Japan space agency developing world's smallest satellite-launch rocket

Japan space agency developing world's smallest satellite-launch rocket

SAGAMIHARA, Japan, Nov. 22 Kyodo - Hiroto Habu, an assistant professor at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, poses with the TRICOM1 ultra small satellite developed by the University of Tokyo, at JAXA's facility in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Nov. 22, 2016. JAXA said it will launch the world's smallest rocket, which is around 10 meters long, about 50 centimeters in diameter and weighs 2.6 tons, to put the satellite into Earth orbit from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, by the end of March 2017.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Spectators watch as Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon climbs after blasting off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Sept. 14, 2013.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifting off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Spectators watch as Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon climbs after blasting off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Sept. 14, 2013.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon ascends in the sky after lifting off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Epsilon developer achieves 'revolution' in rocket biz

Epsilon developer achieves 'revolution' in rocket biz

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Yasuhiro Morita, professor at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, poses for photos on Sept. 14, 2013 at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture after watching Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon's liftoff. Morita led the development team of the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years incorporating artificial intelligence.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Spectators look on as Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon ascends in the sky after lifting off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifting off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo shows white smoke left behind in the sky after Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifts off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned. (Photo taken with fish-eye lens)

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifts off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifting off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifts off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon ascending in the sky after lifting off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifts off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows white smoke left behind in the sky after Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifts off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - A boy uses binoculars to see Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon as it sits on the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, ahead of its liftoff that afternoon.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon lifts off from the launch pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2013. According to the JAXA space agency, the Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo shows people who have gathered in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, to view the liftoff that afternoon of Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon from the nearby Uchinoura Space Center.

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

Japan's new rocket Epsilon launched successfully

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo shows Japan's new solid-fuel rocket Epsilon at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, at 11:07 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2013, ahead of its liftoff later that day. The Epsilon, Japan's first new rocket in 12 years, was launched successfully at 2 p.m. and, according to the JAXA space agency, later released a space telescope into orbit as planned.

Rocket launch rehearsal

Rocket launch rehearsal

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket is moved from the maintenance building to the launch pad during a launch rehearsal at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sept. 8, 2013. Seen in front are reporters. The initially scheduled liftoff in the previous month was postponed for technical reasons.

Rocket launch rehearsal

Rocket launch rehearsal

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Japan's new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket is moved from the maintenance building to the launch pad during a launch rehearsal at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sept. 8, 2013. The initially scheduled liftoff in the previous month was postponed for technical reasons.

Rocket launch postponement

Rocket launch postponement

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Professor Yasuhiro Morita of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency speaks during a press conference at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Aug. 30, 2013. He offered an explanation for the postponement of the launch of Japan's new rocket Epsilon.

Japan postpones launch of new rocket Epsilon

Japan postpones launch of new rocket Epsilon

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken at 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2013, shows the new rocket Epsilon at the Uchinoura Space Center in the town of Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, which was scheduled to lift off at that time. The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency postponed at the last minute the launch of the new type of solid-fuel rocket carrying the world's first space telescope for observing planets.

Japan postpones launch of new rocket Epsilon

Japan postpones launch of new rocket Epsilon

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - People watch the new rocket Epsilon in the town of Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Aug. 27, 2013, after the scheduled time for liftoff from the Uchinoura Space Center. The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency postponed at the last minute the launch of the new type of solid-fuel rocket carrying the world's first space telescope for observing planets.

Japan postpones launch of new rocket Epsilon

Japan postpones launch of new rocket Epsilon

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter at 1:51 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2013, shows the new rocket Epsilon at the Uchinoura Space Center in the town of Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, which was scheduled to lift off at 1:45 p.m. The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency postponed at the last minute the launch of the new type of solid-fuel rocket carrying the world's first space telescope for observing planets.

New Epsilon rocket

New Epsilon rocket

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils its new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket to media organizations at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Aug. 20, 2013, a week before its launch with a scientific satellite aboard.

New Epsilon rocket

New Epsilon rocket

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils its new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket to media organizations at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Aug. 20, 2013, a week before its launch with a scientific satellite aboard.

New Epsilon rocket

New Epsilon rocket

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils its new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket to media organizations at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Aug. 20, 2013, a week before its launch with a scientific satellite aboard.

New Epsilon rocket

New Epsilon rocket

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils its new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket to media organizations at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Aug. 20, 2013, a week before its launch with a scientific satellite aboard.

New Epsilon rocket

New Epsilon rocket

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The state-run Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils its new Epsilon solid-fuel rocket to media organizations at the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Aug. 20, 2013, a week before its launch with a scientific satellite aboard.

