JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

	The Uchinoura Space Center (USC) is a rocket‑launch complex covering about 700,000 square meters, located on a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1962 as one of the affiliated research facilities of the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, USC has played a key role in Japan’s space science activities. From this site, Japan’s first satellite, OHSUMI, was launched aboard the L‑4S‑5 rocket in 1970, followed in 2003 by the asteroid explorer HAYABUSA aboard the M‑V‑5 rocket. The rockets launched from USC are the SS‑520, S‑520, and S‑310 sounding rockets, as well as the Epsilon launch vehicle. USC is also equipped with a large parabolic antenna, which is used for tracking satellites and spacecraft launched by rockets, as well as for sending and receiving data.

The Uchinoura Space Center (USC) is a rocket‑launch complex covering about 700,000 square meters, located on a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Established in 1962 as one of the affiliated research facilities of the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, USC has played a key role in Japan’s space science activities.
From this site, Japan’s first satellite, OHSUMI, was launched aboard the L‑4S‑5 rocket in 1970, followed in 2003 by the asteroid explorer HAYABUSA aboard the M‑V‑5 rocket.
The rockets launched from USC are the SS‑520, S‑520, and S‑310 sounding rockets, as well as the Epsilon launch vehicle.
USC is also equipped with a large parabolic antenna, which is used for tracking satellites and spacecraft launched by rockets, as well as for sending and receiving data.

Main Facilities
Tours and Exhibits

Location

1791-13 Minamikata, Kimotsuki-cho, Kimotsuki-gun, Kagoshima 893-1402

Access(200KB)
Layout(46KB)

Contact

Contact and FAQ

Pamphlet

Uchinoura Space Center [in Japanese](6.3MB)

Reference

Main Facilities

M (Mu) Center

This is the launch site for the Epsilon launch vehicle, equipped with launch pads, an assembly building, cleanrooms for satellite operations, and clean booths for satellite integration.

20 meter and 34 meter antenna

These antennas sit on the highest elevation at USC. They track and receive telemetry (S band and X band) from satellites.

KS Center

This is the launch site for the SS‑520, S‑520, and S‑310 sounding rockets. Japan’s first satellite, OHSUMI, was launched from here in 1970.

Epsilon Control Center

Exterior view of Epsilon control center.

Epsilon Control Center Launch Control Room

A mission control room in charge of overseeing the launch operation process till launch.

Tours and Exhibits

Contact

Contact and FAQ

Hours

Open	8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed	Special cleaning day (every two months) & rocket launch days.

Admission

Free admission
No reservation required
Visitors must complete the entry procedure at the gate.

Pets

Only guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs are allowed.
(No other pets are permitted.)

Access

No public transportation. Please come by car.
Parking available inside the grounds.

Facilities

AED in the museum.
Accessible restroom available.
Beverage vending machine available.
No museum shop. Small goods are sold in a vending machine on the first floor of the museum.
No restaurant.

Rules

No food anywhere. Only non‑alcoholic drinks are allowed.
No smoking.
No trash bins. Please take your trash with you.
No drones.

Exhibits

The Museum displays scaled models of rockets and scientific satellites launched from USC.
It also shows materials from past experiments.

Tours

You can view only the exterior of the facilities.
You can see outdoor structures such as the rocket launch pads, full scale rocket models, and large parabolic antennas.

Launch Viewing

Viewing sites outside the USC grounds are provided by the Kimotsuki Town Office.
Rocket launches cannot be viewed from within USC, which is closed to the public on launch days.