Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The , also known as JAXA,JAXA is an English acronym. JAXA stands for "Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency". is Japan's national space agency.Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA),  "About JAXA" ; retrieved 2012-4-2.
JAXA is an Independent Administrative Institution.JAXA, "Law Concerning Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency"; retrieved 2012-4-2.

JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellites into orbit.  JAXA is involved in advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon.MCurry, Justin. "Japan launches biggest moon mission since Apollo landings," Guardian (UK). September 15, 2007; retrieved 2012-4-2.

 History 
In 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA.Kamiya, Setsuko, "Japan a low-key player in space race", Japan Times, June 30, 2009, p. 3; retrieved 2012-4-2.  
 Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)
 National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL)
 National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)

Satellites
Ōsumi was Japan's first satellite.  It was sent into orbit in 1970.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ōsumi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 762.

 Related pages 
 Independent Administrative Institution (IAI), 2001
 List of Independent Administrative Institutes in Japan

 References 

 Other websites 
 JAXA 
 Twitter
 "JAXA 2025" Presentation 
 "JAXA Channel" Official YouTube channel
 International Space Station (ISS) and "Kibo" Information center
   JAXA -  Space Environment Utilization and  Space Experiment
 RAND Report on Japan's Space Program, 2005
 CSIS Report on US-Japan Space Policy Cooperation, 2003
 GOSAT satellite 
Japan's Evolving Space Program

Category:Independent Administrative Institutions of Japan
Category:Space agencies
Category:Japanese space program
Category:2003 establishments in Japan