JAXA

Japan's national aerospace agency formed in 2003 through the merger of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). JAXA operates the H3 medium-lift launch vehicle and the Epsilon solid-fuel rocket from the Tanegashima and Uchinoura space centers. The agency develops and operates Earth observation satellites including the ALOS radar series and GOSAT greenhouse gas monitors, and manages Japan's contribution to the International Space Station through the Kibo laboratory module and HTV-X cargo vehicle. JAXA conducts deep-space missions including the Hayabusa asteroid sample-return program, the Akatsuki Venus orbiter, and the forthcoming MMX Mars moon sample-return mission. The agency also operates the QZSS satellite navigation augmentation system, maintains a deep-space communications network, and participates in international lunar exploration through the SLIM precision lander and the planned LUPEX rover mission with ISRO.