The rocket blasted off from the European space centre at Kourou, French Guiana, at 2253 GMT.

Multinational crew arrives at space station

2011-06-09T15:30:11Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A Russian Soyuz capsule with a three-man multinational crew arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday to begin a six-month mission ...

NASA clears shuttle Endeavour for April 29 launch

2011-04-19T15:00:17Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The shuttle Endeavour was cleared for a launch attempt on April 29 to deliver a new class of physics instrument to the

Asia's star burns ever brighter in space

2011-04-10T09:30:11Z

Asia's extraterrestrial ambitions have rocketed from nowhere in the 50 years since the first human space flight, with China shooting for the moon while India and Japan fuel up their own programmes.

Since China in 2003 became the world's third nation to put a man in space independently, after the Asia's extraterrestrial ambitions have rocketed from nowhere in the 50 years since the first human space flight, with China shooting for the moon while India and Japan fuel up their own programmes.

Since China in 2003 became the world's third nation to put a man in space independently, after the CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A robotic Japanese cargo ship reached the International Space Station on Thursday, the first of a quartet of spaceships due to arrive at the orb...

Japanese rocket puts cargo into orbit

2011-01-22T04:30:26Z

A Japanese rocket successfully took an unmanned cargo transporter to the International Space Station into orbit, according to Japan's space agency.

The H-IIB rocket took off from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan on schedule at 2:37...

Japan's low-cost space programme pushes the limits

2010-12-19T02:30:11Z

Despite its shoestring budget, Japan's space programme has boldly reached for the stars, pioneering solar-powered galactic travel, exploring a distant asteroid and planning a robot base on the Moon.

The past year has seen Japan's space agency JAXA chalk up several world firsts, including the safe return of a deep-space probe that...

Japan space probe shoots past Venus

2010-12-08T04:30:23Z

A Japanese space probe has hurtled past Venus after failing to enter the planet's orbit as planned, the space agency said Wednesday, but it voiced hope for a successful rendezvous six years from now.

The "Akatsuki", or "Dawn" probe, blasted off in May on a 300-million-dollar mission to observe the toxic atmosphere and super-hot volcanic surface of Venus, which is sometimes called the Earth's sister planet.

However, in a setback for Japan<...

Japan's Venus probe fails to enter orbit

2010-12-07T20:30:24Z

Japanese probe of Venus fails to enter orbit, may have overshot the planet

A Japanese probe sent on a two-year mission to Venus failed to enter orbit and may have flown passed the planet, space agency officials said Wednesday.

The probe, called Akatsuki, which means dawn, appears to have not fired its engines enough to inject it into the proper orbit after it passed near Venus on Tuesday.

Japan space probe failed to enter Venus orbit: JAXA

2010-12-07T19:31:01Z

An interplanetary probe intended to go into orbit around Venus has failed in its mission, Japan's space agency said Wednesday, 200 days after it left Earth.

"Akatsuki", or "Dawn", was intended to be the first Japanese satellite to orbit a planet other than Earth.

Officially called the Planet-C Venus Climate Orbiter, the box-shaped golden satellite fitted with two paddle-shaped ...

Japan's first Venus probe struggling to enter orbit

2010-12-07T10:30:49Z

Japan's first space probe bound for Venus was struggling on Tuesday to enter the planet's orbit, the space agency said.

The Planet-C Venus Climate Orbiter, a box-shaped golden satellite fitted with two paddle-shaped solar panels, blasted off from a space centre in southern Japan in May.

The probe, nicknamed "Akatsuki" or "Dawn", reversed its engine to slow down and enter the planet's gravitational field but lost contact with ground co...

Japan probe reaches Venus, prepares to enter orbit

2010-12-07T03:00:08Z

Japan probe reaches Venus, prepares to enter orbit; mission could illuminate Earth's neighbor

A Japanese probe reached Venus on Tuesday and prepared to enter orbit on a two-year mission that would mark a major milestone for Japan's space program and cou...

Satellite, Artificial

2010-11-29T14:43:09Z

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Asteroid Dust Successfully Returned by Japanese Space Probe

2010-11-29T14:50:53Z

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Asteroid Mission Returns to Earth

2010-11-29T14:48:05Z

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Asteroid Sampling Spacecraft Will Return

2010-11-29T14:48:05Z

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Space Elevator

2010-11-30T13:56:05Z

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Space Probes

2010-11-29T14:58:42Z

...

