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Agency · Japan

JAXA

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, formed in 2003 by the merger of ISAS, NASDA, and NAL. Missions credited simply to "Japan" predate or predate-by-organization this merger and flew under ISAS or NASDA.

Country / entity
Japan
Founded
2003
Missions in record
16
First flight here
1981
Most recent
2024

Mission timeline

16 missions · chronological
  1. 1981

    Hinotori

    Success

    Japan · Earth orbit · Solar astronomy

    Japan’s first solar observatory.

  2. 1983

    Tenma

    Success

    Japan · Earth orbit · X-ray astronomy

    Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite.

  3. 1985

    Sakigake

    Success

    Japan · Halley’s Comet · Comet flyby

    Japan’s first deep-space mission.

  4. 1985

    Suisei

    Success

    Japan · Halley’s Comet · Comet flyby

    Studied Halley’s cometary coma.

  5. 1987

    Ginga

    Success

    Japan · Earth orbit · X-ray astronomy

    Japanese X-ray astronomy observatory.

  6. 1990

    Hiten

    Partial success

    Japan · Moon · Lunar orbiter / technology

    Japan’s first lunar probe and first Asian lunar mission.

  7. 1991

    Yohkoh

    Success

    Japan / United States / United Kingdom · Earth orbit · Solar X-ray astronomy

    Observed solar flares and coronal activity.

  8. 2003

    Hayabusa

    Success

    Japan · Asteroid Itokawa · Asteroid sample return

    First asteroid sample-return mission; returned particles in 2010.

  9. 2005

    Hinode

    Success

    Japan / United States / United Kingdom / ESA · Earth orbit · Solar observatory

    Solar magnetic-field and corona mission.

  10. 2007

    Kaguya (SELENE)

    Success

    Japan · Moon · Lunar orbiter

    High-definition lunar mapping and science.

  11. 2010

    Akatsuki

    Partial success

    Japan · Venus · Planetary orbiter

    Entered Venus orbit in 2015 after an initial insertion failure; studies Venus’s atmosphere.

  12. 2010

    IKAROS

    Success

    Japan · Venus flyby · Solar-sail technology

    First interplanetary solar-sail demonstration.

  13. 2014

    Hayabusa2

    Success

    Japan · Asteroid Ryugu · Asteroid sample return

    Returned asteroid samples to Earth in 2020.

  14. 2018

    BepiColombo

    In transit

    ESA / JAXA · Mercury · Planetary orbiter

    Joint mission en route to investigate Mercury and its environment.

  15. 2023

    XRISM

    Operational

    Japan / NASA · Earth orbit · X-ray astronomy

    High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy observatory.

  16. 2024

    SLIM

    Success

    Japan · Moon · Lunar lander

    Demonstrated a precision lunar landing.