Tanegashima Space Centre

Tanegashima Space Centre is a major spaceport located on the island of Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, and is operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. The centre is situated near the East China Sea and is used for launching H-IIA and H-IIB rockets, which are designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The facility is also used for launching JAXA's Hayabusa2 and Selene missions, which are part of the agency's Lunar and Planetary Exploration Program in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The centre's location provides a safe and efficient launch route over the Pacific Ocean, reducing the risk of damage to populated areas, similar to the Guiana Space Centre used by the European Space Agency and ArianeGroup.

Introduction

The Tanegashima Space Centre is one of the most advanced space facilities in the world, with a strong focus on space exploration and satellite launches, similar to the Baikonur Cosmodrome used by Roscosmos and KazCosmos. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a launch pad, a control centre, and a tracking station, which are designed and built by Toshiba, Hitachi, and NEC Corporation. The facility is also used for testing and integrating spacecraft and rockets, such as the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets, which are used for launching JAXA's International Space Station and Global Precipitation Measurement missions in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The centre's proximity to the Equator provides a significant advantage for launching geostationary satellites, such as JCSAT-17 and BSAT-4a, which are operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and B-SAT. The Tanegashima Space Centre is also used for launching scientific satellites, such as Akatsuki and Suzaku, which are designed and built by JAXA and NASA.

History

The Tanegashima Space Centre was established in 1969 as a launch site for Japan's first satellite, Ohsumi, which was launched using a Lambda-4S rocket designed and built by Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Since then, the centre has been used for numerous launches, including the H-II and H-IIA rockets, which are designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The centre has also been used for launching interplanetary missions, such as the Nozomi and Hayabusa missions, which are part of the JAXA's Lunar and Planetary Exploration Program in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The Tanegashima Space Centre has undergone significant upgrades and expansions over the years, including the construction of a new launch pad and a control centre, which were designed and built by Toshiba, Hitachi, and NEC Corporation. The centre has also been used for launching commercial satellites, such as JCSAT-13 and WINDS, which are operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and NTT DoCoMo.

Facilities

The Tanegashima Space Centre has a range of facilities, including a launch pad, a control centre, and a tracking station, which are designed and built by Toshiba, Hitachi, and NEC Corporation. The centre also has a spacecraft assembly and testing facility, which is used for integrating and testing spacecraft and rockets, such as the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets, which are used for launching JAXA's International Space Station and Global Precipitation Measurement missions in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including clean rooms and vibration testing facilities, which are designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The centre also has a range of support facilities, including a power plant, a water treatment plant, and a waste management facility, which are operated by TEPCO, J-Power, and Japan Waste Management Association. The Tanegashima Space Centre is also home to the JAXA's Tanegashima Space Centre Museum, which showcases the history of space exploration in Japan and the development of the centre, with exhibits on Yuri Gagarin, Sergei Korolev, and Wernher von Braun.

Launches

The Tanegashima Space Centre has been used for numerous launches, including the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets, which are designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The centre has also been used for launching interplanetary missions, such as the Nozomi and Hayabusa missions, which are part of the JAXA's Lunar and Planetary Exploration Program in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The centre has also been used for launching commercial satellites, such as JCSAT-13 and WINDS, which are operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and NTT DoCoMo. The Tanegashima Space Centre has a high success rate, with over 90% of launches being successful, similar to the Guiana Space Centre used by the European Space Agency and ArianeGroup. The centre's launch schedule is typically busy, with several launches per year, including launches for JAXA, NASA, European Space Agency, and commercial customers, such as SES S.A. and Intelsat.

Operations

The Tanegashima Space Centre is operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. The centre's operations are supported by a range of organizations, including JAXA's Tanegashima Space Centre Management Office, which is responsible for managing the centre's facilities and operations, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Space Systems Division, which is responsible for designing and manufacturing the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets. The centre's launch operations are supported by a range of ground support equipment, including launch pads, control centres, and tracking stations, which are designed and built by Toshiba, Hitachi, and NEC Corporation. The centre's operations are also supported by a range of spacecraft and rocket manufacturers, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, which are responsible for designing and building the spacecraft and rockets launched from the centre, such as the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets, which are used for launching JAXA's International Space Station and Global Precipitation Measurement missions in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The Tanegashima Space Centre is an important part of Japan's space program, and plays a critical role in the country's space exploration and satellite launch activities, similar to the Baikonur Cosmodrome used by Roscosmos and KazCosmos. Category:Spaceports