title: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
text: The , also known as JAXA, is Japan's national space agency.
  
  JAXA is an Independent Administrative Institution.
  
  JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellites into orbit.  JAXA is involved in advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon.
  
  History 
  
  In 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA.  
   Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)
   National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL)
   National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)
  
  Satellites
  Ōsumi was Japan's first satellite.  It was sent into orbit in 1970.
  
  Related pages 
   Independent Administrative Institution (IAI), 2001
   List of Independent Administrative Institutes in Japan
  
  References
  
  Other websites 
   JAXA 
   Twitter
   "JAXA 2025" Presentation
   "JAXA Channel" Official YouTube channel
   International Space Station (ISS) and "Kibo" Information center
     JAXA -  Space Environment Utilization and  Space Experiment
   RAND Report on Japan's Space Program, 2005
   CSIS Report on US-Japan Space Policy Cooperation, 2003
   GOSAT satellite 
  Japan's Evolving Space Program
  
  Independent Administrative Institutions of Japan
  Space agencies
  Japanese space program
  2003 establishments in Japan