Institute of Space and Astronautical Science facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

ISAS 宇宙科学研究所  (Japanese) Uchū Kagaku Kenkyūsho
Agency overview
Abbreviation	ISAS
Jurisdiction	Japan
Headquarters	Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Official language	Japanese
Primary spaceport	Uchinoura Space Center
Employees	353 (FY2018)
Annual budget	¥13.5 billion (FY2018) (US$ 0.12 billion)

The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) is a very important Japanese group. They use rockets, special space telescopes, and interplanetary probes to study space. ISAS has played a huge role in Japan's space adventures. Since 2003, it has been a part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which is like Japan's version of NASA.

How ISAS Started

The main entrance to the ISAS campus in Sagamihara.

ISAS began a long time ago, in the 1950s. It started as a small part of the University of Tokyo. A scientist named Hideo Itokawa began experimenting with tiny solid-fuel rockets. These rockets were called the Pencil Rocket and Baby Rocket.

These early experiments led to bigger rockets called the Kappa (Κ) sounding rockets. Sounding rockets fly high into space for a short time to collect data, then fall back to Earth. They were used to study the Earth's atmosphere during the International Geophysical Year. By 1960, the Κ-8 rocket could reach an amazing height of 200 kilometers (about 124 miles)!

In 1964, the rocket team joined with other groups to form the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science at the University of Tokyo. Their rockets got even better, becoming the Lambda (L) series. In 1970, a Lambda rocket, L-4S-5, launched Japan's very first artificial satellite, named Ohsumi. This was a huge step for Japan in space!

Exploring Space with Satellites

While Lambda rockets were mostly for quick trips, the next rockets, called the Mu (M) series, were made to launch satellites into orbit. Starting in 1971, ISAS began sending up scientific satellites. These satellites studied parts of Earth's atmosphere like the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

ISAS also became a leader in X-ray astronomy. This is a way to study very hot and energetic things in space, like black holes and exploding stars, by looking at the X-rays they give off. From 1979, ISAS had X-ray astronomy satellites constantly in orbit.

In 1981, ISAS became its own national research organization, separate from the University of Tokyo. This allowed it to grow and take on even bigger missions.

Amazing Space Missions

ISAS was responsible for launching Japan's first probes to visit other planets.

• In 1985, they sent Sakigake and Suisei to study Halley's Comet. This was a very famous comet that visits Earth every 75 years.
• In 1990, ISAS launched Hiten, which was Japan's first probe to visit the Moon.
• The Nozomi probe was launched in 1998 to try and orbit Mars. Unfortunately, it had some problems and couldn't make it into orbit.
• In 2003, ISAS launched the Hayabusa spacecraft. This was an incredible mission because it was the first in the world to collect a sample from an asteroid and bring it back to Earth!

Later in 2003, ISAS joined with two other Japanese space groups to form the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Even though the name changed a bit in Japanese, ISAS still focuses on space-based astronomy and exploring the Moon and planets. They continue to be a key part of Japan's exciting space journey!

Spacecraft Launched by ISAS

ISAS has launched many important spacecraft over the years. Here are some examples of their successful missions:

• Ohsumi (1970): Japan's first satellite, showing they could launch things into space.
• Shinsei (1971): Studied the ionosphere and cosmic rays.
• Taiyo (1975): Focused on the Earth's upper atmosphere and the Sun.
• Hakucho (1979): An early X-ray astronomy satellite.
• Hinotori (1981): Observed X-rays from the Sun.
• Sakigake and Suisei (1985): Flew past Halley's Comet to study it.
• Ginga (1987): Another important X-ray astronomy satellite.
• Hiten (1990): Japan's first lunar probe.
• Yohkoh (1991): Observed the Sun's X-rays with NASA and the UK.
• ASCA (1993): A powerful X-ray astronomy satellite.
• HALCA (1997): Used for space VLBI, a way to make giant virtual telescopes.
• Hayabusa (2003): The first mission to bring back samples from an asteroid!

Missions After Joining JAXA

After ISAS became part of JAXA in 2003, they continued their amazing work:

• Suzaku (2005): Another X-ray astronomy satellite.
• Akari (2006): An infrared astronomy satellite, looking at heat from space.
• Hinode (2006): Studied the Sun in detail.
• Kaguya (2007): A large mission to orbit and study the Moon.
• Akatsuki (2010): Sent to observe the atmosphere of Venus.
• Hayabusa2 (2014): Another successful asteroid sample return mission, even better than the first!
• Hitomi (2016): An advanced X-ray astronomy satellite.
• Mio (2018): Part of a mission with Europe to explore the planet Mercury.
• JUICE (2023): A mission with Europe and NASA to explore Jupiter's icy moons.
• XRISM (2023): An X-ray astronomy mission.
• SLIM (2023): A mission to show new ways to land on the Moon.

Future Space Missions

ISAS is always planning new and exciting missions for the future:

• Hera (2024): Will study an asteroid with Europe.
• DESTINY⁺ (2025): Will fly past several near-Earth objects.
• MMX (2026): A mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of Mars's moons!
• Roman Space Telescope (2026): An infrared astronomy telescope with NASA.
• Solar-C EUVST (2028): Will observe the Sun.
• JASMINE (2028): Will measure the positions of stars using infrared light.
• ATHENA (2035): A very advanced X-ray astronomy telescope with Europe and NASA.

See also

• Comet Interceptor, a mission with Europe that ISAS is helping with.
• IKAROS, a unique spacecraft that uses a solar sail to move through space.
• Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, a future mission to the Moon.
• PROCYON and EQUULEUS, deep space probes developed with the University of Tokyo.