Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, known as JAXA, is the operator of the Japanese space program and Japan's national aeronautics research agency. It was formed in 2003 through the merger of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan and the National Space Development Agency of Japan. Its missions have included the SELENE lunar orbiter, the SLIM lunar lander and the Hayabusa asteroid missions, and the Akatsuki probe studied Venus from orbit between 2015 and 2024. JAXA operates the H3 medium-lift launch vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center and the Epsilon S small-lift launch vehicle from Uchinoura Space Center. It is one of five space agencies participating in the International Space Station program and developed Kibō, the station's largest module.