April 25, 2011 Updated

JFY 2011 TNSC special open-house event for Science and Technology Week.

An open-house event will be held at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) on May 15 (Sun.) We are preparing many events and hope many of you will come and join us!

Date and time :
May 15 (Sunday), 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Major Events :

• New event! Backyard tour at TNSC "Sneak into the secret base!?"
  We will open some TNSC facilities that are usually off-limits.
  Special tour guided by JAXA employees!
  * We will distribute numbered tickets for the tour at the parking lot of the Space Museum.
• Beat JAXA employees! Plastic-bottle rocket/model rocket launch competition by making and launching them
  Craft making: Morning session from 9:30, Afternoon session from 1:00
  Fifty participants for each type of rocket (on a first-come-first-served basis)
  (We will stop sign ups as soon as the participants reach 50.)
  * Those who miss the rocket making session can still experience launching a plastic rocket (without making a rocket) sometime outside of the competition hours.
• GPS treasure hunting
  The quasi-zenith satellite was launched last year. Let's get familiar with the QZS using the GPS!
  Time: Morning: 10:00 to 12:00, Afternoon 1:00 to 3:00
• Facility bus tour
  Let's take a commemorative photo at the launch pad which is usually not accessible!
  * We will distribute numbered tickets for the tour at the parking lot of the Space Museum.
• Solar handicraft (Limited 60 participants)
  Craft making: Morning session from 10:30 to 11:30, Afternoon session from 2:00 to 3:00
  Numbered tickets will be distributed beforehand. Participants will be limited to 30 for each session.
• Interesting science experiments/Interesting science class
  Let's experience the cryogenic world through an experiment using liquid nitrogen of minus 196 degrees (C)
• Space suit (orange suit and blue suit) trial & commemorative photo shooting
• What can JAXA do now? -- Special exhibition of JAXA activities toward the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster -
• Oh! I see! - Let's learn about A ROCKET -
• Acoustic experience of explosive rocket launch
  You can enjoy the acoustic experience of a rocket liftoff through a renewed device creating explosive sound!
• Handicraft classes by the Education Center
• H-II Launch Vehicle No. 7 open to the public
  The real launch vehicle stored at the TNSC is open to the public for this special occasion.

We are preparing many other enjoyable events!

* We will update this page when new information becomes available.
* You can get a small present and a map at the reception. Please make sure to come to the reception desk first.
* We plan to sell some beverages and food on the event day.
* A bus service making the rounds within the TNSC will be available on the open-house day.
* Please be aware that some event contents may be changed due to weather conditions and other factors.

[Access]

• Access From Nishinoomote Port (Tanegashima) to TNSC
  Bus: Leaving the port at 9:45 a.m. and arriving at 11:15 a.m. / Leaving at 12:30 p.m. and arriving at 2:00 p.m.
• From TNSC to Nishinoomote Port
  Bus: Leaving 12:30 p.m. - arriving 2:00 p.m. / Leaving 3:00 p.m. - arriving 4:30 p.m.

[For inquiries]
Tanegashima Space Center Science Museum 0997-26-9244 (within Japan, or +81-997-26-9244)

• Open-house leaflet (PDF:633KB, Japanese only)

March 1, 2011 Updated

TNSC pad service tower demolition completed

The Pad Service Tower (PST) at Launch Pad 1 at the TNSC has been dismantled since November 2010, and its removal was completed in mid January 2011.
The PST has been in use for a long time. It used to be a launch pad for launching H-II launch vehicles, then it was utilized for setting monitor cameras and displaying a signboard showing a launch vehicle number for H-IIA launch vehicles. However, the PST has become outdated, thus JAXA decided to demolish it by finding other means for its roles. We may miss the PST as it will not be seen in the background when we launch rockets, but, even without it, we are again determined that we will carry out safe and stable rocket launches.
We are looking forward to your visit to the TNSC.

