Chofu Aerospace Center

The Chofu Aerospace Center has an exhibition area where visitors can learn about aerospace-research activities in general. Visitors can experience the whole world of aerospace technology, including wind tunnels and experimental aircraft. For a tour of the rest of our facilities, please contact our staff in advance. Please note, however, that, due to the testing schedule, tours of the facilities are not always available.
For more information about this field center, please click here.

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March 11, 2013 Updated

Chofu Aerospace Center open house

On April 21 (Sun.), we will hold an annual open-house event as part of Science and Technology Week.
You can take a look at some off-limit research facilities and try some fun experiences. We are preparing various enjoyable events.
Date and Time: From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on April 21 (Sun.), 2013 (The reception will be closed at 3:30 p.m.)

Venues:
First venue?Chofu Aerospace Center (7-44-1 Jindaiji Higashi-machi, Chofu-shi, Tokyo)
Second venue?Chofu Aerospace Center Aerodrome Branch (6-13-1 Osawa, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo)

* We will operate a free shuttle bus between the first and second venues. The last bus service will be at 3:30p.m.
* Please refrain from coming by your own car as the capacity of the parking lot is limited. Please use public transportation.
* Please refrain from bringing pets with you.

Major open-house facilities
First venue
  • Ground-level Enclosed Jet Engine Test Facility
  • JAXA Supercomputer
  • Research on regenerative Life Support System
Second venue
  • Disaster-Monitoring UAV System (for the first time )
  • R&D on Next Generation Silent Supersonic Aircraft Technology
  • Research on Advanced composite materials
Event information
  • Fun experience corner
    Let's try to actually touch and try aerospace technology Craft corner
  • Let's make a sky screw by learning about the flying mechanism, and try to fly it from the ground.
    Venue: First venue Hall
    Eligible participants: Children who are four years of age or older, elementary school children
    Number of participants: 500 on a first-come-first-served basis
    * In case of rainy and/or windy weather, we will not fly the sky screw on the ground.

Four other research institutes stamp rally
Get a present by collecting stamps from four other neighboring research institutions.

Services

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* Free admission

Exhibits

Open: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • * Please be aware that the space mission simulator and YS-11 cockpit are not available for visitors between 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Closed: Saturday, Sunday, national holidays
At the Chofu Aerospace Center (CAC) we introduce the research content of each field including aviation and space technologies, and exhibit actually used vehicles, models, and explanatory panels.
  • Non-Powered Experimental Airplane
    This airplane is used for experiments as part of research and development for next-generation supersonic airplane technology to measure data such as aerodynamic performance and surface pressure through its flight and gliding at a speed of Mach 2.
  • Future Space Transportation System
    Instead of the current disposable launch vehicles, we promote research and development of reusable vehicles similar to airplanes including space planes and reusable space transportation vehicles. We exhibit models and actual vehicles used for experiments.
  • Space Mission Simulator
    You can experience flight and piloting of a shuttle to space such as traveling to the International Space Station through horizontal flight in a space plane.
  • FJR710 turbo fan engine
    Japan's first engine that satisfied airworthiness standards. It was installed in the Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) experiment aircraft "Asuka."
  • Ion engine for testing
  • Horizontal empennage model made of CF/PEEK
  • A model for a wind tunnel test
  • Video theater

In addition to the above, you can also enjoy a facility to experience the computational fluid dynamics simulation.
Exhibition Hall Floor Map

For more information, click here.

Open-air Exhibition

- YS-11 Cockpit

JAXA is using a cockpit of a retired YS-11 (Fuselage number YS-11-118) for our current research.
Since 1961, JAXA (former National Aerospace Laboratory) began a full-scale aircraft static strength test to carry out a fatigue test on the main wings and a repeated pressurization loading test of a fuselage, thus we have contributed to the development of the YS-11. The results of various verification tests have been useful for verifying YS-11's fatigue strength, and the airplane is still flying safely for over 50 years.

*Those who would like to take a look at the YS-11 cockpit, please call up the exhibition hall staff using the extension phone.

Group tours

The CAC accepts group facility tours. You can visit test facilities for a wind tunnel test, experimental aircraft, and an engine, as well as the exhibition hall.

A tour group consists of up to 20 people (such as a group from a company or school)
Tours are available only on weekdays (except the year-end and new year holidays.)
The tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Major sites for a tour are test facilities for a wind tunnel test, experimental aircraft, and an engine.
Please make a group tour reservation at least three weeks prior to the date you wish to visit us.
Please understand that we may not be able to offer a tour on your requested date due to a test schedule or other schedule conflicts.

For a group visit, please contact:
+81-50-3362-8036 (From overseas, or 050-3362-8036 within Japan)

Location:

7-44-1 Jindaiji Higashi-machi, Chofu-shi,
Tokyo 182-8522

Contact:

Phone +81-50-3362-8036
Access

Open to the Public

Visitors can also participate in various annual events at the CAC, including Open House Day, Sky Day, Space Day, and public presentations of research papers.

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