Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

(ISAS) was a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes.

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").

History

The ISAS originates in the Institute of Industrial Science of University of Tokyo, where Hideo Itokawa experimented miniature solid-fuel rockets ("Pencil Rocket" and "Baby Rocket") in 1950s. It grew to the Κ ("Kappa") sounding rocket, and used for observations for International Geophysical Year. By 1960, Κ-8 reached 200 km altitude.

In 1964, the rocket group and "Institute of Aeronautics" along with scientific ballooning team were merged to form nihongo|"Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science"|宇宙航空研究所|Uchū kōkū kenkyūjo within University of Tokyo. The rocket evolved to L ("Lambda") series, and in 1970, L-4S-5 launched Japan's first artificial satellite Ohsumi.

Although "Lambda" rockets were sounding rocket, the next generation M ("Mu") rockets were intended to be the satellite launch vehicle from start. From 1970, ISAS launched series of scientific satellites to observe ionosphere and magnetosphere. Since the launch of Hakucho in 1979, ISAS 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".

List of Satellites by ISAS (before establishment of JAXA)

External links

* http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/index.html