space agencies for joint missions and research.
Notable Missions and Achievements
- 1990: Launch of the Hiten Mission, the first Japanese lunar orbiter.
- 2003: Hayabusa Mission, which successfully returned samples from the asteroid Itokawa to Earth.
- 2014: Launch of Hayabusa2, aiming to collect samples from the asteroid Ryugu.
- 2016: ASTRO-H (Hitomi), an X-ray astronomy satellite, although it failed shortly after launch.
Current Projects and Future Endeavors
ISAS continues to work on several key projects:
External Links
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