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In February 1979 Japan launched an X-ray satellite, Hakucho (Cygnus) the first in a series of Japanese satellites that have helped to expand x-ray astronomy. Japan had begun rocket studies in 1955, when a group at the University of Tokyo launched a tiny pencil rocket. Early experiments progressed slowly but steadily, culminating in 1970 in the launch of Japan's first satellite: Ohsumi, a 53-pound engineering test satellite named after its launch site, a peninsula near Kagoshima. By then the pencil rocket had grown into the four-stage Lambda-4S, powered entirely by solid fuel.
The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science [ISAS] in Tokyo has launched 17 spacecraft in the 17 years since Ohsumi. The latest rocket design, the MU-3S II, can place 400 kg satellites into orbit 500-600 km above the Earths surface. It can also launch deep-space probes.
Japanese space science, including rocketry and other space technology, has largely developed in academic circles. ISAS began in 1964 as the institute of Space and Aeronautical Science at the University of Tokyo. To this day it remains the only academic organization to have launched satellites with a rocket of its own design and construction. In 1981, when ISAS was reorganized, it became one of the national inter-university research institutes. The result was an agency independent of the University of Tokyo, though with a continuing and close academic association. The institutes principle role is to oversee rocket, satellite, and balloon projects from the initial plan and design to liftoff and data acquisition, and to organize and support research activities of university scientists.
In the past two years ISAS has marked two major milestones. First the agency sent spacecraft into interplanetary space to encounter Comet Halley [Sakigake, Susei]. The second milestone was the launch of Japan's x-ray satellite, Ginga (Galaxy) on 5 February 1987, succeeding Tenma (Pegasus), launched in February 1983, and Hakucho (Oda 1987).
The H-1s first stage is equipped with strap-ons. Second stage engine cut-off injects the payload into a parking orbit. After attitude stabilization, the third stage motor ignites for injection into transfer orbit.
| Date | Vehicle | Payload |
| 08-28-1990 | H-I | BS-3a |
On August 27, 1990, Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) successfully launched a rocket designed for observing the Earths ozone layer.
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© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
