0
Total Launches
0
Successful
0%
Success Rate
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Consec. Success
The Story
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency brings a distinctly Japanese precision to space exploration — meticulous, methodical, and capable of genuine firsts. JAXA has landed on asteroids twice, returned samples from the solar system's early history, and developed H-IIA into one of the most reliable launch vehicles outsid...
In short
“JAXA landed on an asteroid, collected samples from the dawn of the solar system, and brought them back to Earth. Twice.”
Hayabusa2 samples contain amino acids from the early solar system
H-IIA achieved a success rate of over 97% across 47 launches
JAXA's Kibo module is the largest single component on the International Space Station
Japan is one of only five countries with indigenous orbital launch capability
Milestones
1969
NASDA founded
Japan's National Space Development Agency established
2003
JAXA formed
Merger of NASDA, ISAS, and NAL creates unified Japanese space agency
2003
Hayabusa launches
Mission departs for asteroid Itokawa
2010
First asteroid samples
Hayabusa returns first ever samples from an asteroid to Earth
2019
Hayabusa2 samples Ryugu
Successfully retrieves material from asteroid Ryugu
2020
Organic matter returned
Hayabusa2 samples contain amino acids from the early solar system
2024
SLIM pinpoint landing
World's first pinpoint Moon landing — within 55 metres of target
Key People
What's Next
The road ahead for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
H3 — JAXA's next generation rocket — is designed to halve launch costs and double flight frequency, making Japanese launch services competitive internationally. The SLIM lunar lander demonstrated unprecedented pinpoint landing accuracy. Japan's Lunar Gateway module and Artemis partnership positions JAXA as central to humanity's return to the Moon.