The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission is the world's first mission to collect samples from the Martin moon, Phobos, and bring these back to Earth. Specifically, it is a mission to travel to the Martian sphere, observe the red planet's two moons (Phobos and Deimos), land on Phobos for sample collection, and return to Earth.

"The Central Tracking Room (the "Control Room") was originally designed to have a theater-like structure with large monitors installed on the front wall and rows of wood-effect desks laid out on the tiered floor to face the front monitors. The staff worked in shifts around the clock in order to keep constant watch on space. The control desks were never left unattended even for a moment."

Subsequently, in addition to remote control, the Control Room's facility has been upgraded by implementing automation technologies, which has eliminated the need for JAXA to assign its personnel to the stations all the time.

Also, INOUE took note of change in the size of various equipment over time, remembering larger machines and devices used in the past.

"When I joined the department, a light car-size computing machinery was used for orbital mechanics calculation and "compact" size calculators, which were as large as a bookshelf, were working to run satellite control systems. The orbital mechanics calculator was too large to be housed in the Control Room and a dedicated room was built separately to accommodate the machine, with air-conditioning equipped to keep it from heating. Today, thanks to the recent development of downsizing technologies, all the applicable machines are housed within the Control Room. In addition, the spread of Internet technologies has driven the innovation of the means of communication, making some of the facility features unnecessary. As such, the Control Room has undergone a huge transformation."

The Control Room' structural specification has largely changed. The previous tiered floor has been replaced by the present flat structure, and the large front-wall monitors were removed. Instead, an array of desktop monitors has been installed to enable access to information on an individual basis.

"While the STCC's facilities and specifications have been updated and upgraded in response to the different needs of the time, our missions basically do not change. The STCC's principal roles are the tracking and control of satellites and operation and maintenance of related equipment, for the purpose of connecting satellites in space and their users on Earth. We will continue to commit to these missions."

At the same time, INOUE talked about the operating structure being reorganized over these decades. Specifically, the initial structure was composed of four major operations for: 1. maintenance, use planning and operation of antennas; 2. satellite control; 3. orbit determination and orbit propagation (prediction); and 4. system development. Afterwards, operations for satellite control were transferred to departments managing individual satellites. And recently, the STCC has taken on a new role in observing space debris for the purpose of protecting satellites.

"We started to study about space debris during the last century before JAXA decided to carry out measures to address the issue this century as this topic began to receive wider attention. Our tasks are to track space debris to estimate its trajectory and control the satellite orbit to prevent the spacecraft from colliding with debris. In order to fulfill this new important role, we will demonstrate our strong capabilities for around-the-clock observation of space and satellites."

To wrap up the interview, INOUE shared with us his views on the motivation for working for the STCC, based on his experience of engaging in its operations in the past―more than 30 years ago―and at present.

"The STCC may be a relatively low-profile department. However, all its members are proud of striving to fulfill its role as an around-the-clock observer of satellites and spacecraft. They enjoy an appropriate sense of tension when undertaking each project, and feel a sense of pride in working behind the scenes to support individual missions."

Even today, INOUE, the STCC Director, occasionally misses the earlier days of engaging in on-site operations, saying, "I miss the days when I was working at the control desk. While looking at the computer screen, I felt a huge thrill out of imagining satellites orbiting in space and the control facility running in place, based on the data appearing on the screen."

The STCC, a function to connect space and Earth, continues to observe space around the clock in order to support the success of various space missions.