Past Projects Past Projects - Satellites and Spacecraft

Satellite Spacecraft Launch Date Mission
OHSUMI 2/11/1970 Launcher verification.
TANSEI (MS-T1) 2/16/1971 Satellite flight environment measurement and engineering tests.
SHINSEI 9/28/1971 Observation of ionosphere, cosmic rays, etc.
DENPA (REXS) 8/9/1972 Measurement of plasma waves, plasma density, electron flux, etc.
TANSEI-2 (MS-T2) 2/16/1974 Launch verification and satellite engineering.
TAIYO (SRATS) 2/24/1975 Observation of solar X-rays and solar UV radiation.
KIKU-1 (ETS-I) 9/9/1975 It verifies the functions of both the satellite technology and N-I Launch Vehicle capability.
UME (ISS) 2/29/1976 The first Japanese practical satellite that observed the ionosphere.
TANSEI-3 (MS-T3) 2/19/1977 Launch verification and satellite engineering
KIKU-2 (ETS-II) 2/23/1977 The first Japanese geostationary satellite for engineering tests.
Himawari (GMS) 7/14/1977 Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
Sakura (CS) 12/15/1977 An experimental satellite to realize a practical communication satellite system.
UME-2 (ISS-b) 2/16/1978 Practical satellite that observed the ionosphere.
KYOKKO (EXOS-A) 2/24/1978 Aurora observation. Imaging aurora from orbit and associated measurement
Yuri (BS) 4/8/1978 Practical communication satellite system
JIKIKEN (EXOS-B) 9/16/1978 Geomagnetic field exploration. Plasma density, wave particle interaction
Ayame (ECS) 2/6/1979 An experimental geostationary communication satellite that carried out milliwave communication experiments.
HAKUCHO (CORSA-b) 2/21/1979 X-ray observation of high-energy sources in the universe
TANSEI-4 (MS-T4) 2/17/1980 Launch verification and engineering
Ayame-2 (ECS-b) 2/22/1980 An experimental geostationary communication satellite that carried out milliwave communication experiments. (auxiliary)
KIKU-3 (ETS-IV) 2/11/1981 An engineering test satellite confirming N-II launch vehicle capability to the launching of 350-kg class satellites and testing of on-board equipment.
HINOTORI (ASTRO-A) 2/21/1981 Solar flare imaging by hard X-rays. Solar particle measurement.
Himawari-2 (GMS-2) 8/11/1981 Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
KIKU-4 (ETS-III) 9/3/1982 An engineering test satellite that verifies the three-axis attitude control and deployable solar panels,and tests the active-type thermal control and ion engine operations.
Sakura-2a (CS-2a) 2/4/1983 Practical communication satellite system
TENMA (ASTRO-B) 2/20/1983 Observation of X-ray stars, galaxies, y-ray bursts, soft X-ray nebulae
Sakura-2b (CS-2b) 8/6/1983 Practical communication satellite system
Yuri-2a (BS-2a) 1/23/1984 An experimental satellites for the direct satellite broadcast to ordinary household
OHZORA (EXOS-C) 2/14/1984 Upper atmosphere exploration
Himawari-3 (GMS-3) 8/3/1984 Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
SAKIGAKE (MS-T5) 1/8/1985 Demonstration of interplanetary flight engineering
SUISEI (PLANET-A) 8/19/1985 Observation of Halley's Comet. Interplanetary space plasma observation
Yuri-2b (BS-2b) 2/12/1986 An experimental satellites for direct satellite broadcasts to ordinary households.
JINDAI (MABES) 8/13/1986 Magnetic Bearing Flywheel Experimental System
GINGA (ASTRO-C) 2/5/1987 X-ray observation of active galactic nuclei and various high-energy sources
Momo-1 (MOS-1) 2/19/1987 Japan's first marine observation satellite for more effective natural resource utilization and for environmental protection
KIKU-5 (ETS-V) 8/27/1987 An engineering test satellite to establish three-axis stabilized satellite technology and to perform mobile communication experiments.
