Editing JAXA (section)

===Communication ground stations for interplanetary spacecraft===
* [[Usuda Deep Space Center]] (UDSC) is a spacecraft tracking station in [[Saku, Nagano]] (originally in [[Usuda, Nagano]]; Usuda merged into Saku in 2005), the first deep-space antenna constructed with beam-waveguide technology, and for many years, Japan's only ground station for communication with interplanetary spacecraft in deep space. Opening in 1984, the 64 meter antenna, built by [[Mitsubishi Electric]], primarily operated in the X- and S-band frequencies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://global.jaxa.jp/about/centers/udsc/index.html | title=JAXA &#124; Usuda Deep Space Center }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/bu/space/ground/control/antenna/index.html | title=Space Systems: 64m Parabolic Antenna for Usuda Deep Space Center – MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC }}</ref> Upon completion in 2021, MDSS succeeded UDSC as the primary antenna for JAXA's Deep Space Network.
* [[Misasa Deep Space Station]] (MDSS), also in [[Saku, Nagano]] (and just over one kilometer northwest from UDSC), also known as GREAT (Ground Station for Deep Space Exploration and Telecommunication) was completed in 2021 at a cost of over ten billion Yen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210410/k10012967611000.html |title=NHK |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719173741/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210410/k10012967611000.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is equipped with a 54 meter dish, also built by [[Mitsubishi Electric]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/society/space/control/great.html | title=三菱電機 &#124; 美笹深宇宙探査用地上局（Great） }}</ref> communicating with spacecraft in the X- and Ka-band frequencies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sas/great/|title=JAXA &#124; GREAT, Ground Station for Deep Space Exploration and Telecommunication }}</ref> Phase 2 (GREAT2) to improve performance and reliability, in support of future projects, over the previous phase is now in progress.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://global.jaxa.jp/activity/pr/jaxas/no085/07.html | title=JAXA &#124; Launch of the Misasa Deep Space Station's GREAT2 Project }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/great/english/indexen.html | title=Misasa Deep Space Station }}</ref>

* Other tracking stations in Okinawa, Masuda, and Katsuura are for satellite tracking and control.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://track.sfo.jaxa.jp/en/project/index.html#project-3 | title=JAXA｜Space Tracking and Communications Center Home Page }}</ref>

Collaborating with other space agencies:

Previously, JAXA has worked closely with other space agencies in support of their respective deep space projects. Notably, in 2015 NASA's [[NASA Deep Space Network|Deep Space Network]] provided communication and tracking services to the [[Akatsuki (spacecraft)|Akatsuki]] Venus probe through its 34 meter antennas.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-scientists-applaud-japanese-spacecraft-akatsuki-s-successful-rendezvous-with-venus | title=NASA Applauds Akatsuki's Successful Rendezvous with Venus | date=9 December 2015 | access-date=2 December 2022 | archive-date=12 December 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212202722/http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-scientists-applaud-japanese-spacecraft-akatsuki-s-successful-rendezvous-with-venus/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> In October 2021, JAXA provided NASA with data it had received at Misasa from [[Juno (spacecraft)|Juno]] during its flyby of [[Jupiter]]'s moon [[Europa (moon)|Europa]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/great/english/new1022en.html#20220309 | title=Event -MDSS- }}</ref>

As part of on-going joint support of deep space missions JAXA, ESA, and NASA are engaged in an effort to improve the X/Ka celestial reference frame as well as a unified X/Ka terrestrial frame to be shared by the three agencies. 
The 54 meter dish at MDSS enhances X/Ka sensitivity from having an aperture area two and a half times larger than the equivalent antennas in the NASA and ESA network.
MDSS improves the network geometry with the first direct north-south baseline (Japan-Australia) in the X/Ka VLBI network, thereby providing four new baselines which will provide optimal geometry for improving declinations.<ref>[https://syrte.obspm.fr/astro/journees2019/journees_pdf/SessionIII_1/JACOBS_Christopher.pdf X/Ka (8.4/32 GHz) Celestial Frame: Roadmap to the future]</ref>