JAXA confirmed that the Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” entered its target orbit to travel to an asteroid Ryugu after the Earth-swing-by on Dec. 3.

The Hayabusa2 took images of the Earth using its onboard Optical Navigation Camera - Telescopic (ONC-T) after the swing-by. You can see the Australian continent and Antarctica in the image. Meteorological satellites including the Himawari cannot take images of the Antarctic area hence the shot this time is precious.

At approximately 10:12 p.m. on Dec. 11 (Fri), the Soyuz spacecraft (43S),which Astronaut Kimiya Yui aboard, landed on a snowfield in the Republic of Kazakhstan. He safely came back to the Earth.
Astronaut Yui started his expedition on the International Space Station (ISS) on July 23, 2015, and engaged in various scientific experiments including high quality protein crystallization research. In addition, he manipulated the robotic arm for capturing the ISS cargo transporter “KOUNOTORI5 (HTV5)” as the first Japanese Astronaut.
Thank you very much for your support.

The launch date and time for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 (H-IIA F30) with the X-ray Astronomy Satellite "ASTRO-H" onboard was decided to be at around 5:45 p.m. thru 6:30 p.m. (JST) on February 12 (Fri.,) 2016 (Japan Standard Time.)
The latest information about the ASTRO-H and its launch preparation status will be updated on the ASTRO-H project page.

As a result of measuring and calculating the AKATSUKI’s orbit after its thrust ejection on Dec. 7, JAXA found that the AKATSUKI was inserted into the Venus orbit.
We have already received images from three instruments whose function has already been confirmed, namely the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI), the Longwave IR camera (LIR), and the 1μm camera (IR1).
We will check the function of the three other scientific mission instruments and perform initial observation for about three months while gradually adjusting the orbit for shifting its elliptical orbit to the period of about nine days. The regular operation is scheduled to start in April, 2016.

Image: Venus taken by UVI on Dec. 7 (JST).

JAXA President Naoki Okumura approved the “Declaration on Action” by a group of male leaders who will create “A Society in which Women Shine” supported by the Gender Equality Bureau of the Cabinet Office. JAXA has been working to improve the overall working environment including promoting conditions where women play more active roles through our Gender Equality Office. Three pillars of the Declaration namely “taking actions and sending messages ourselves”, “disrupting the status quo”, and “developing networking” are corresponding to our goals; therefore, we will actively support and promote the activity under the leadership of the JAXA President.

JAXA performed the attitude control engine thrust operation of the Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI” for its Venus orbit insertion from 8:51 a.m. on December 7 (Japan Standard Time).
As a result of analyzing data transmitted from the orbiter, we confirmed that the thrust emission of the attitude control engine was conducted for about 20 minutes as scheduled!
The orbiter is now in good health. We are currently measuring and calculating its orbit after the operation. It will take a few days to estimate the orbit, thus we will announce the operation result once it is determined.
We welcome your support messages to the AKATSUKI mission and its project team members!

JAXA performed an Earth swing-by operation of the "Hayabusa2" on the night of Dec 3 （Thu.）, 2015 （Japan Standard Time）. The "Hayabusa2 flew closest to the Earth at 7:08 p.m. （JST） and passed over the Pacific Ocean around the Hawaii islands at an altitude of about 3,090 km.
After its closest flight to the Earth, we have confirmed the good health of the "Hayabusa2".
It will take about a week to confirm if the explorer entered the target orbit.

Astronaut Yui is returning to the Earth at around 10:12 p.m. on December 11 after completing his long stay at the International Space Station (ISS) for about five months.
JAXA is broadcasting his return trip live through the Internet. You can also watch the live report at some public viewing spots in Japan. Let's support and cheer on his homecoming.

The H-IIA F29 with Telstar 12 VANTAGE onboard lifted off at 3:50:00 p.m. on Nov. 24, (Japan Standard Time) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 4 hours and 27 minutes after liftoff, the separation of the Telstar 12 VANTAGE was confirmed.

H-IIA F29 incorporates the outcome of the H-IIA UPGRADE. Following a long coast, the 3rd burn of the upgraded 2nd stage was conducted successfully. Then, Telstar 12 VANTAGE was injected closer to geostationary orbit than previous standard transfer orbit.

The launch time of the Upgraded H-IIA (H-IIA F29) was set for 3:23 p.m. on November 24 (Tue.) 2015 (Japan Standard Time). JAXA will broadcast a live launch report from the Tanegashima Space Center from 2:45 p.m. on the day. You can watch it through the Internet at home. Please do not miss this event!
Please send your support messages for the mission, or tweet it including the hashtag #h2af29.

