Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Eye in the Sky: Japan Launches Spy Satellite Into Orbit

Japan successfully launched a rocket carrying a backup optical satellite for the government's intelligence gathering program.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched the H-2A rocket with an advanced ground-monitoring satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Kyodo news agency reported Thursday.

The launch at 10:21 am (0121 GMT) went smoothly, a JAXA spokeswoman said, noting "the satellite separated and entered orbit as scheduled."

Currently, Japan has two radar satellites and two optical satellites in operation, which are able to collect images of any point on the ground at least once a day.

The latest satellite will replace one of the two optical satellites launched in 2009. It was developed at a cost of 32.5 billion yen ($272.2 million), according to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center.

Five Japanese intelligence satellites are currently in orbit—two optical satellites and three radar satellites, including a backup radar satellite launched in May.

An additional fourteen probes of various types are slated to be sent into orbit within the next three years.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20150326/1020031482.html#ixzz3VZy9wjWk

Cosmic cleanup: Russia to help Japan launch galactic garbage collecting mission in 2020

Japan’s satellite intended to demonstrate the project of capturing and removing space junk from orbit is expected to be launched aboard a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket from the Baikonur spaceport

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Japan’s ELSA-d satellite intended to demonstrate the project of capturing and removing space junk from orbit is expected to be launched aboard a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket from the Baikonur spaceport in early 2020, the Glavkosmos Launch Services operator said on Monday.

"The Tokyo-based company Astroscale Japan has concluded a contract with Glavkosmos Launch Services to launch its ELSA-d satellite aboard a Soyuz-2 carrier rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Currently, the takeoff has been scheduled for early 2020," the Russian operator said.

The ELSA-d, which stands for End of Life Services by Astroscale - demonstration, consists of two space vehicles - the Chaser (weighing 160 kg) and the Target (weighing 20 kg) launched in tandem. The Chaser is equipped with approaching technology and a magnetic grabbing mechanism, which allows it to get attached to the Target’s docking plate.

Astroscale is the first private company that offers space debris removal services to ensure long-term space flight safety for the benefit of future generations. The company was established in 2013 in Singapore. That being said, the company opened an R&D office in Japan in 2015, a branch in the United Kingdom in 2017 and a representative office in the United States.


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JAXA collects capsule that returned from ISS



The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Nov. 11 successfully retrieved a capsule that was jettisoned from a Japanese unmanned cargo spacecraft and landed in the Pacific Ocean.

It marked the first time that Japan successfully collected specimens of scientific experiments from the International Space Station (ISS), JAXA said.

According to JAXA, the capsule was released at an altitude of 300 kilometers at around 6:20 a.m. on Nov. 11 from the cargo spacecraft Kounotori 7, which had separated from the ISS on Nov. 8.

After the release, the capsule entered the atmosphere about 100 km above the Japanese archipelago while maintaining its orientation. Then, it parachuted down, landing in the sea at around 7:05 a.m.

A ship that had been waiting for the splashdown collected the capsule in the sea off Minami-Torishima island of the Ogasawara group of islands at around 10:30 a.m.

The circular cone-shaped capsule is 84 centimeter in diameter and 66 cm in height and weighs about 180 kilograms.

The vacuum stainless container can maintain its interior at a temperature of four degrees for long periods even if its outer part is exposed to high temperatures of up to about 2,000 degrees during re-entry.

It contains about one kilogram of specimens, including proteins crystallized in the ISS.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811110046.html

Japan launches second H3 heavy-lift launch vehicle