Space Agency Spotlight: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

“Explore to Realize” is the corporate slogan for the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, (JAXA). Founded in 2003, JAXA was created by merging together the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA).

The management philosophy is “to realize a safe and affluent society using space and the sky. By utilizing leading technological developments, we will succeed and deliver our achievement along with broader wisdom to society.” There are three Action Declarations, jubilation for human society, “we will provide enjoyment and surprise to people by evolving our lives,” aspiration for celebration, “we will always aim for higher goals and continue to be aspired for creation by facing up to and overcoming any difficulties” and responsibility and pride, “we will faithfully act with responsibility and pride to confidently meet the expectations of society.” 

JAXA has missions centered on satellites and spacecraft, human space activities, space science research and aeronautical technology research. Hayabusa2 is an asteroid explorer mission looking for the origin and evolution of the solar system as well as life matter. ASTRO-H (pictured right) is an astronomy satellite in the development stage, and intended to assist in learning about the universe through x-rays, which rarely make it to the Earth’s surface due to our atmosphere.

Japanese astronauts have participated in NASA missions such as astronaut Souichi Noguchi who flew onboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-114. On July 23, astronaut Kimiya Yui headed to the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren and cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko for his five month journey in space.

To learn more about JAXA, click here.

This article is part of Space Watch: September 2015 (Volume: 14, Issue: 9).