The 5-year “Mid-term Plan” was established in April 2008. To continue to improve our contribution toward achieving a safe and affluent society, JAXA is conducting exploitation of new areas and reinforcing activities to deepen the wisdom of humankind. In our second-stage Mid-term Plan, we are executing the following:

• (1) Observations of the global environment, including global warming and climate change, the monitoring of disaster areas and communications in these regions, and improving the accuracy and convenience of positioning and location information using satellites.
• (2) Achieving world-class research results in space science research.
• (3) Satisfying our intellectually inquiring minds and expanding knowledge through space exploration.
• (4) Steady implementation of the plan for the International Space Station?ISS? using “Kibo,” Japan’s first in-orbit experimental facility, and the shipping of supplies.
• (5) Securing an independent ability to access space when necessary through the maintenance and development of a space transport system.
• (6) Solving problems through research and development into aeronautical science and technology, whilst listening to society and its needs.
• (7) Reinforcing the infrastructure of aerospace technologies
• (8) Promoting cooperation and collaboration with industry as well as related institutions and universities, both in Japan and abroad.

Our noteworthy results include the successful mission of the HAYABUSA Asteroid Explorer (NUSES-C). HAYABUSA returned to Earth in June 2010 after completing a 7-year navigation in deep space. For the first time in the world, JAXA succeeded in bringing back the particles of an asteroid to Earth. The Kibo Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) that has been launched three times since 2008 was successfully berthed to the ISS in July 2009, and thus started the long-term stay of Japanese astronauts in the ISS. As a world class well-made platform in space, Kibo will be increasingly utilized from now on. Concurrently, JAXA has been conducting observations of the global environment and disaster monitoring using the DAICHI Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) and the IBUKI Greenhouse Gasses Observing Satellite (GOSAT). In The Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, the DAICHI, the KIZUNA Wideband Inter-Networking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS), and the KIKU No.8 Engineering Test Satellite VIII (ETS-VIII) supported the disaster countermeasure activities. We are currently planning to implement long-term observation of the global environment from space by operating the Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM).
Transportation systems are playing a important role in all of these activities. Since the first successful mission of the KOUNOTORI H-IIA Transfer Vehicle (HTV) No. 1 in 2009, our performance results have steadily accumulated. After the retirement of the Space Shuttles, space-related entities worldwide expect that the H-IIB Launch Vehicle will serve as the sole transportation means for carrying large cargo to the ISS. Further concept planning has already been started to develop the next-generation core rocket systems that will succeed it.

The Basic Plan for Space Policy was implemented in Japan in June 2009, under the Basic Space Law enacted in May 2008. Thus, Japan will promote space development under a comprehensive strategy. In compliance with the principles of the Basic Space Law, JAXA is determined to exert full efforts towards improving the living standards of the people, promoting industry, aiding the progress of human society, promoting international collaboration and taking measures for the environment through enhanced and peaceful utilization of space.
We are committed to wide-ranging research and development, pursuing the achievement of the great potential of space and aviation based on our corporate motto, “Reaching for the skies, exploring space,” and we will contribute to maintaining the peace and happiness of humankind. We would be grateful for your continued support and cooperation.
On May, 2011, Dr. Tachikawa assumed the position of President of JAXA.

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