Satellites in Orbit by Debbie Lacy

2010-11-02T17:21:21Z

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The Space Debris

2010-11-02T18:24:56Z

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Navigation Satellite Reaches Position Above Japan

2010-09-28T16:06:58Z

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Japan Launches Newest Navigation Satellite Into Orbit

2010-09-14T09:08:16Z

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Japan launches satellite for better GPS coverage

2010-09-11T10:15:27Z

Japan on Saturday launched a rocket carrying a satellite intended to improve global positioning systems.

The H-IIA rocket blasted off at 8:17pm (1117 GMT) from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

About 30 minutes after the launch, the rocket successfull...

Japan to launch satellite for better GPS coverage

2010-09-11T05:15:17Z

Japan on Saturday will launch a rocket carrying a satellite intended to improve global positioning systems.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is to launch the H-IIA at 8:17 pm (11:17 GMT) from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan.

The rocket will release the "Michibiki" satellite, whose name means "showing...

What is X-Seed 4000?

2010-11-05T10:01:02Z

...

8 of the Oldest Institutions

2010-11-02T16:04:38Z

...

Smart glass helps pioneering solar sail to steer

2010-11-02T13:11:06Z

...

Japanese probe may have dust from asteroid

2010-07-07T04:00:13Z

Scientists say Japan probe may have collected first samples from asteroid

Japanese scientists say they have detected tiny particles collected by the first spacecraft to return to Earth after landing on asteroid. But it could take months to determine if the dust came from the asteroid or was picked up by the spacecraft on its return trip.

Material found in the Hayabusa spacecraft's sample collection compartments could...

No sex please, we're astronauts: NASA commander

2010-06-28T02:16:07Z

There is no room for romance on board the cosy confines of the International Space Station, a NASA space shuttle commander said Monday when asked what would happen if astronauts had sex in space.

"We are a group of professionals," said Space Shuttle Discovery commander Australian Outback, officials said.

The pod, which was ejected from a Japanese space probe as it burned up in a spectacular meteor-like display over Australia, could hold the first piece of asteroid ever bro...

Japan's IKAROS Successfully Rolls Out First Solar Sail in Space, Prepares For Interplanetary Cruise

2010-10-27T09:13:49Z

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First student-built interplanetary mission goes silent

2010-10-27T07:12:02Z

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Japanese Craft Sail Off to Venus

2010-11-03T08:38:15Z

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Countries with Robots in Space

2010-10-27T08:36:35Z

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Japan rocket blasts off with 'space yacht', Venus probe

2010-05-20T22:15:33Z

A Japanese rocket blasted off early Friday and successfully launched a Venus probe and a kite-shaped "space yacht" designed to float through the cosmos using only the power of the sun.

The launch vehicle, the H-IIA rocket, took off from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan on schedule at 6:58 am (Thursday 2158 GMT), three days after its original launch was postponed by bad weather.

Live footage on the website of the

Japan launches satellite for 2-year study of Venus

2010-05-20T19:45:12Z

Japan launches satellite for 2-year study of Venus climate

Japan launched a new spacecraft Friday on a two-year mission to study the planet Venus and its climate.

A rocket carrying the Venus climate orbiter called "Akatsuki" blasted off from a Japanese space center in Kagoshima, southern Japan, the

Live footage on the website of Japan on Tuesday postponed the launch of a rocket due to deploy a Venus probe and an experimental "space yacht" propelled by solar particles, because of bad weather at the launch site.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided on the delay six minutes before the scheduled launch of the H-IIA rocket, set for 6:44 am (2144 GMT Monda...

Bad weather postpones Japan rocket launch

2010-05-17T18:15:37Z

Japan on Tuesday postponed the launch of a rocket due to deploy an experimental "space yacht" propelled by solar particles because of bad weather at the launch site, officials said.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided on the delay six minutes before the scheduled launch of the H-IIA rocket, set for 6:44 am (2144 GMT Monday),...

Japan Sets Sail for Venus

2010-11-03T08:49:15Z

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Maiden voyage for first true space sail

2010-10-27T07:11:45Z

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Mouth perfected - ear, nose & throat engineer required

2010-10-27T07:45:56Z

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Bipedal Japanese Robot Will Walk on the Moon by 2015

2010-10-27T07:26:29Z

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Japan 'space yacht' propelled by solar particles

2010-04-27T09:17:05Z

Japan is to launch a "space yacht" propelled by solar particles that bounce off its kite-shaped sails, the country's space agency said Tuesday.

A rocket carrying the Ikaros -- an acronym for Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun -- will blast off from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan on May 18.

"Ikaros is a 'space yacht' that gets propulsion from the pressure of sunlight particles bouncing off its...

Japan to launch 'space yacht' propelled by solar particles

2010-04-27T05:16:04Z

Japan is to launch a "space yacht" propelled by solar particles that bounce off its kite-shaped sails, the country's space agency said Tuesday.

A rocket carrying the Ikaros -- an acronym for Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun -- will blast off from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan on May 18.

"Ikaros is a 'space yacht' that gets propulsion from the pressure of sunlight particles bouncing off its...

Does the debris around Earth affect the atmosphere?

2010-11-03T08:46:05Z

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Astronauts dock at International Space Station

2010-04-16T08:10:56Z

A Russian rocket carrying three astronauts from Japan, Russia and the United States docked at the International Space Station Wednesday, the Russian flight control centre said.

The Soyuz rocket, which blasted off early Monday, docked at 1:48 am Japan, Russia and the United States blasted off early Monday morning amid harsh weather conditions for a Christmas voyage to the International Space Station.

The Soyuz rocket blasted off on schedule from Russia's United States, Japan and Russia received the go-ahead Saturday for a holiday season rocket launch to the International Space Station from Russia's remote space complex in southern Kazakhst...

Sushi set to go sky high with Japanese astronaut

2010-04-16T08:16:01Z

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Sushi will soar to new gastronomic heights next week when a Japanese astronaut blasts off for the International Space Station with a load of raw fish.

Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who will fly into space o...

Space Beer: One Giant Chug for Mankind

2010-10-26T23:16:52Z

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The moon belongs to no one – yet

2010-10-22T07:51:56Z

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Visual Science: Vulcan Awakes

2010-11-02T13:37:52Z

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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

2010-10-22T11:55:48Z

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Japan cargo spacecraft docks at ISS

2010-04-16T10:15:43Z

Japan's first cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday after astronauts aboard the station grabbed and docked it using a robotic arm.

The docking came a week after the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the ...

Space station crew grabs new cargo ship from orbit

2010-04-16T10:16:20Z

Space station astronauts grab new cargo ship from orbit, use robot arm for unprecedented job

A brand new Japanese space station cargo ship arrived at its destination Thursday, expertly plucked from orbit by an astronaut who toasted the first-ever event with her crewmates.

Space station resident Nicole Stott used the robot arm at the orbiting complex to grab the 18-ton supply ship as it hovered 30 feet a...

Space shuttle Discovery lands safely in California

2010-04-16T10:22:36Z

NASA's space shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, ending a 13 day-mission to the International Space Station.

The shuttle mad...

Japan sends first cargo spacecraft to ISS

2010-04-16T10:23:21Z

Japan on Friday launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station, aiming for a share of space transport after the retirement of the US space shuttle fleet next year.

The Jap...

Japan launches new cargo craft to space station

2010-10-22T08:00:10Z

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Japan to send first cargo spacecraft to ISS

2010-04-16T10:24:50Z

Japan was readying to launch its first cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station on Friday, aiming for a share of space transport after the retirement of the US space shuttle fleet next year.

The

Japan's First Space Cargo Ship Ready to Fly

2010-10-26T21:37:25Z

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Spacewalkers to outfit station for final node

2010-10-22T07:45:11Z

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Japanese Supply Spacecraft Set for Launch

2010-10-26T21:29:22Z

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Up Up and Away

2010-10-22T11:22:52Z

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Ariane 5 places Japan, Australia satellites in orbit

2010-04-16T10:42:13Z

An Ariane 5 rocket successfully placed communications satellites into geostationary orbit on Friday for Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Australian operator Optus, according to Arianespace.

The dual payload lifted off from the Arianespace l...

Japan: Fly Me to the Moon

2010-10-22T07:44:15Z

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Akari

2010-10-22T09:06:12Z

...

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

2010-10-22T09:00:54Z

...

Sushi and fresh underpants welcome astronaut home

2010-04-16T11:03:04Z

The shuttle Endeavour descended safely to Earth, spelling a feast of sushi and a clean pair of underpants for one Japanese crew member.

Endeavour's seven member crew, including Japan's Koichi Wakata, touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Cen...

Astronauts return from space to sushi overload

2010-04-16T11:08:49Z

Shuttle Endeavour, 7 astronauts return; Japanese spaceman swamped with sushi after months away

Koichi Wakata was still getting used to gravity, though it wasn't going to stop him from diving into a deluge of sushi.

