SATOSHI KAWAHARA, Nikkei staff writer   TOKYO — Japan intends to increase the number of satellites in its GPS-style system to 11 from four, letting users determine their precise location virtually anywhere in the country without relying on the American network.   Tokyo’s space policy committee has set a goal to expand the Michibiki Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, a network of….Read more

Sankei reported on Wednesday that a team of University of Tokyo scientists will join hands with China’s Tsinghua University to conduct aboard the Tiangong space station research on fluid mechanics as part of rocket engine development. The Japanese aerospace engineers will conduct relevant tests beginning in July in partnership with China’s top university.

Lunar exploration company ispace Inc took on the challenge of aiming at becoming the world’s first private company to put a lunar lander on the moon. Unfortunately, this time the Tokyo-based space venture’s effort ended in failure.   The lunar lander developed by the company was descending smoothly towards the moon on the early morning of April 26. Then, just….Read more

Tokyo, April 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, is considering a new mission of collecting samples from a small astronomical body, hoping to utilize the technology from the Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 asteroid explorer projects.   The government-affiliated institution set up a working group last year comprising those with experience operating the Hayabusa2 mission, and is in the….Read more

Japanese startup ispace’s lander failed to touch down on the Moon, apparently running out of fuel to slow its descent and crashing into the surface.   The uncrewed probe was carrying a payload that included an explorer robot developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Japanese toy giant Tomy Co.   Had the moon landing been successful, it….Read more

A Japanese space startup took on the challenge of the world’s first private-sector lunar landing. Although ending in failure, the attempt nonetheless left the impression that the era of private-sector leadership in space development is here to stay.   The lander of the Japanese space company ispace Inc. began its descent to the moon’s surface, but the company lost contact….Read more

By Juichiro Ito   The preliminary analysis of asteroid Ryugu sand samples was completed in March. The samples were brought back by Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe after a long six-year journey. It produced significant results that may help unravel the mysteries surrounding the origin of life on Earth and the formation of the solar system.   Moreover, the techniques used for….Read more

Japan’s space agency says the launch failure of its Epsilon-6 rocket last year was caused by a rubber membrane clogging a fuel pipe for the direction control system.   The rocket lifted off from the Uchinoura Space Center in southwestern Japan on October 12. But the command center sent a self-destruct signal minutes later because the vehicle’s direction control system….Read more

Japan’s space program is at a standstill. Last month’s failed launch of the H3 next-generation rocket is only the latest setback to hit the program.