April 24, 2009 Updated
Second CFT for the H-IIB first-stage flight model tank
On April 22 (Wed.), the second captive firing test (CFT) was held for the first-stage flight model tank of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle at Launch Pad 2 at the Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Tanegashima Space Center. The firing duration was only 10 seconds for the first CFT, but the second CFT was conducted for 150 seconds. This time, we verified the tank pressure characteristics and acquired environment data including vibration data on each part of the launch vehicle.
April 20, 2009 Updated
JAXA Spring Events : Visit JAXA again during Golden Week!
JAXA held an open house event at Tsukuba Space Center, Chofu Aerospace Center, and Kakuda Space Center on April 18 and 19. We were very happy that many visitors came to our facility. We recoded 18,011 visitors at Tsukuba, 7,815 at Chofu and 1,244 at Kakuda.During Golden Week, JAXA i, the JAXA information Center, will hold "Spring Kids Day 2009" on April 26 (Sun.) We will have a lot of fun events on that day including games and space experiment shows that will make visitors feel closer to space. A monthly talk event will also be held on April 26 especially for children. JAXA i will be open during Golden Week. It is only a one-minute walk from Tokyo Station. Please stop by at JAXA i on your way to a trip or on your way back home!
April 13, 2009 Updated
JAXA Spring Events
JAXA is holding various spring events for the JFY 2009 Science Week (April 13 to 19) at our field offices in Japan.As a starter, we held a meeting for “Space Science Lectures and Movies” on the 11th (Sat.) On the 18th (Sat,) an open-house event is scheduled at the Tsukuba Space Center, then at the Chofu Aerospace Center and Kakuda Space Center on the 19th (Sun.) At Tsukuba, one of the most popular corners, a class for making a plastic rocket, will be held. The Chofu Aerospace Center also plans to have a lot of interesting events including some experimental classes such as one for making an engine. At Kakuda, you can enjoy the Space Development Exhibition Room, which was just completed with its renewal and re-opened on April 1.
At the JAXA information center (JAXA i), we will host “Spring Kids' Day 2009” on the 26th (Sun.) Children can learn more about the space environment and astronauts through experiments and games.
We have various events that can be enjoyed by both parents and children. Please join us!
- 18th (Sat.) Tsukuba Space Center
- 19th (Sun.) Chofu Aerospace Center
- 19th (Sun.) Kakuda Space Center
- 26th (Sun.) JAXA i
April 2, 2009 Updated
CFT for the first stage flight model tank of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle was performed
On April 2 (Thu.) a captive firing test (CFT) for the first stage flight model tank of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle was held for the first time at Launch Pad 2 in Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Tanegashima Space Center. The H-IIB is a new large-scale rocket whose launch capability has been improved compared to the H-IIA Launch Vehicle by installing two H-IIA first stage engines, or LE-7As, and by enlarging the first stage diameter from 4 meters to 5.2 meters. During the CFT, an engine firing test was carried out by using an actual flight tank at the launch pad where the first H-IIB will be launched to verify the launch vehicle and ground systems.