Japan

Japan · Earth orbit · Solar astronomy

Japan’s first solar observatory.

Japan · Earth orbit · X-ray astronomy

Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite.

Japan · Halley’s Comet · Comet flyby

Japan’s first deep-space mission.

Japan · Halley’s Comet · Comet flyby

Studied Halley’s cometary coma.

Japan · Earth orbit · X-ray astronomy

Japanese X-ray astronomy observatory.

Japan · Moon · Lunar orbiter / technology

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

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

Observed solar flares and coronal activity.

Japan · Asteroid Itokawa · Asteroid sample return

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

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

Solar magnetic-field and corona mission.

Japan · Moon · Lunar orbiter

High-definition lunar mapping and science.

Japan · Venus · Planetary orbiter

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

Japan · Venus flyby · Solar-sail technology

First interplanetary solar-sail demonstration.

Japan · Asteroid Ryugu · Asteroid sample return

Returned asteroid samples to Earth in 2020.

ESA / JAXA · Mercury · Planetary orbiter

Joint mission en route to investigate Mercury and its environment.

Japan / NASA · Earth orbit · X-ray astronomy

High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy observatory.

Japan · Moon · Lunar lander

Demonstrated a precision lunar landing.