Editing JAXA (section)

== Communication, positioning and technology tests ==
One of the primary duties of the former NASDA body was the testing of new space technologies, mostly in the field of communication. The first test satellite was ETS-I, launched in 1975. However, during the 1990s, NASDA was afflicted by problems surrounding the ETS-VI and COMETS missions.

In February 2018, JAXA announced a research collaboration with [[Sony]] to test a [[laser communication in space|laser communication]] system from the Kibo module in late 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=JAXA {{!}} Laser Link Communications Technology and Kibo Cooperative Research Agreement by JAXA, Sony CSL and Sony|url=http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2018/02/20180208_i-seep.html|website=JAXA {{!}} Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>

In January 2025, it was reported that JAXA is collaborating with [[Japan Airlines]] and O-Well Corporation to test a riblet-shaped coating on the airline's [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner]] that would reduce [[Drag (physics)|aerodynamic drag]] and improve [[fuel efficiency]]. The coating is capable of reducing drag by 0.24%, leading to the savings of 119 tons of fuel and 381 tons of [[Greenhouse gas emissions|CO<sub>2</sub> emissions]] per plane per annum.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Testing of communication technologies remains to be one of JAXA's key duties in cooperation with [[National Institute of Information and Communications Technology|NICT]].

'''Active Missions:''' [[Reimei|INDEX]], [[QZS-1]], [[SLATS]], [[Quasi-Zenith Satellite System|QZS-2]], QZS-3, QZS-4, [[QZS-1R]]<br />
'''Under Development:''' ETS-IX<br />
'''Retired:''' [[OICETS]], [[ETS-VIII]], [[WINDS]]

=== i-Space : ETS-VIII, WINDS and QZS-1 ===
To upgrade Japan's communication technology the Japanese state launched the i-Space initiative with the ETS-VIII and WINDS missions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://i-space.jaxa.jp/ispace.html |title=I-Space Web Site – i-Space- |access-date=2008-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225200106/http://i-space.jaxa.jp/ispace.html |archive-date=25 December 2008 }}</ref>

ETS-VIII was launched on 18 December 2006. The purpose of [[ETS-VIII]] is to test communication equipment with two very large antennas and an atomic clock test. On 26 December both antennas were successfully deployed. This was not unexpected, since JAXA tested the deployment mechanism before with the LDREX-2 Mission, which was launched on 14 October with the European Ariane 5. The test was successful.

On 23 February 2008, JAXA launched the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite ([[WINDS]]), also called "KIZUNA". WINDS aimed to facilitate experiments with faster satellite Internet connections. The launch, using [[H-IIA]] launch vehicle 14, took place from [[Tanegashima Space Center]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2008/02/20080223_kizuna_e.html |title=Launch Result of the KIZUNA (WINDS) by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 14 (H-IIA F14) |publisher=JAXA |date=23 February 2008 |access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref> WINDS was decommissioned on 27 February 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2019/03/20190301a_j.html |title=超高速インターネット衛星「きずな」（WINDS）の運用終了について |trans-title=Regarding the end of operations for the ultra-high-speed Internet satellite KIZUNA (WINDS) |publisher=JAXA |date=1 March 2019 |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=ja}}</ref>

On 11 September 2010, JAXA launched QZS-1 (Michibiki-1), the first satellite of the [[Quasi Zenith Satellite System]] (QZSS), a subsystem of the global positioning system (GPS). Three more followed in 2017, and a replacement for QZS-1 is scheduled to launch in late 2021. A next-generation set of three satellites, able to operate independent of GPS, is scheduled to begin launching in 2023.

=== OICETS and INDEX ===
On 24 August 2005, JAXA launched the experimental satellites [[OICETS]] and [[Reimei|INDEX]] on a Ukrainian [[Dnepr (rocket)|Dnepr rocket]]. OICETS (Kirari) is a mission tasked with testing optical links with the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) [[ARTEMIS]] satellite, which is around 40,000&nbsp;km away from OICETS. The experiment was successful on 9 December, when the link could be established. In March 2006, JAXA could establish with OICETS the worldwide first optical links between a LEO satellite and a ground station first in Japan and in June 2006 with a mobile station in Germany.

INDEX (Reimei) is a small 70&nbsp;kg satellite for testing various equipment, and functions as an [[Aurora (astronomy)|aurora]] observation mission as well. The Reimei satellite is currently in its extended mission phase.