JAXA
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency was formed in 2003 by merging three predecessor bodies and serves as Japan's national space agency. JAXA develops the H-IIA, H-IIB and H3 launch vehicles, the Kibo laboratory module on the International Space Station, and the HTV/HTV-X cargo craft. It is best known for the Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 asteroid sample-return missions, which returned material from Itokawa and Ryugu, and it partners with ESA on the BepiColombo mission to Mercury. The agency is funded through the Japanese government's annual budget.
At a glance
Employees~1,6402024 · JAXA
Active missions3
Operated-mission cost$152.5 billion
FoundedOctober 1, 2003
HeadquartersChōfu, Tokyo, Japan
WikidataQ204191
Japanese government space budget (initial FY2023 appropriation).
Missions 9
Operating or building 3 active missions — including BepiColombo, Hayabusa2, International Space Station.