JAXA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) have been cooperating under the “KiboCUBE” programme since its launch in 2015, providing emerging space nations with opportunities to deploy nanosatellites (CubeSats) from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station (ISS). The programme aims to help these countries build capacity in space engineering and develop human resources in the field.
Gxiba-1, a CubeSat developed by the team of the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP) in Mexico, selected as the winner of the sixth round of the KiboCUBE programme, was successfully deployed on February 3 using the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) aboard the Kibo module.

Gxiba-1 is scheduled to be operated for objectives including monitoring volcanic activity in Mexico and is expected to contribute to disaster monitoring and technology demonstration efforts. On February 3, H.E. Ms. Melba Pría, Ambassador of Mexico to Japan, along with embassy officials and members of the satellite development team, visited the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center to witness the deployment. It was also streamed live on the JAXA Channel, and stakeholders in Mexico reportedly watched the deployment at a public viewing event.

JAXA has been deploying nanosatellites using the J-SSOD since 2012. With this latest deployment, the cumulative total has exceeded 100, including CubeSats under the KiboCUBE programme and nanosatellites developed by private-sector operators. Through the deployment of nanosatellites from the Kibo module, JAXA has contributed to technology demonstrations, human resource development, and international cooperation. It will continue to strengthen global collaboration through space initiatives and further expand space utilization.

The Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center (Tansa X) serves as a public-private-academia research hub that promotes research and projects through open innovation, bringing together talent and technologies from diverse fields. Over the past decade since its establishment in April 2015, the environment surrounding space exploration has evolved significantly, marked by progress in international space exploration initiatives such as the Artemis program, of which Japan is a participating member, as well as by growing private-sector involvement in space activities. Against this backdrop, Tansa X has also been promoting its Moon to Mars Innovation research program since 2024, based on the concept of Space Dual Utilization.

Under this research program, Tansa X issued the 13th RFP from August to September 2025.
The 13th RFP included a new funding category, the Challenge Type, which targets seed-based, ambitious research grounded in innovative, out-of-the-box ideas. This category values taking on challenges and exploring new approaches, and allows proposals to be eligible even without fully developed plans at the submission stage, providing support to enhance their feasibility and thereby making the program more accessible. Across three categories—the Challenge Type, together with the System Type and Game-changing Type as in the previous year—12 research topics were established, attracting a total of 43 proposals, almost twice the number received in the previous (12th) RFP. Ultimately, 20 proposals have been provisionally selected. A notable overall feature of the selections in this 13th RFP is the increase in research related to lunar regolith, including measures to address challenges posed by regolith and technologies for its effective utilization. Looking ahead, JAXA will work together with the provisionally selected companies and institutions to advance research toward future in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon.

JAXA announces that the departure of HTV-X1 from the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled as follows.
Given that the departure time of HTV-X1 from the ISS is defined as the moment of its release from the ISS robotic arm, it is expected to depart at approximately 2:05 a.m. on March 7, 2026 (Japan Standard Time).
HTV-X1 arrived at the ISS at the end of October 2025 and delivered supplies, including equipment for technology demonstrations in support of international space exploration programs and experimental devices developed by private companies in preparation for the post-ISS era, thereby successfully completing its cargo resupply mission, one of its two objectives. Following its departure from the ISS, HTV-X1 will pursue its other objective—technology demonstration missions in orbit aimed at acquiring new space technologies.
Over approximately three months, HTV-X1 will conduct the following demonstration missions in sequence: the HTV-X Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (H-SSOD); an on-orbit experiment using the MulTiple reFlector Unit from Jaxa Investigation (Mt. FUJI), in which the attitude of HTV-X1 will be measured using laser ranging technology to estimate its distance and attitude motion; the DEployable LIGHtweight planar antenna Technology demonstration (DELIGHT); and the Space solar cell Demonstration system on HTV-X (SDX).

JAXA’s Aviation Technology Directorate introduced the F7-10 aircraft engine, developed entirely in Japan, at the JAXA Chofu Aerospace Center in September 2019. Using this engine, firing tests were conducted on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in collaboration with IHI Corporation, involving detailed measurements and analyses focused primarily on soot and other exhaust components resulting from the combustion of 100% SAF (Neat SAF)—an effort with few domestic precedents.
This study focused on soot, as it is related to contrails and related phenomena, which are attracting growing interest in research on the climate impacts of aviation. Soot emitted from aircraft is considered to contribute to the formation of contrails and related phenomena, which have been suggested to impact the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation (radiative balance).
There has been limited data in Japan on soot and other components emitted from aircraft engines when using SAF, and the acquisition of fundamental experimental data has been a key issue in clarifying the climate impacts of aviation.

From September to October 2025, we conducted firing tests using an actual aircraft engine to measure and analyze exhaust components resulting from the combustion of Neat SAF, conventional jet fuel, and blended SAF (a mixture of the two). The results showed approximately a 75% reduction in soot emissions from Neat SAF combustion, with emission levels about one-quarter of those observed during conventional jet fuel combustion.

The fundamental experimental data on soot emission characteristics obtained in this study contribute to a basic understanding of contrail formation mechanisms and the assessment of their climate impacts. In addition, we believe that the demonstration of Neat SAF combustion in firing tests using an actual aircraft engine holds social significance for the introduction of SAF. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050. Amid recent movements toward decarbonization in the aviation industry, SAF is expected to provide a key solution for CO2 emission reductions. JAXA will continue working to ensure that this demonstration expedites the introduction of SAF among domestic and international aircraft engine manufacturers as well as across the aviation sector, thereby serving as a catalyst to support the development of the aviation industry.

Based on the results and measurement know-how obtained through this demonstration, JAXA’s Aviation Technology Directorate will continue its fundamental research on the characteristics of exhaust components from SAF combustion and advance the establishment of a scientific foundation that contributes to climate impact assessments in the aviation sector, including those concerning contrails.