The Chofu Aerospace Center (CAC) is a house of Research and Development Directorate and Institute of Aeronautical Technology, thus it engages in the establishment of cutting-edge aviation and scientific technology as well as research and development of the advanced key and basic aerospace technologies with a long-term vision. Therefore, it consists of various large-scale test facility installations which are widely used not only by JAXA but also by other institutions for research and development.
The CAC is especially proud of its wind-tunnel test facility, and of its super-computer, both of which are of the largest scale in Japan. The wind tunnel creates an artificial air flow to study aerodynamic characteristics of models of aircraft and spacecraft, monitoring a range of speeds from low to hypersonic.
Also at the CAC, we use a super-computer for enormous calculations to design and analyze supersonic-speed experiment devices and spacecraft through numerical simulations, and we also develop programs to solve body shake and engine heat phenomenon that affect spacecraft. There is also a branch of the CAC near Chofu Airfield (Tokyo), which is used to access Oshima and Niijima. This facility uses experimental aircraft and flight simulators to test technology and to develop future aircraft designs.