November 11, 2010 Updated

Pad Service Tower removed from the TNSC Yoshinobu Launch Complex

The fixed part of the Pad Service Tower (PST) was removed from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center (above photo.)
The PST at Launch Pad 1 was built for launch preparation operations for the “H-II Launch Vehicle” series, Japan’s first 100 percent domestic launch vehicle operated from 1994 through 1999. The tower was 67 meters in height (photo below.) As the new generation launch vehicle H-IIA was developed and the new launch preparation method was introduced, JAXA removed the movable part of the PST that rolled back to open and receive the launch vehicle so that operators could climb up the tower and work on launch preparations. However, the fixed part remained there because it did not interfere with the new launch system. It was used for hanging a signboard for a rocket's name and flight number for launch.
The PST has been significantly aging, thus we determined that it should retire in this Japan fiscal year after years of hard work.
As launch preparations for the H-IIB F2 are underway, you cannot enter the Yoshinobu Launch Complex; however, you can take a look at the overall view from the Rocket Hill scenic point at the TNSC. Please come and see the site without the PST.

October 1, 2010 Updated

JAXA booth opens at Tanegashima Airport

We now have a JAXA exhibition booth at Tanegashima Airport.
You can freely take a look at our magazines, pamphlets and panels explaining JAXA activities. We also exhibit scale models of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle, rocket engine, and satellites.
When you go to Tanegashima Airport, a gateway to Tanegashima, please stop by at our booth.

August 18, 2010 Updated

TNSC Science Museum welcomes 3 millionth visitor

Since its opening in August 1979, the Science Museum at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) has entertained many people. At 4:22 p.m. on August 17, 2010, we welcomed the three-millionth visitor with a certificate, flower bouquet, and commemorative present.
The lucky three millionth person was Shuta Nagai (12 years old) from Kagoshima. He commented, “I was very surprised but glad to be the three-millionth person at the Science Museum, where I often come. I hope that more people will visit here to learn about launch vehicles. It becomes a nice memory for the summer. Thank you very much.”
We are determined to work harder to improve the content and service at exhibitions as Japan’s space development and launch vehicle museum. Please come and visit us.
All the TNSC employees are sincerely waiting for your visit.

July 27, 2010 Updated

TNSC guided tour participants exceed 80,000

The number of participants of a guided facility tour at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) reached over 80,000.
We started providing the tour in 2003, and, on April 30, 2005, we marked 10,000 participants, 20,000 on February 17, 2006, 30,000 on Oct. 18, 2006, and 50,000 on May 2, 2006. On July 25, 2010, the seventh year since we started the tour, we were pleased to learn that we have guided over 80,000 people through the TNSC. The 80,000th person to join the tour was Yui Shimizu, an infant from Kanagawa Prefecture. Yui received a commemorative gift from the TNSC. The parents of Yui commented, "Our visit here was much more enjoyable than expected with lots of discovery experiences. We now feel space much closer to us. Until now, space and launch vehicles were something happening on TV, but, as I learned about the history and experience that make rocket launches possible, I now feel familiar with space operations. At the same time, I was deeply moved by scientific progress and human wisdom that enables the launch of a rocket into space."
Our next target is to reach the 100,000th-visitor mark. All TNSC employees and tour guides will work hard to serve you. Please visit the TNSC Space Museum and join the guided facility tour when you come to the TNSC.

* The guided tour is free of charge.
* For the time schedule and more details about the guided facility tour, please refer to the TNSC "Tours (Guided tours/Advance booking)" page on the JAXA web site. For reservations and inquiries, please call the TNSC Space Museum (Phone +81-997-26-9244.) The tour course is subject to change.

