# Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

35°33′30″N 139°23′43″E﻿ / ﻿35.558389°N 139.395255°E﻿ / 35.558389; 139.395255
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (宇宙科学研究所, Uchū Kagaku Kenkyūsho), or ISAS, is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes which played a major role in Japan's space development. Established as part of the University of Tokyo in 1964, the institute spun off from the university to come under direct purview of the Ministry of Education. Since 2003, it is a division of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

## History

The ISAS originated as part of the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, where Hideo Itokawa experimented with miniature solid-fuel rockets (Pencil Rocket and Baby Rocket [ja]) in the 1950s. This experimentation eventually led to the development of the Κ (Kappa) sounding rocket, which was used for observations during the International Geophysical Year (IGY). By 1960, the Κ-8 rocket had reached an altitude of 200 km.
In 1964, the rocket group and the Institute of Aeronautics, along with scientific ballooning team, were merged to form Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science (宇宙航空研究所, Uchū kōkū kenkyūjo) within the University of Tokyo. The rocket evolved into the L (Lambda) series, and, in 1970, L-4S-5 was launched as Japan's first artificial satellite Ohsumi.
Although Lambda rockets were only sounding rockets, the next generation of M (Mu) rockets was intended to be satellite launch vehicles from the start. Beginning in 1971, ISAS launched a series of scientific satellites to observe the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Since the launch of Hakucho in 1979, ISAS has had X-ray astronomy satellites consecutively in orbit, until it was briefly terminated by the launch failure of ASTRO-E.
In 1981, as a part of university system reform, and for the mission expansion, ISAS was spun out from University of Tokyo as an inter-university national research organization, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.
ISAS was responsible for launching Japan's first interplanetary probes, Sakigake and Suisei, to Halley's Comet in 1985. It also launched Hiten, Japan's first lunar probe, in 1990. The Nozomi probe was launched in 1998 in an attempt to orbit Mars, but the spacecraft suffered system failures and was unable to enter orbit. In 2003, ISAS launched the Hayabusa spacecraft, the first asteroid sample return mission in the world.
Later in 2003, three national aerospace organizations including ISAS were merged to form Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The English name Institute of Space and Astronautical Science is still used, although the Japanese name was changed to 宇宙科学研究本部 (literally, Space Science Research Division, whereas the previous name's literal translation was Space Science Laboratory). In 2010, the name was changed back to the previous Uchū kagaku kenkyūjo (宇宙科学研究所). Under JAXA, ISAS continues to be responsible for space-based astronomy, and lunar and planetary exploration missions.

## List of spacecraft by ISAS

Launch failures, cancelled projects, proposals etc. are not listed.

### Before establishment of JAXA

| Launch date | Name before launch | Name after launch | Mission |
| 11 February 1970 | | Ohsumi | Technology demonstration |
| 16 February 1971 | MS-T1 | Tansei | Technology demonstration |
| 28 September 1971 | MS-F2 | Shinsei [ja; simple] | Ionosphere / cosmic-ray / solar-radio observation |
| 19 August 1972 | REXS | Denpa | Ionosphere / magnetosphere observation |
| 16 February 1974 | MS-T2 | Tansei–2 [ja; hu] | Technology experiment |
| 24 February 1975 | SRATS | Taiyo | Thermosphere and sun |
| 19 February 1977 | MS-T3 | Tansei–3 [ja; hu] | Technology experiment |
| 4 February 1978 | EXOS-A | Kyokko [ja; simple] | Aurora and ionosphere |
| 16 September 1978 | EXOS-B | Jikiken [ja; simple] | Magnetosphere and thermosphere observation |
| 21 February 1979 | CORSA-b | Hakucho | X-ray astronomy |
| 17 February 1980 | MS-T4 | Tansei–4 [ja; hu] | Technology experiment |
| 21 February 1981 | ASTRO-A | Hinotori | Solar X-ray observation |
| 20 February 1983 | ASTRO-B | Tenma | X-ray astronomy |
| 14 February 1984 | EXOS-C | Ohzora [ja; simple] | Mesosphere observation |
| 8 January 1985 | MS-T5 | Sakigake | Technology experiment / Comet observation |
| 19 August 1985 | PLANET-A | Suisei | Comet observation |
| 19 August 1987 | ASTRO-C | Ginga | X-ray astronomy |
| 22 February 1989 | EXOS-D | Akebono | Aurora observation |
| 24 January 1990 | MUSES-A | Hiten | Lunar flyby / Interplanetary technology experiment |
| 30 August 1991 | SOLAR-A | Yohkoh | Solar X-ray observation (with NASA / UK) |
| 24 July 1992 | GEOTAIL | GEOTAIL | Magnetosphere observation (with NASA) |
| 20 February 1993 | ASTRO-D | ASCA | X-ray astronomy (with NASA) |
| 18 March 1995 | SFU | SFU | Multi-purpose experiment flyer (with NASDA / NEDO / USEF) |
| 12 February 1997 | MUSES-B | HALCA | Space VLBI technology development |
| 4 July 1998 | PLANET-B | Nozomi | Mars atmosphere observation |
| 9 May 2003 | MUSES-C | Hayabusa | Planetary sample return technology development |

### After establishment of JAXA

| Launch date | Name before launch | Name after launch | Mission |
| 10 July 2005 | ASTRO-EII | Suzaku | X-ray astronomy |
| 24 August 2005 | INDEX | Reimei | Technology / Aurora research |
| 21 February 2006 | ASTRO-F | Akari | Infrared astronomy |
| 22 September 2006 | SOLAR-B | Hinode | Solar observation |
| 14 September 2007 | SELENE | Kaguya | Lunar orbiter |
| 20 May 2010 | PLANET-C | Akatsuki | Venus atmosphere observation |
| 14 September 2013 | SPRINT-A | Hisaki | EUV observation |
| 3 December 2014 | Hayabusa2 | Hayabusa2 | Asteroid sample return |
| 17 February 2016 | ASTRO-H | Hitomi | X-ray astronomy |
| 20 December 2016 | ERG | Arase | Magnetosphere research |
| 20 October 2018 (in transit) | MMO | Mio | Exploration of Mercury as part of the BepiColombo mission with ESA |
| 14 April 2023 | JUICE | JUICE | Ganymede exploration (with ESA / NASA) |
| 6 September 2023 | XRISM | XRISM | X-ray astronomy |
| 6 September 2023 | SLIM | SLIM | Lunar landing demonstration |
| 7 October 2024 | Hera | Asteroid observation (with ESA) |

### Future missions

| Planned launch date | Name | Mission |
| 2026 | MMX | Phobos sample return |
| 2027 | Roman Space Telescope | Infrared astronomy (with NASA) |
| July 2028 | Solar-C EUVST | Solar observation |
| 2028 | DESTINY$^+$ | Near Earth objects multi-flyby |
| 2028 | JASMINE | Infrared astrometry |
| 2030 | HiZ-GUNDAM [ja] | Gamma-ray burst observation |
| 2032 | LiteBIRD | CMB astronomy |
| 2035 | ATHENA | X-ray astronomy (with ESA / NASA) |