The Venus Climate Orbiter AKATSUKI will try to enter the orbit of Venus on Dec. 7 (Mon.) after five years of operation. We are welcoming support messages.
After AKATSUKI’s failure to enter Venus' orbit on Dec. 7, 2010, JAXA investigated the cause and considered a second attempt schedule while operating the satellite for a long period. Now, on Dec. 7, 2015, coincidentally the same day on the calendar as the previous attempt, we will perform the injection for the second time.
The AKATSUKI is in a good condition and it will take a few days of confirmation to know the result. Your support for the AKATSUKI and its project team members is very much appreciated.

The Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” will fly near the Earth to perform an Earth swing-by utilizing the Earth’s gravity on Dec. 3 (Thur.) for its orbit control.
The Hayabusa2, which soared into space on Dec. 3, 2014, will coincidentally come close to the Earth on Dec. 3 (Thur.), 2015, to conduct the Earth swing-by. The explorer will fly closest to the Earth at around 7:08 p.m. on that day (Japan Standard Time).
After the swing-by, the Hayabusa2 will head to its target asteroid “Ryugu”. Your support for the mission will be very welcomed. We are waiting for your support messages to the explorer itself, project personnel, and the overall mission.

Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has developed GSMaP realtime version (GSMaP_NOW) providing rainfall information of current hour, and released those information through a new webpage “JAXA Realtime Rainfall Watch”.
While GSMaP near-real-time version (GSMaP_NRT) is provided with 4-hour data latency, which consists of 3-hour for data gathering and 1-hour for processing, GSMaP_NOW is provided in quasi-realtime and updated every half-hour. For example, hourly GSMaP_NOW image and data during 0930Z and 1029Z is available at around 1030Z through the web site.

Asteroid 1999 JU3, a target of the Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2,” was named “Ryugu”.
One major reason for the selection was that, in the Japanese ancient story “Urashima Taro”, the main character, Taro Urashima, brought back a casket from the Dragon’s palace, or the “Ryugu” Castle, at the bottom of the ocean, and the theme of “bringing back a treasure” is common as the Hayabusa2 will also bring back a capsule with samples. It was selected among 7,336 entries.
Thank you very much to so many of you who took part in the naming campaign.

The KOUNOTORI5 (HTV5, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) left the ISS on Sept. 29 and re-entered the atmosphere at around 5:33 a.m. on Sept. 30 (Japan Standard Time.)
The KOUNOTORI 5 successfully achieved its mission of taking cargo to the ISS, then completed all its tasks over about 42 days.
We would like to send our sincere appreciation to all of you who have been supporting the KOUNOTORI project.

The launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No..29 (H-IIA F29) was set to be between 3:23 p.m. thru 5:07 p.m. on Nov. 24 (Tue.), 2015 (Japan Standard Time).
Our achievement of developing an upgraded flagship launch vehicle for acquiring global-level launch capacity of a geostationary satellite (upgraded specifications) is incorporated into the second stage of the H-IIA F29. With the upgraded technology, our launch vehicle will be further improved to be more user friendly and useful than the conventional H-IIA.
H-IIA F29 launch will be broadcasted live.

The KOUNOTORI5 will leave the International Space Station (ISS) at 0:20 a.m. on September 29 (Tue.), and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at around 5:31 a.m. on the 30th (Wed.) to burn up. JAXA will broadcast the live report of its separation from the ISS through the Internet from around 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 28 (Mon.). Please don't miss it! (All dates and time are Japan Standard Time.)
(Photo: JAXA/NASA)

JAXA finished accepting proposals for a name for “1999 JU3” at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2015. Thank you very much for your many entries. Please look forward to the final selection.
The suggested names will be screened for a final candidate by the “1999 JU3 name selection committee (temporary name)” in JAXA, then the name will be reported to the LINEAR team, who discovered the asteroid.
The team will then propose the name to the IAU and the Committee for Small-Body Nomenclature of the IAU will review the name for the final decision.

He will stay at the ISS for about six months from Nov. 2017.
Astronaut Kanai was selected as an astronaut candidate in September 2009, and then, certified as an ISS astronaut in July 2011. Since then, he has been continuously maintaining and improving his qualities as an ISS astronaut through various training. For Astronaut Kanai, this long duration stay aboard the ISS will be his first space flight. He will be in charge of ISS operations as a flight engineer and onboard scientific experiments using the space environment during the 54th/55th expedition mission.

The “KOUNOTORI5” launched by the H-IIB F5 on Aug. 19 (Wed. Japan Standard Time) was captured by the robotic arm of the International Space Station (ISS), which was maneuvered by Astronaut Kimiya Yui, at 7:29 p.m. on August 24 (Mon. JST). The HTV5 was then successfully berthed at the ISS at 2:28 a.m. on August 25 (Tue. JST).
The internal cargo as well as external cargo, such as CALET, on the KOUNOTORI5 will be unloaded by the onboard crew. (Photo: NASA TV)

The KOUNOTORI5, a regular cargo transporter to space, was launched by the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.5 (H-IIB F5) at 8:50:49 p.m. on August 19 (Wed.) 2015 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes and 54 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the KOUNOTORI5 was confirmed.
The KOUNOTORI5 will fly near the International Space Station, and Astronaut Yui will maneuver the robotic arm to capture it. We plan to broadcast his performance through the Internet from 7:05 p.m. on Aug. 24 Please don’t miss it!