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency practices transferring a full-scale imitation of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle from a 47-meter-high maintenance tower to its launch pad at Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on April 18, 2013. The 24-meter-long Epsilon will be launched in August or September with a spectrographic planet observation satellite onboard.

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

New rocket's launch pad unveiled

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency practices transferring a full-scale imitation of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle from a 47-meter-high maintenance tower to its launch pad at Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on April 18, 2013. The 24-meter-long Epsilon will be launched in August or September with a spectrographic planet observation satellite onboard.

Whale gets lost in Wakayama bay

Whale gets lost in Wakayama bay

TANABE, Japan - A large whale was found to have entered Uchinoura bay in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, on May 14. The whale has so far remained in the bay, despite efforts by local people to help it navigate out.

Japan's solar observation satellite 'Hinode' goes into orbit

Japan's solar observation satellite 'Hinode' goes into orbit

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan successfully launched the M-5 solid-fuel rocket carrying a solar observation satellite, nicknamed ''Hinode,'' from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sept. 23, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan's solar observation satellite 'Hinode' goes into orbit

Japan's solar observation satellite 'Hinode' goes into orbit

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - The M-5 solid-fuel rocket carrying a solar observation satellite was successfully launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sept. 23, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KOMOTSUKI, Japan - Scientists and officials of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency pose for photos at a press conference after the Japanese-developed M5 rocket, launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Feb. 22, successfully put into orbit the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The Japanese-developed M5 rocket lifts off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Feb. 22. It successfully put into orbit the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The Japanese-developed M5 rocket carrying the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F shoot up into the sky on Feb. 22. The rocket launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan successfully put the satellite into orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

Japan's M5 rocket lifts off, puts into orbit astronomical satellite

KIMOTSUKI, Japan - The Japanese-developed M5 rocket lifts off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Feb. 22. It successfully put into orbit the infrared ray astronomical satellite Astro-F, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Japan launches astronomy satellite

Japan launches astronomy satellite

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - An M-5 rocket lifts off from Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on July 10 to deliver a 1.7-ton X-ray astronomy satellite into orbit to study black holes and other astronomical phenomena.

Japan launches astronomy satellite

Japan launches astronomy satellite

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan's space agency launched an M-5 rocket from Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on July 10 to deliver a 1.7-ton X-ray astronomy satellite into orbit to study black holes and other astronomical phenomena.

(3)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

(3)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

UCHINOURA, Japan - An M-5 rocket carrying the world's first space probe designed to retrieve surface samples from an asteroid rises into the sky over the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on May 9.

(2)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

(2)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

UCHINOURA, Japan - An M-5 rocket carrying the world's first space probe designed to retrieve surface samples from an asteroid blasts off from the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on May 9.

(1)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

(1)Japan launches asteroid sampling probe

UCHINOURA, Japan - A Japanese M-5 rocket carrying the world's first space probe designed to retrieve surface samples from an asteroid blasts off from the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on May 9.

Japan's H-2A rocket fails to release 2nd satellite

Japan's H-2A rocket fails to release 2nd satellite

UCHINOURA, Japan - Junichiro Kagaguchi (R), professor at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, speaks to reporters in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Feb. 3 about the failure by Japan's second H-2A rocket to release one of two test satellites after its successful blastoff from the National Space Development Agency of Japan's Tanegashima Space Center in the prefecture.

Japan launches its 1st Mars probe

Japan launches its 1st Mars probe

The M-5 rocket carrying Japan's first Mars probe, Planet-B, lifts off from the Kagoshima Space Center in Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan on July 4. Planet-B, which was renamed ''Nozomi (Hope)'' after the launch, will orbit the Earth until December before heading toward Mars on a mission to investigate the upper atmosphere of the red planet and its interaction with solar wind. It is scheduled to begin orbiting Mars in October 1999.

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.

Failed launch of Epsilon-6 rocket

Failed launch of Epsilon-6 rocket

Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2022, shows white smoke underneath the Epsilon-6 rocket shortly after its liftoff from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The rocket was ordered to self-destruct after takeoff due to experiencing an issue which made it unable to fly normally, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Failed launch of Epsilon-6 rocket

Failed launch of Epsilon-6 rocket

Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2022, shows white smoke underneath the Epsilon-6 rocket shortly after its liftoff from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The rocket was ordered to self-destruct after takeoff due to experiencing an issue which made it unable to fly normally, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Failed launch of Epsilon-6 rocket

Failed launch of Epsilon-6 rocket

Then Epsilon-6 rocket is launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 12, 2022. The rocket was ordered to self-destruct after takeoff as it apparently experienced an issue that made it unable to fly normally, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.