June 28, 2010 Updated

TNSC Science and Technology week open-house successfully completed

An open-house event was held at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) on June 20.
Although the bad weather forecast for that day forced us to change some scheduled events, it was fortunate that the rain was not too heavy, and we were able to carry out the open-house event successfully. We were very happy to welcome 636 visitors.
This year, we drastically increased the number of events compared to last time including some events which visitors could participate in or experience. The most popular ones were a “special facility bus tour,” which allowed participants to get off the bus at the rocket launch complex, where people usually can only have a look from the bus, and take commemorative photos, the “space suit (orange suit and blue suit) trial & commemorative photo shooting” and the“science experiment using liquid nitrogen.” In particular, the bus tour was very popular and all tours were full.
Those who did not have a chance to come to the TNSC this time, please come to visit the center, which is renowned as the most beautiful rocket launch site in the world, next time!

June 1, 2010 Updated

Open-house event for Science and Technology Week at TNSC

An open-house event will be held at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) on June 20. We are preparing many events and hope many of you will come and join us!

Time and Date
Between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on June 20, 2010

Major Event

• Surpass JAXA employees! Making plastic bottle rockets/model rockets & launch competition!!
  Compete with the flight distance of your rocket against JAXA employees’rocket. Win a nice present!
  
  Making a rocket (Morning session) 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. (Afternoon session) 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
  Competition (Morning) 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. (Afternoon) 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.
  
  * For the rocket making session, the first 50 participants can join us for each session. (We will stop sign ups as soon as the participants reach 50.)
  * Those who miss the rocket making session can still experience launching a plastic rocket (without making a rocket) sometime outside of the competition hours.
  
  
• GPS treasure hunting
  Feel familiar with the Quasi-Zenith Satellite that will be launched this summer.
  
  
• Facility bus tour
  We will stop and take a commemorative photo at the launch pad area, where we normally cannot get off tour buses.
  Tours will start at:
  (1) 10:00 a.m.    (2) 10:50 a.m.    (3) 11:40 a.m.
  (4) 12:30 p.m.    (5) 1:20 p.m.    (6) 2:10 p.m.
  * A boarding ticket will be distributed from 9:30 a.m. at the parking lot of the Space Museum (Exhibition Hall.) We will stop distribution as soon as the full number of participants gather. Please come early.
  
  
• Ask questions to Director Norio Sakazume of the TNSC
  
  
• Plastic bottle solar car manufacturing
  Let's make an original car propelled by sunlight.
  Making session (Morning) 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. (Afternoon) 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• Solar ECO walk ('Segway' trial)
  Time (Morning) 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Afternoon) 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
  * A numbered ticket will be distributed at a tent in the lawn area.
  
  
• Interesting science experiments
  
  
• Space suit (orange suit and blue suit) trial & commemorative photo shooting
  

We are preparing many other enjoyable events!

* We plan to sell some beverages and food on the event day.
* In a case of rainy weather, some event contents may be changed.

January 6, 2010 Updated

Parent-child space class on Tokunoshima island

On Dec. 12, 2009, a space class that both parents and children could participate in was held on Tokunoshima island, one of the Amami islands in Kagoshima Prefecture.
In Amagi-cho, Tokunoshima, part of the fairing of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 13 drifted ashore on July 7, 2008. Since then, residents’ interest in space development has been rising, and that resulted in holding a space class there in order to further deepen their understanding of space development.
Some 306 people participated in the class and enjoyed various activities including making and launching plastic bottle rockets, commemorative photo shooting wearing a replica of an orange suit that is worn by the Space Shuttle crew, watching a 3D movie of the moon surface taken by KAGUYA, and listening to a lecture titled “New challenges to space.”
All attendees, both adults and children, seemed to enjoy the event very much, probably because this was the first time for us to hold a space class on Tokunoshima.

June 1, 2009 Updated

Open-house Event at Tanegashima Space Center

Date and time:
June 14, 2009, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Major Events:
Interesting Experiment Corner
Space food tasting
Plastic bottle water rocket class (Make and Launch)

We will plan many other events in addition to the above. Please come to the TNSC and join us on June 14 (Sun.)