The KOUNOTORI5(HTV5)/H-IIB F5 launch was postponed to 8:50:49 p.m. on August 19 due to adverse weather.
Accordingly, the live launch report will begin at 8:00 p.m. on August 19 (Wed. , JST). The report will be broadcast through the Internet.
Please send your support messages for the mission, or tweet it including the hashtag #HTV5.

The launch date of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 5 carrying the KOUNOTORI5 has been postponed as unfavorable weather is forecasted. The launch was originally scheduled for August 17. The live broadcast of the launch will also be put off accordingly.
Your support messages are very much welcome through Twitter (Hashtag “#HTV5”) or via the following website.

The KOUNOTORI5/H-IIB F5 launch was postponed to 9:35:54 p.m. on August 17 due to adverse weather. The launch was originally scheduled for August 16.
Accordingly, the live broadcast of the launch will start at 8:50 p.m. on Aug. 17. Please don’t miss it!
Your support messages are very much welcome through Twitter (Hashtag “#HTV5”) or via the following website.

The launch date of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 5 carrying the KOUNOTORI5 has been postponed as unfavorable weather is forecasted. The launch was originally scheduled for August 16. The live broadcast of the launch will also be put off accordingly.
Your support messages are very much welcome through Twitter (Hashtag “#HTV5”) or via the following website.

The test of D-SEND#2 Project in Sweden has been confirmed that the supersonic experimental airplane successfully flew over the Boom Measurement System , and that booms generated from the airplane were measured by multiple microphones.
It is the world’s first successful flight test in which an experimental airplane designed with low sonic boom design concept to reduce both front and rear shock waves was flown at supersonic speed and had its sonic booms captured.

The Soyuz Spacecraft with Astronaut Kimiya Yui onboard lifted off at 6:02 a.m. on July 23 (Thursday, Japan Standard Time,) and docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 11:45 a.m. on the same day.
After the hatch to the ISS opened at 1:56 p.m., Astronaut Yui's expedition mission began. Astronaut Yui will stay at the ISS for about five months as a crewmember of Expeditions 44/45 to conduct various missions including capturing the KOUNOTORI5, a cargo transporter to the ISS, operating ISS systems, and performing scientific experiments using the space environment.
Astronaut Yui will make every effort for his first ISS long-stay mission. Your support messages for Astronaut Yui are continuously welcomed.

The Soyuz Spacecraft (43S/TMA-17M) with Astronaut Kimiya Yui onboard lifted off at 6:02 a.m. on July 23 (Thu., Japan Standard Time) from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Republic of Kazakhstan.) The Soyuz will be docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 11:46 a.m.(JST.) The Soyuz crew members including Astronaut Yui will then enter the ISS for their long-stay mission there. We will begin our live broadcast through the Internet of their entrance to the ISS from 12:40 p.m. (JST.) Please don’t miss it!
We are accepting support messages to Astronaut Yui. Your enthusiastic support messages are more than welcomed! *The Internet broadcast schedule is subject to change.

JAXA is holding a naming proposal campaign to christen the asteroid “1999 JU3",which the Hayabusa2 is scheduled to visit in June or July 2018. Why don’t you try to become a godparent of the asteroid?
The application period is from 1:30 p.m. on July 22 thru 11:59 p.m. on August 31 (Japan Standard Time.)

August 31, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. (Japan Standard Time). (Extended from 10:00)

The Soyuz spacecraft carrying Astronaut Yui and other crew members is scheduled for launch at 6:02 a.m. on July 23 (Japan Standard Time.)
JAXA will broadcast their departure live via YouTube and NASA TV.

Astronaut Yui will be on his first flight to the International Space Station.
Please send him a support message.

The "Space Dome", an exhibition hall at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC), has been renovated and was reopened today.
We newly exhibit a real-size mock "Kibo", the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station, and have a large screen on the floor called the "Orbital vision ? to decipher current and future space utilization through orbits", as well as renewed the satellite exhibition area. Please come and visit the newly born "Space Dome".

Progress spacecraft (59P) with the International Space Station.
Currently, ISS partner countries are targeting a new launch at 6:02 a.m. on July 23, 2015 (Japan Standard Time).
JAXA continues to confirm the safety of the Soyuz Spacecraft launch.
We will make an official announcement on the launch day as well as the return date of Astronaut Yui as soon as they are finalized.

