Editing JAXA (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Japanese space program}}

[[File:Japanese Experiment Module Kibo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|JAXA [[Japanese Experiment Module|''Kibo'']], the largest module of the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]

On 1 October 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA: Japan's [[Institute of Space and Astronautical Science]] (ISAS), the [[National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan]] (NAL), and [[National Space Development Agency of Japan]] (NASDA). JAXA was formed as an [[Independent Administrative Institution]] administered by the [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]] (MEXT) and the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications]] (MIC).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.jaxa.jp/about/law/law_e.pdf |title= Law Concerning Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency |publisher=JAXA |access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref>

Before the merger, ISAS was responsible for [[outer space|space]] and planetary research, while NAL was focused on aviation research. ISAS had been most successful in its space program in the field of [[X-ray astronomy]] during the 1980s and 1990s. Another successful area for Japan has been [[Very Long Baseline Interferometry]] (VLBI) with the [[HALCA]] mission. Additional success was achieved with solar observation and research of the [[magnetosphere]], among other areas.

NASDA, which was founded on 1 October 1969, had developed [[rocket]]s, satellites, and also built the [[Japanese Experiment Module]]. The old NASDA headquarters were located at the current site of the [[Tanegashima Space Center]], on [[Tanegashima|Tanegashima Island]], 115 kilometers south of [[Kyūshū]]. NASDA was mostly active in the field of communication satellite technology. However, since the satellite market of Japan is completely open, the first time a Japanese company won a contract for a civilian communication satellite was in 2005. Another prime focus of the NASDA body is Earth [[climate]] observation. NASDA also trained the Japanese astronauts who flew with the US [[Space Shuttle]]s.<ref>Kamiya, Setsuko, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090630i1.html Japan a low-key player in space race] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803053741/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090630i1.html |date=3 August 2009 }}", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 30 June 2009, p. 3.</ref>

The [[Japan Basic Space Law|Basic Space Law]] was passed in 2008, and the jurisdictional authority of JAXA moved from MEXT to the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development (SHSD) in the [[Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet]], led by the [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]]. In 2016, the [[National Space Policy Secretariat]] (NSPS) was set up by the Cabinet.<ref name=spacetechasia20180814>
[http://www.spacetechasia.com/an-overview-of-japans-space-activities/  An overview of Japan's space activities], 14 August 2018.</ref>

JAXA was awarded the [[Space Foundation]]'s John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr., Award for Space Exploration in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/symposium-awards |title=Symposium Awards &#124; National Space Symposium |access-date=2012-01-31 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203060101/http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/symposium-awards |archive-date=3 February 2009 }}</ref>

Planning interplanetary research missions can take many years. Due to the lag time between these interplanetary events and mission planning time, opportunities to gain new knowledge about the cosmos might be lost. To prevent this, JAXA began commencing smaller and faster missions from 2010 onward.

In 2012, new legislation extended JAXA's remit from peaceful purposes only to include some military space development, such as missile early warning systems. Political control of JAXA passed from MEXT to the Prime Minister's [[Cabinet Office (Japan)|Cabinet Office]] through a new Space Strategy Office.<ref name=defensenews-20120622>{{cite news |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120622/DEFREG03/306220001/Japan-Passes-Law-Permitting-Military-Space-Development |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121161226/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120622/DEFREG03/306220001/Japan-Passes-Law-Permitting-Military-Space-Development |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 January 2013 |title=Japan Passes Law Permitting Military Space Development |newspaper=Defense News |date=22 June 2012 |access-date=29 October 2012}}</ref>