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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION,SCIENCE AND CULTURE1991 > Part1 Chapter3 3 3

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Part 1 Promotion of Scientific Research
Chapter 3. Trends of Scientific Research in Japan
3 Promotion of Important Basic Research
3 Space Science


Space science contributes to the knowledge of humankind by elucidating various phenomena and laws of space through devices such as scientific satellites, and is the driving force for the development of space. Also, research for the development of space technology relevant to scientific satellites and satellite launch vehicles plays a pioneering role in the development of space technology.

As for space science in Japan, observations and research, by satellite and rocket, of various phenomena in space and the earth's periphery, as well as research and development of devices and techniques relevant to scientific satellites and satellite launching rockets are conducted by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. The Institute acts as the center of space research with the participation of scientists from all universities and relevant research institutes.

The Institute has so far launched 20 scientific satellites and has had many world-leading discoveries in the probing of Halley's Comet and in X-ray astronomical observation.

The space probe for the active sun "Yoko (sunshine)", which was launched in August 1991, is conducting comprehensive X-ray observation of solar flares, solar corona, solar magnetic fields, etc. in the active sun period. Inside "Yoko", besides Japanese made instruments, are those manufactured by joint Japanese-US and Japanese-UK groups of scientists. They are an example of international cooperation in science.

As for future projects, the Institute plans to launch satellites for X-ray observation of the deepest parts of space, for experiments that will identify large space structures, and for radio astronomical observation. The Institute also plans to launch a satellite for observation of the lunar interior structure and to develop and launch a multi-purpose and reusable unmanned space-lab ("Free Flyer") for experiments and observation.

Under a US-Japan cooperative program for observation and research of the structure of the earth's magnetospheric tail, there is a plan to launch a satellite for magnetospheric observation. The Institute is responsible for developing the satellite and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) responsible for launching it.

Further, with a view to securing international leadership in fields such as X-ray astronomy and radio astronomy and also for making it possible to probe the moon and other planets, the Institute plans to launch a scientific satellite larger in scale than the previous ones. The Space Development Commission approved the construction of larger launching rockets in its Fundamental Policies of Space Development, revised in June 1989. As a result, in 1990 the Institute began a 4-year program to develop the M-5 launching rocket which is more powerful than the existing M-3S 2 rocket.


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