The 30th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science (ISTS) will be held at Kobe Convention Center from July 4 (Sat) to 10 (Fri), 2015. The ISTS is the leading space conference in Japan that attracts over 1,000 international participants, hosted in various cities in Japan.
The theme of the 30th ISTS is “Space Voyage - Frontier for Better Life on Earth.” Please join us and have stimulating discussions about space technology and science for our better life in the future.

The launch date and time for the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 5 (H-IIB F5) with the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI5" (HTV5) onboard was set for around 10:01 p.m. on August 16 (Sun.), 2015 (Japan Standard Time).
The H-IIB F5 has already been transported to the TNSC, and it is now being assembled there.
* Launch time will be determined by the updated orbit of the ISS.

The Russian Federal Space Agency announced on May 12 (Moscow Time) that it will postpone the launch of the Soyuz Spacecraft (43S/TMA-17M), on which Astronaut Yui will be aboard, as the agency experienced a docking failure of the Progress spacecraft (59P) with the International Space Station.
The launch was originally scheduled on May 27, 2015.
The new target launch day is sometime in late July, and the date will be finalized and announced after coordinating with partners of the ISS.

Photo: The Soyuz, with the Progress spacecraft (59P) aboard, is seen at the launch pad
(C) S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

The IKAROS seemed to wake up from its hibernation mode in mid March 2015, and JAXA searched for it based on its attitude and orbit prediction to receive its radio waves. On April 23 (Thu.), we successfully found the IKAROS, which is flying at a distance of about 120 million kilometers from the Earth.
We will continue to receive data from the IKAROS until May to confirm its condition and analyze the information.

A target launch date and time of the Soyuz spacecraft (43S/TMA-17M), which Astronaut Yui will be aboard, was set for at 04:46 a.m. on May 27 (Wed.), 2015 (Japan Standard Time). It will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (in the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Astronaut Yui will stay at the International Space Station for about six months as a crewmember of the Expedition 44/45, and will return to Earth in November on the Soyuz spacecraft (43S/TMA-17M.)

JAXA stopped sending and receiving radio waves to and from the Aurora Observation Satellite “AKEBONO” (EXOS-D) at 3:59 p.m. on April 23, 2015 to terminate its operation.
The AKEBONO, launched on Feb. 22, 1989, continued its observation activities for 26 years and two months, amazingly longer than its target life of one year, and attained various important achievements including aurora phenomena in the polar region of the Earth and the long-term periodical changes of the Van Allen radiation belt.
The achievements and knowledge obtained by the AKEBONO project will be utilized for observation planning and data analysis of a future explorer to the geospace (the Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace "ERG" project.)

We are striving for maximizing Japan's R&D achievements, which is the main purpose of setting up the National Research and Development Agency, not only by strengthening our R&D ability in the aerospace area but also through incorporating knowledge from various fields and openly operating our agency.

The Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2,” launched on Dec. 3, 2014, completed its initial functional confirmation period of about three months. The explorer was moving to the cruising phase on March 3 while heading to the asteroid “1999 JU3.”
The Hayabusa2 is in good health. It will be under preparatory operation including speed increase by continuous operation of the ion engines for an Earth swing-by scheduled in Nov. or Dec., 2015.

Astronaut Chiaki Mukai, who is also the director of the JAXA Center for Applied Space Medicine and Human Research (J-CASMHR), was conferred the National Order of the Legion of Honour, Chevalier (French: L' Ordre national de la Legion d'honneur, Knight). French Ambassador Thierry Dana presented a decoration order medal to her on Feb. 3

JAXA decided to inject the AKATSUKI into the Venus orbit on December 7 (Mon.), 2015.
After being injected into the orbit, the AKATSUKI will observe the atmosphere of Venus, which is often referred to as a twin sister of the Earth, through remote sensing. Its observations are expected to develop "Planetary Meteorology" further by elucidating the atmospheric circulation mechanism and studying the comparison with the Earth.

JAXA will exhibit the Space Solar Power System (SSPS) at the JAXA Booth at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2015 to be held between Jan. 20 (Wed.) and 22 (Fri.) 2015 at Abu Dhabi. For more details about the SSPS research at JAXA, please refer to the following website.

Astronaut Kimiya Yui held a press conference at the JAXA Tokyo Office on Jan. 5, 2015, to introduce his expedition mission at the International Space Station and express his aspirations for his flight.
This long-stay mission is his first space trip. He is scheduled to live on the ISS for about six months from May 2015 as a crew member of Expedition 44/45.
He will work as a flight engineer at the ISS to engage in operating ISS facilities including the Kibo, Japan Experiment Module for the ISS, and focusing on the application of the space environment including scientific experiments by Japan and other international partners.