# Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

> Japanese national research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q1207946](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1207946)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Space_and_Astronautical_Science)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/institute-of-space-and-astronautical-science

## Summary
The **Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)** is a Japanese national research institute specializing in space science and astronautics. Founded in 1955, it operates under the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and has developed numerous satellites, probes, and missions for lunar, planetary, and astronomical research.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1955 in Tokyo, Japan.
- **Parent Organization**: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
- **Focus**: Space science, astronautics, and satellite research.
- **Notable Missions**:
  - **HITEN** (1990): Japan’s first lunar orbiter.
  - **Akari**: Infrared astronomy satellite.
  - **Geotail**: Joint ISAS-NASA geomagnetic research satellite.
  - **Hitomi**: X-ray astronomy satellite (failed).
  - **LiteBIRD**: Planned space observatory for cosmic microwave background studies.
- **Location**: Tokyo, Japan (coordinates: 35.558389° N, 139.395255° E).
- **Aliases**: ISAS, Uchū kagaku kenkyūjo (宇宙科学研究所).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)?
A: ISAS is Japan’s national research institute for space science and astronautics, operating under JAXA. It designs and launches satellites, probes, and missions for lunar, planetary, and astronomical research.

### Q: What are some notable missions by ISAS?
A: ISAS has led missions like **HITEN** (Japan’s first lunar orbiter), **Geotail** (a joint NASA-ISAS satellite), and **Akari** (an infrared astronomy satellite). It also developed **Hitomi**, an X-ray observatory that failed after launch.

### Q: When was ISAS founded?
A: ISAS was established in **1955** and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

### Q: Is ISAS part of JAXA?
A: Yes, ISAS operates as a research institute under the **Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)**.

### Q: What kind of research does ISAS conduct?
A: ISAS focuses on space science, including lunar and planetary exploration, astronomy (X-ray, infrared), and geomagnetic research.

## Why It Matters
ISAS plays a critical role in advancing Japan’s space science capabilities, contributing to global understanding of the solar system, cosmic phenomena, and Earth’s magnetosphere. Its missions, such as **HITEN** and **Akari**, have provided valuable data on the Moon, infrared astronomy, and space plasma. As part of JAXA, ISAS collaborates internationally (e.g., with NASA on **Geotail**) and pioneers innovative technologies like solar sail propulsion (proposed **OKEANOS** mission). By developing cutting-edge satellites and probes, ISAS helps answer fundamental questions about the universe while fostering Japan’s leadership in space exploration.

## Notable For
- **Japan’s first lunar orbiter**: **HITEN** (1990), a milestone in the country’s space program.
- **Pioneering astronomy missions**: **Akari** (infrared telescope) and **Hitomi** (X-ray observatory, despite its failure).
- **International collaborations**: Joint missions like **Geotail** with NASA.
- **Innovative propulsion concepts**: Proposed **OKEANOS** mission using hybrid solar sail and ion engine technology.
- **Diverse satellite portfolio**: Over 20 research satellites, including solar observatories (**Yohkoh**, **Hinotori**) and geomagnetic studies (**Akebono**, **Ohzora**).

## Body
### History and Organization
- Founded in **1955** as the **Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo**, later becoming an independent research institute.
- Merged into **JAXA** in 2003 but retains its focus on space science and astronautics.
- Headquartered in **Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture**, near Tokyo.

### Key Missions and Satellites
#### Lunar and Planetary Exploration
- **HITEN (1990)**: Japan’s first lunar orbiter, testing aerobraking techniques.
- **Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM)**: A precision lunar lander under development by JAXA.
- **BepiColombo**: Contributed to this ESA-JAXA Mercury mission.
- **DESTINY+**: Planned asteroid flyby mission using solar electric propulsion.

#### Astronomy and Astrophysics
- **Akari (2006)**: Infrared astronomy satellite that surveyed the sky in mid- and far-infrared wavelengths.
- **Hitomi (2016)**: X-ray astronomy satellite lost due to a malfunction, but designed to study black holes and galaxy clusters.
- **LiteBIRD**: Upcoming mission to study the cosmic microwave background and primordial gravitational waves.
- **HALCA**: First space-based radio telescope, enabling very-long-baseline interferometry.

#### Earth and Space Science
- **Geotail (1992)**: Joint ISAS-NASA mission studying Earth’s magnetotail.
- **Yohkoh (1991)**: Solar observatory that provided X-ray and gamma-ray data on solar flares.
- **Akebono (1989)**: Research satellite studying Earth’s ionosphere and auroras.

### Technology and Innovation
- **Solar Sail Propulsion**: Proposed **OKEANOS** mission to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids using a hybrid solar sail and ion engine.
- **Recovery Systems**: Developed **EXPRESS**, an orbital experiment recovery system (lost in a launch failure).
- **Small Satellite Development**: Pioneered compact, cost-effective satellites like **Hinotori** and **Denpa**.

### International Collaboration
- Partnered with **NASA** on missions like **Geotail**.
- Contributed to **ESA’s BepiColombo** mission to Mercury.
- Collaborates with global institutions on data sharing and joint research.

## Schema Markup
```json
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  "@type": "ResearchOrganization",
  "name": "Institute of Space and Astronautical Science",
  "alternateName": ["ISAS", "Uchū kagaku kenkyūjo", "宇宙科学研究所"],
  "description": "Japanese national research institute specializing in space science and astronautics, operating under JAXA.",
  "foundingDate": "1955",
  "location": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "addressLocality": "Tokyo",
      "addressCountry": "Japan"
    },
    "geo": {
      "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
      "latitude": "35.558389",
      "longitude": "139.395255"
    }
  },
  "parentOrganization": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency",
    "alternateName": "JAXA"
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  "url": "https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/index.html",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1140254",
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}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. CiNii Research
4. MusicBrainz
5. ROR release v1.19
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. GRID Release 2015-12-14
8. GRID Release 2016-12-06
9. Quora
10. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions