Institute of Space and Astronautical Science facts for kids

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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)

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (宇宙科学研究所, Uchū Kagaku Kenkyūsho), or ISAS, is a special research group in Japan. They use rockets, space telescopes, and interplanetary probes to study astrophysics. ISAS has played a big part in Japan's space adventures. It started in 1964 as part of the University of Tokyo. Later, it became its own national research group. Since 2003, ISAS has been a division of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The Exciting History of ISAS

Entrance to the ISAS Sagamihara Campus

ISAS began with small solid-fuel rocket experiments in the 1950s. A scientist named Hideo Itokawa worked on these early rockets, like the "Pencil Rocket" and "Baby Rocket." These experiments helped create the Kappa rocket. This rocket was used to study Earth's atmosphere during the International Geophysical Year. By 1960, the Kappa-8 rocket could reach an altitude of 200 kilometers (about 124 miles).

Growing into a Space Institute

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 bigger, becoming the Lambda series. In 1970, a Lambda rocket launched Japan's first artificial satellite, named Ohsumi. This was a huge step for Japan in space!

Launching Scientific Satellites

The next generation of rockets, the Mu series, was designed to launch satellites from the very beginning. Starting in 1971, ISAS sent many scientific satellites into space. These satellites studied things like the ionosphere and magnetosphere around Earth. Since 1979, ISAS has continuously launched satellites to study X-rays from space.

In 1981, ISAS became its own national research organization. This allowed it to do even more space missions.

Exploring Beyond Earth

ISAS was the first Japanese group to send probes to other planets. In 1985, they launched Sakigake and Suisei to study Halley's Comet. In 1990, Hiten became Japan's first probe to visit the Moon.

In 1998, the Nozomi probe tried to orbit Mars. Unfortunately, it had some problems and couldn't enter orbit. But ISAS kept going! In 2003, they launched the Hayabusa spacecraft. This was the first mission in the world to bring samples back from an asteroid.

ISAS as Part of JAXA

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 astronomy and exploring the Moon and planets.

Amazing Spacecraft from ISAS

ISAS has launched many incredible spacecraft. Here are some of them:

Missions Before JAXA was Formed

Missions After JAXA was Formed

Future Space Missions

ISAS is also planning many exciting missions for the future:

More About Space Exploration

• Comet Interceptor, a mission led by Europe with help from ISAS
• IKAROS, a spacecraft that uses a solar sail to move
• Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, a future mission to land on the Moon
• OMOTENASHI, a planned small lunar lander
• PROCYON and EQUULEUS, deep space probes developed with the University of Tokyo
• SFU, a joint mission with another Japanese space agency