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January 2010

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January 28, 2010 Updated

English magazine "JAXA TODAY" starts publication

JAXA has started to issue an English magazine, "JAXA TODAY," to dispatch our latest information and activities overseas. We hope the magazine will further facilitate people’s understanding of our activities. It will convey JAXA's "TODAY," such as updated information of our space development, space science, and aviation technology research, as well as some behind-the-scene activities.
You can download the magazine from the JAXA website. We will periodically issue JAXA TODAY, so why don't you check our first issue now!

January 20, 2010 Updated

"MICHIBIKI" chosen as nickname for QZS-1

Some 11,111 people sent us various suggestions for the nickname campaign of the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite (QZS-1) scheduled to be launched in Japan Fiscal Year 2010, and among them, "MICHIBIKI" was selected.
"MICHIBIKI"means "guiding" or "showing the way."
Many people who proposed "MICHIBIKI" explained their selection reason as the QZS-1 is to show us a correct location using its accurate positioning information, and to guide us toward a futuristic society by establishing the next generation satellite positioning technology in Japan. As the name precisely illustrates the QZS mission, this name was chosen.
We held a draw to select one person among all the godparents who recommended "MICHIBIKI" to invite him to the Tanegasima Space Center, and Mr. Hajimu Nishikawa (in his 50s, from Wakayama Prefecture) won the invitation.

January 14, 2010 Updated

HAYABUSA coming back to terrestrial gravitation realm! Soon to be home

The Asteroid Explorer “HAYABUSA,” which is on its way back to the Earth, has gradually been changing its orbit to come closer to the Earth. The explorer is now confirmed to be on an orbit that passes through the inside of the terrestrial gravitation sphere (about 1.4 million km from the Earth.)
Currently, the HAYABUSA is flying about 60 million km away from the Earth. Its flight orbit is scheduled to be moved inside the moon orbit.

January 1, 2010 Updated

First Japanese astronaut greets the New Year from space
"A Happy New Year!" from Astronaut Noguchi stationed at the ISS

We have received a New Year’s message from Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who has been residing at the International Space Station (ISS) since December 23, 2009.
Astronaut Noguchi is the first Japanese national who started the New Year in space.
We welcome your support messages to Astronaut Noguchi, who is in the midst of a mission.