Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (Japanese: 宇宙科学研究所, Hepburn: Uchū kagaku kenkyūjo) or ISAS,^[1] is a Japanese national research organization. ISAS studies astrophysics using rockets and satellites. ISAS is part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).^[2]

Entrance to the ISAS Sagamihara campus

History

The ISAS began at the University of Tokyo in the 1955.^[3]

In 1994, Japan launched its first large rocket built solely with its own technology. According to Shigebumi Saito, former head of Japan's Space Activities Commission, "If we have no vehicle, it is like a navy without ships," ^[4]

ISAS was merged with two other space agencies in 2003 when JAXA was established.^[5]

List of Satellites by ISAS

Before establishment of JAXA

Launch date	Name before launch	Name after launch	Mission
February 11, 1970		Ōsumi[6]	Technology demonstration
February 16, 1971	MS-T1	Tansei[6]	Technology demonstration
September 28, 1971	MS-F2	Shinsei[6]	Ionosphere / cosmic-ray / solar-radio observation
August 19, 1972	REXS	Denpa	Ionosphere / magnetosphere observation
February 16, 1974	MS-T2	Tansei 2	Technology experiment
February 24, 1975	SRATS	Taiyo	Thermosphere and sun
February 19, 1977	MS-T3	Tansei 3	Technology experiment
February 4, 1978	EXOS-A	Kyokko	Aurora and ionosphere
September 16, 1978	EXOS-B	Jikiken	Magnetosphere and thermosphere observation
February 21, 1979	CORSA-b	Hakucho	X-ray astronomy
February 17, 1980	MS-T4	Tansei 4	Technology experiment
February 21, 1981	ASTRO-A	Hinotori	Solar X-ray observation
February 20, 1983	ASTRO-B	Tenma	X-ray astronomy
February 14, 1984	EXOS-C	Ohzora	Mesosphere observation
January 8, 1985	MS-T5	Sakigake	Technology experiment / Comet observation
August 19, 1985	PLANET-A	Suisei	Comet observation
August 19, 1987	ASTRO-C	Ginga	X-ray astronomy
February 22, 1989	EXOS-D	Akebono	Aurora observation
January 24, 1990	MUSES-A	Hiten	Interplanetary technology experiment
August 30, 1991	SOLAR-A	Yohkoh	Solar X-ray observation (with NASA / UK)
July 24, 1992	GEOTAIL	GEOTAIL	Magnetosphere observation (with NASA)
February 20, 1993	ASTRO-D[7]	ASCA	X-ray astronomy (with NASA)
March 18, 1995	SFU	SFU	Multi-purpose experiment flyer (with NASDA / NEDO / USEF)
February 12, 1997	MUSES-B	HALCA	Space VLBI technology development
July 4, 1998	PLANET-B	Nozomi	Mars atmosphere observation
May 9, 2003	MUSES-C	Hayabusa	Planetary sample return technology development

After establishment of JAXA

Launch date	Name before launch	Name after launch	Mission
July 10, 2005	ASTRO-EII	Suzaku	X-ray astronomy
February 21, 2006	ASTRO-F	Akari	Infrared astronomy
September 22, 2006	SOLAR-B	Hinode[8]	Solar observation
September 13, 2007	SELENE	Kaguya[9]	Lunar probe
May 20, 2010	PLANET-C	Akatsuki	Venus atmosphere observation

Related pages

• List of Independent Administrative Institutes in Japan