Sakura-3a (CS-3a) 2/19/1988 Practical communication satellite system
Sakura-3b (CS-3b) 9/16/1988 Practical communication satellite system
Himawari-4 (GMS-4) 9/6/1989 Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
HITEN (MUSES-A) 1/24/1990 Lunar swing-by orbiting technique demonstration
Momo-1b (MOS-1b) 2/7/1990 Marine observation satellite for more effective natural resource utilization and for environmental protection
ORIZURU (DEBUT) 2/7/1990 Tether for the microgravity environment/Verification of the major mechanical elements of the boomerang satellite
Yuri-3a (BS-3a) 8/28/1990 An experimental satellites for the direct satellite broadcast to ordinary household
Yuri-3b (BS-3b) 8/25/1991 An experimental satellites for the direct satellite broadcast to ordinary household
YOHKOH (SOLAR-A) 8/30/1991 High-resolution imaging of solar flares during solar maximum period
FUYO-1 (JERS-1) 2/11/1992 An earth observation satellite whose primary objective was to gather data on global land masses while conducting observations for land surveys, agricultural-forestry-fisheries, enviromnental protection, disaster prevention and coastal surveillance.
ASCA (ASTRO-D) 2/20/1993 X-ray observatory. Detailed X-ray images of high-energy sources
KIKU-6 (ETS-VI) 8/28/1994 An engineering test satellite to establish the three-axis stabilization technology for 2-ton class geostationary satellites.
SFU 3/18/1995 Unmanned space platform for space experiments in engineering and science
Himawari-5 (GMS-5) 3/18/1995 Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
Midori (ADEOS) 8/17/1996 An earth observation satellite acquiring global-scale observation data such as maritime meteorological conditions, atmospheric ozone, and gases that promote global warming
HALCA (MUSES-B) 2/12/1997 Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) for radio astronomy
KIKU-7 (ETS-VII) 11/28/1997 An engineering satellite acquiring data on rendezvous docking and communication equipment using data relay satellites.
Kakehashi (COMET) 2/21/1998 A communication engineering satellite that conducted the largest scaled communication experiments and function verification in subrecurrent orbit
NOZOMI (PLANET-B) 7/4/1998 Mars orbiter. Martian atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind
TSUBASA (MDS-1) 2/24/2002 A satellite to verify necessary technologies in the space with three key words, faster, less expensive, and more reliable
Midori-II (ADEOS-II) 2/4/2002 An earth observation satellite observing the changes in water on the earth, biological systems, and the ozone layer
Micro-LabSat 12/14/2002 A small research satellite to establish small satellite spin bus technologies and offer opportunities for space verification
LUNAR-A    Lunar explorer to monitor of moonquakes and heat-flow with penetrators, allowing us to better understand the interior structures of the Moon.
KIRARI (OICETS) 8/24/2005 Engineering test satellite to conduct optical communication experiments between on-orbit satellites using laser beam
KAGUYA (SELENE) 9/14/2007 Lunar orbiter to clarify the moon's origin and evolution by performing global observations of the moon for its surface element composition, mineral composition, topography, underground structure near the surface, magnetic abnormality, and gravity field
HAYABUSA (MUSES-C) 5/9/2003 An asteroid explorer which successfully conducted interplanetary flight by using ion engines and sample returns from an asteroid.
SDS-1 1/23/2009 A small demonstration satellite to improve technological achievements by verifying new technology in space in advance.
DAICHI 1/24/2006 The largest earth observation satellite, which contributed to mapping, regional observations, disaster monitoring and resource surveys.
AKARI 2/22/2006 It has marked various infrared-ray astronomical achievements including capturing the first space light from a planet and compiling the all-sky infrared source catalogues (AKARI All-Sky Survey Point Source Catalogues), which cover some 1.3 million planets.
ASTRO-G Radio Astronomical Satellite enables high-resolution celestial observations through its onboard radio telescope, "ASTRO-G"
Hitomi (ASTRO-H) 2/17/2016 Insight into the Hot Universe-The new generation X-ray astronomy satellite.
TSUBAME (SLATS) 12/23/2017 Creating new possibilities in satellite usage by developing new orbits.

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