3 gov't space agencies to be integrated in 2003

3 gov't space agencies to be integrated in 2003

TOKYO, Japan - Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Atsuko Toyama announces the integration of three government-affiliated space agencies at a news conference in Tokyo on Aug. 21. The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), and the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) will be integrated into a new entity by fiscal 2003.

Japan's spacecraft to explore Mars

Japan's spacecraft to explore Mars

The M-5 rocket carrying the Planet-B spacecraft, Japan's first spacecraft to explore Mars, is shown to the press at the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Thursday July 2. Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) plans to launch the spacecraft later in July.

(2)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

(2)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

GAGOSHIMA, Japan - A computer graphics released by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) shows how MUSES-C, the world's first space probe designed to retrieve surface samples from an asteroid, operates in the space. If operations go as planned, MUSES-C launched by ISAS on May 9 will meet asteroid 1998SF36 at 300 million kilometers from Earth in summer 2005 and return home two years later. (Kyodo)

(1)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

(1)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

GAGOSHIMA, Japan - Photo released by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) shows MUSES-C, the world's first space probe designed to retrieve surface samples from an asteroid, which was launched aboard an M-r rocket from the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture on May 9. If post-launch operations go as planned, MUSES-C will meet asteroid 1998SF36 at 300 million kilometers from Earth in summer 2005 and return home two years later. (Kyodo)

3 gov't space agencies to be integrated in 2003

3 gov't space agencies to be integrated in 2003

TOKYO, Japan - Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Atsuko Toyama announces the integration of three government-affiliated space agencies at a news conference in Tokyo on Aug. 21. The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), and the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) will be integrated into a new entity by fiscal 2003.

Launch of Japanese scientific satellite aborted

Launch of Japanese scientific satellite aborted

UCHINOURA, Japan - The rocket carrying Japan's astronomical observation satellite stands on the launching pad at Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on the morning of Feb. 9 after the scheduled launch was aborted immediately before liftoff due to technical problems. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) officials said the countdown was halted after a wiring fault was discovered at a tracking station.

Japan's spacecraft to explore M

Japan's spacecraft to explore M

The M-5 rocket carrying the Planet-B spacecraft, Japan's first spacecraft to explore Mars, is shown to the press at the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Thursday July 2. Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) plans to launch the spacecraft later in July.