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The support of the local people is vital to our work. I live on Tanegashima, so I am not so affected, but many staff come to the island just for the rocket launches, and most of them are well taken care of by the local inns. A warm meal and a nice hot bath after a late night at work provide great relaxation. This is just one example, but we have been receiving great hospitality from the locals.
The TNSC staff also mingle with the locals at various town events. When I was transferred to TNSC for the first time, my family and I often used to join them, too.
The local people say that Tanegashima is not lively without an upcoming launch. Everyone says that the island lacked spirit and was very quiet after the H-IIA F6 launch failure, until F7. So they were all very pleased by the consecutive successful launches this year. We would like to keep them happy.
I was 17 years old when I saw Tanegashima Island for the first time. I was rock climbing on Yakushima Island, and seeing Tanegashima across the water, I remember thinking what a flat land it was. My first visit to Tanegashima was in 1971, after I started my career at the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). At that time, I was not in a position to be able to fly, so I traveled by train and ship from Tokyo, spending a day and a half at Tanegashima. The roads had not been built yet, and my honest impression about the island was, "There is nothing here. I've come to such a countryside." But later, as I visited the island for rocket launches, I started looking forward to going to Tanegashima and liking the place as it was.
I was transferred to TNSC for the fourth time last spring, which means that I have spent twelve years in total on Tanegashima. I am very fond of my life on the island, especially its rich nature. In summer, the blue ocean is spectacular, and in winter, I enjoy picking shellfish on the beach, going fishing, and finding bamboo shoots. I am hoping to retire on Tanegashima, away from busy urban life. |
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My goal is to make all launches successful, and to carry them out on schedule.
Many people are interested in watching a rocket launch. If we can launch at the time originally announced, more visitors will come to enjoy the spectacle, and of course tourists are beneficial to the town. Although today rocket launches are broadcast on the Internet, this cannot compare to watching such a dramatic event in person.
In addition, although this will take a lot of time and work to implement, I would like to establish an environment ready for a rocket launch anytime, 365 days a year. Even a car is difficult to start if it has not been used for several months. It is the same with launch facilities - disuse is not good for them. If we have regular rocket launches, perhaps every two or three months, we will be able to maintain and manage the facilities more efficiently, and the engineers and staff will become more confident in their skills. I believe this will give us the ability to launch rockets on time almost every time.
In the remainder of fiscal 2006, three more H-IIA vehicles and one M-V are in line for launch. We will ensure excellent maintenance and management, so that none of them will be delayed due to a facility problem.
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Shoushin Sonoda
Director, The Kagoshima Space Center
Sonoda was born in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture. After graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ariake National College of Technology, he started his career at the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) in 1971. Since then, he has been involved mainly in the Launch Vehicle Control Room, the Tanegashima Space Center, Planning and Management, and Public Affairs. In 2000, he was appointed TNSC Deputy Manager, and in 2003 he became Range and Launch Management Office Manager. He has been TNSC Director since April 2005. |
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A view from Rocket Hill Observatory |
The Space Museum, with children playing in the park in front of the building |
H-IIA Rocket, 50-meter full-scale model |
TNSC overlooks a scenic beach. |
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