Uchinoura Space Center is a space science facility operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It is located in Kimotsuki Town, Kimotsuki District, Kagoshima Prefecture, on the Pacific coast of the Osumi Peninsula.
The facility was established in 1962 (Showa 37) as the Kagoshima Space Center of the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science at the University of Tokyo. It was later renamed the Kagoshima Space Center and subsequently became known as Uchinoura Space Center.
Since its establishment, the center has played an important role in Japan’s scientific rocket development and space exploration. It is particularly known as the launch site for scientific observation rockets and satellites.
The center was established in February 1962 (Showa 37) in the former Uchinoura Town, now part of Kimotsuki Town. The location was selected because its geographical conditions were suitable for launching rockets toward the Pacific Ocean.
Surrounded by mountains and facing the sea, the site provides a natural launch environment with a wide range of open space in the direction of flight. This location has supported Japan’s scientific rocket development for decades.
On February 11, 1970 (Showa 45), the center successfully launched the Ohsumi satellite using an L-4S rocket. This made Japan the fourth country in the world to successfully launch an artificial satellite using its own launch vehicle, following the Soviet Union, the United States, and France.
The success of Ohsumi marked a major milestone in Japan’s space development and established Uchinoura as a key facility for the country’s space science program.
Uchinoura Space Center has several launch facilities designed for different types of rockets. These include launch facilities for scientific observation rockets and satellite launch vehicles.
The center has played a central role in the development and launch of the M-series solid-fuel rockets, including the M-V rocket, which was used for important scientific missions.
The M-V rocket was a three-stage solid-fuel launch vehicle developed in Japan for scientific satellite missions. It was capable of launching satellites into orbit and supported a number of important space science projects.
Its development represented a major achievement in Japan’s solid-propellant rocket technology and contributed to the country’s international reputation in scientific space exploration.
Ohsumi was Japan’s first artificial satellite, launched on February 11, 1970. Its successful placement in orbit established Japan as the fourth nation to launch an artificial satellite independently.
The Hayabusa spacecraft was launched from Uchinoura Space Center on May 9, 2003 (Heisei 15), aboard an M-V rocket.
Its mission was to travel to the asteroid Itokawa, collect samples, and return them to Earth. After a difficult journey, the sample-return capsule successfully landed in Australia on June 13, 2010 (Heisei 22).
The mission achieved a historic milestone in space exploration by returning material collected from an asteroid. It also demonstrated Japan’s advanced capabilities in spacecraft navigation, autonomous operation, and deep-space exploration.
Uchinoura has also supported the launch of scientific satellites and probes designed to investigate the Earth’s atmosphere, the Sun, and other celestial bodies.
These missions have contributed to the development of space science in Japan and expanded scientific knowledge of the solar system and the wider universe.
Visitors to Uchinoura Space Center can see facilities and displays introducing the history of Japan’s scientific rocket development.
Among the highlights are full-scale or preserved examples of rockets and spacecraft, together with exhibits explaining how launch vehicles are assembled, tested, and operated.
The center’s location among the hills of the Osumi Peninsula also offers visitors a distinctive view of a working space research facility set within a natural landscape.
Uchinoura Space Center continues to serve as an important base for scientific rocket launches and space research. Its history includes the launch of Japan’s first satellite, the development of advanced solid-fuel rockets, and the launch of the Hayabusa asteroid explorer.
The center has played a major role in establishing Japan’s position in space science. It remains an important facility for research and technological development, while its achievements provide an inspiring introduction to the history of Japanese space exploration.
Uchinoura Space Center is one of the most important sites in the history of Japanese space development. From the launch of Ohsumi in 1970 to the Hayabusa mission, it has supported scientific projects that have attracted worldwide attention.
For visitors interested in science, technology, and space exploration, the center offers an opportunity to discover the achievements that helped shape Japan’s space program. Its location on the Pacific coast of the Osumi Peninsula also makes it a distinctive destination when exploring southern Kagoshima.