Japanese Space Program - Research Centers and Offices

Research Centers and Offices

JAXA has research centers in many locations in Japan, and some offices overseas. Its headquarters are in Chōfu, Tokyo. It also has

  • Earth Observation Research Center (EORC), Tokyo
  • Earth Observation Center (EOC) in Hatayama
  • Noshiro Testing Center (NTC) – Established in 1962. It carries out development and testing of rocket engines.
  • Sanriku Balloon Center (SBC) – Balloons have been launched from this site since 1971.
  • Kakuda Space Propulsion Center (KSPC) – Leads the development of rocket engines. Works mainly with development of liquid fuel engines.
  • Sagamihara Campus (ISAS) – Development of experimental equipment for rockets and satellites. Also administrative buildings.
  • Tanegashima Space Center
  • Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in Tsukuba. This is the center of Japan's space network. It is involved in research and development of satellites and rockets, and tracking and controlling of satellites. It develops experimental equipment for the Japanese Experiment Module ("Kibo"). Training of astronauts also takes place here. For International Space Station operations, the Japanese Flight Control Team is located at the Space Station Integration & Promotion Center (SSIPC) in Tsukuba. SSIPC communicates regularly with ISS crewmembers via S-band audio.
  • Uchinoura Space Center

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