October 31, 2009 Updated
HTV released from ISS
The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Demonstration Flight, which completed its cargo transportation mission at the International Space Station (ISS), was unberthed from the ISS by its robotic arm (SSRMS) at 0:02 a.m. on October 31 (Japan Standard Time, the following dates and times are JST.) The HTV departed from the ISS at 2:32 a.m. on the 31st. The HTV will leave the ISS orbit, and is scheduled to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at around 6:25 a.m. on November 2 (Mon.) You may be able to see the HTV just prior to re-entry from Okinawa at around 6:13 a.m. on the 2nd if the deorbit process goes smoothly and the weather cooperates. (Photo by NASA)
October 27, 2009 Updated
Internet Live Report: HTV leaving ISS on Oct. 31 (Sat)
The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Demonstration Flight, which is currently berthed at the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled to depart from the ISS at 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 (Sat) (Japan Standard Time, all the following days and times are in JST.) The HTV will be unberthed from the ISS by the ISS robotic arm (SSRMS) late at night on Oct. 30 (Fri) after its hatch to the ISS is closed at dawn of Oct. 30, then depart from the ISS. If everything goes smoothly, the HTV will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere around 6:25 a.m. on Nov. 2 (Mon).We will broadcast a live report of the HTV unberthing and departure from the ISS through the Internet from 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 30 (Fri) and from 2:15 a.m. on Oct. 31 (Sat) respectively. (Sorry, the live reports are broadcasted only in the Japanese language.) Please enjoy the HTV live reports over the weekend!
*The live broadcast time schedule has changed due to the delay of the HTV departure.
October 23, 2009 Updated
We will deliver your message to the bright star Venus
The Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" (PLANET-C,) which is scheduled to be launched in Japan Fiscal Year 2010, will reach the orbit of Venus about half a year after its launch. It is scheduled to explore the Venus atmosphere for some two years. JAXA will deliver your name and message to Venus on this Venus explorer. We accept messages both from individuals and from a group such as a message from a school or a work place. Please participate in the message campaign by yourself, with your family, or with your friends. We are looking forward to receiving your thoughts. We will accept your messages up to December 25.
October 16, 2009 Updated
Nickname the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite
- a signpost in space to guide you -
The Quasi-Zenith Satellite (QZS) is a positioning satellite to provide highly accurate GPS functions for car navigation and movable phone services in areas congested with skyscrapers and mountainous regions in Japan. The first QZS (QZS-1) is scheduled to be launched in Japan Fiscal Year 2010. JAXA would like you to give a nickname to the QZS-1.We will invite the godparent (if a multiple number of people give us the same name that is chosen as the QZS-1 nickname, we will hold a lottery to select one) to the Tanegasima Space Center to see off the departure of the QZS-1 to space.
We will accept a nickname by 5:00 p.m. on December 16, 2009.
October 8, 2009 Updated
"Here is Tsukuba!" TKSC Open-house event on the 17th (Sat.)
Our annual autumn open-house events for Space Day and Sky Day will be held at our facilities.On Oct. 17 (Sat,) we will hold an open house at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC.) We will introduce our various activities and achievements at the TKSC under the catchphrase, "Here is Tsukuba! Let's deliver everybody's dreams to space."
We plan to connect Tsukuba and Houston to receive messages from Astronaut Noguchi and Astronaut Yamazaki. We are also preparing other interesting events to make you feel familiar with space and both parents and children can enjoy events such as a plastic-bottle rocket class, which is very popular every year, rocket launch acoustic experience, and a craft corner.
As part of our "Eco Campaign," We will give a memento to those who come to the event on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport. Please come and join us.