Huge amounts of the delicacy awaited the Japanese astronaut Friday after he returned to Earth aboard shuttle Endeavour with six other astronauts. Wakata, the first Japan...

Sushi and fresh underpants await landed astronaut

2010-04-16T11:03:13Z

The shuttle Endeavour descended safely to Earth, spelling a feast of sushi and a clean pair of underpants for one Japanese crew member.

Endeavour's seven member crew, including Japan's Koichi Wakata, touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Cen...

Japan New Year

2010-12-31T05:01:02Z

Women chat as they offer this year's last prayers at a temple in China town in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Dec. 31, 2010. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)

...

Japan World Markets

2010-12-30T01:01:25Z

Traders on the Tokyo Stock Exchange react during the afternoon trading in Tokyo at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010. Most Asian stock markets traded in narrow ranges Thursday as fewer investors participated in the market ahead of the New Year holiday while Japan's Japan joining a United States-backed trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, free trade agreement in Yokohama near Tokyo as the Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average climbed 1.5 percent to 10,370.53 after the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy unchanged at the current super loose set...

Japan Stabbings

2010-12-17T03:01:23Z

A teacher of Edogawagakuen Toride High school, left, escort for their students to a station in Toride, Ibaraki prefecture, north of Tokyo, after their classes were canceled following a knife attack at the station Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. An unemployed Japanese man with a knife attacked students and other passengers waiting on two public buses outside the station Friday in a rampage that...

News on Japan

Japan test fires Venus probe engine

Ariane rocket launches two satellites

Multinational crew arrives at space station

NASA clears shuttle Endeavour for April 29 launch

Asia's star burns ever brighter in space

Japanese rocket puts cargo into orbit

Japan's low-cost space programme pushes the limits

Japan space probe shoots past Venus

Japan's Venus probe fails to enter orbit

Japan space probe failed to enter Venus orbit: JAXA

Japan's first Venus probe struggling to enter orbit

Japan probe reaches Venus, prepares to enter orbit

Satellite, Artificial

Asteroid Dust Successfully Returned by Japanese Space Probe

Asteroid Mission Returns to Earth

Asteroid Sampling Spacecraft Will Return

Space Elevator

Space Probes

Satellites in Orbit by Debbie Lacy

The Space Debris

Navigation Satellite Reaches Position Above Japan

Japan Launches Newest Navigation Satellite Into Orbit

Japan launches satellite for better GPS coverage

Japan to launch satellite for better GPS coverage

What is X-Seed 4000?

8 of the Oldest Institutions

Smart glass helps pioneering solar sail to steer

Japanese probe may have dust from asteroid

No sex please, we're astronauts: NASA commander

Japan's IKAROS Successfully Rolls Out First Solar Sail in Space, Prepares For Interplanetary Cruise

First student-built interplanetary mission goes silent

Japanese Craft Sail Off to Venus

Countries with Robots in Space

Japan rocket blasts off with 'space yacht', Venus probe

Japan launches satellite for 2-year study of Venus

Bad weather postpones Japan rocket launch

Japan Sets Sail for Venus

Maiden voyage for first true space sail

Mouth perfected - ear, nose & throat engineer required

Bipedal Japanese Robot Will Walk on the Moon by 2015

Japan 'space yacht' propelled by solar particles

Japan to launch 'space yacht' propelled by solar particles

Does the debris around Earth affect the atmosphere?

Astronauts dock at International Space Station

Sushi set to go sky high with Japanese astronaut

Space Beer: One Giant Chug for Mankind

The moon belongs to no one – yet

Visual Science: Vulcan Awakes

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Japan cargo spacecraft docks at ISS

Space station crew grabs new cargo ship from orbit

Space shuttle Discovery lands safely in California

Japan sends first cargo spacecraft to ISS

Japan launches new cargo craft to space station

Japan to send first cargo spacecraft to ISS

Japan's First Space Cargo Ship Ready to Fly

Spacewalkers to outfit station for final node

Japanese Supply Spacecraft Set for Launch

Up Up and Away

Ariane 5 places Japan, Australia satellites in orbit

Japan: Fly Me to the Moon

Akari

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Sushi and fresh underpants welcome astronaut home

Astronauts return from space to sushi overload

Sushi and fresh underpants await landed astronaut

Japan New Year

Japan World Markets

Japan Stabbings