View source for Tanegashima Space Center

{{Short description|Rocket-launch complex in Japan}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=struct|種子島宇宙センター|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name            = Tanegashima Space Center
| native_name     = 
| native_name_a   = {{lang|ja|種子島宇宙センター}}
| native_name_r   = {{lang|ja|Tanegashima Uchū Sentā}}
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| image           = Osaki Range.jpg
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| image_caption   = Osaki range with the [[Yoshinobu Launch Complex]] in the distance
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| formed          = {{Start date|1969}}
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| headquarters    = [[Tanegashima]], Japan
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The {{nihongo foot|'''Tanegashima Space Center'''|種子島宇宙センター|Tanegashima Uchū Sentā|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} ('''TNSC''') is [[Japan]]'s primary [[spaceport]], covering approximately about {{Convert|9.7|e6m2|acre ha}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 2005 |title=Overview of the Tanegashima Space Center |url=https://global.jaxa.jp/countdown/f11/presskit/tnsc_guide_e.pdf |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=[[JAXA]]}}</ref> It is located on the southeastern tip of [[Tanegashima]], the easternmost of the [[Ōsumi Islands]], approximately {{convert|40|km|sp=us}} south of the major island of [[Kyushu]].

The site was selected on May 24, 1966, and construction began later that year on September 17. Exactly two years later, on September 17, 1968, it hosted its first launch, a small rocket. The facility officially opened on October 1, 1969, coinciding with the establishment of its initial operator, the [[National Space Development Agency of Japan]] (NASDA).

Now operated by the [[JAXA|Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency]] (JAXA) since its formation in 2003, TNSC is responsible for satellite assembly, as well as launch vehicle testing, launching, and tracking.

== Facilities ==
On-site main facilities include:<ref name="JAXA-Tanegashima">{{Cite news|url=http://global.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/index.html|title=JAXA – Tanegashima Space Center|date=23 September 2018|work=JAXA|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223104103/http://global.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/index.html|archive-date=23 February 2018}}</ref>
* [[Yoshinobu Launch Complex]]
* [[Osaki Launch Complex]] (retired, 25 launches 1975-96)
* Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
* Second Spacecraft Test and Assembly Building
* Takesaki Range Control Center

Those facilities are used for performing operations from assembling launch vehicles, maintenance, inspections, final checks of satellites, loading satellites onto launch vehicles, rocket launches, and tracking launch vehicles after liftoff. The TNSC plays a pivotal role in satellite launches among Japan's space development activities.

Orbital launches take place from the [[Yoshinobu Launch Complex]], lifting off from its two launch pads:
* LA-Y1 used for [[H-II]] and [[H-IIA]] launches
* LA-Y2 used for [[H-IIB]] and [[H3 (rocket)|H3]] launches

The H-IIA first stage engine, the [[LE-7]]A, was test-fired at the Yoshinobu Firing Test Stand. Auxiliary buildings are in place for the assembly of new spacecraft and for radar and optical tracking of launched spacecraft.

The older [[Osaki Launch Complex]] was retired in 1992. It was used for the launch and development of [[N-I (rocket)|N-I]], [[N-II (rocket)|N-II]], [[H-I]] and [[J-I]] rockets.

The Space Science and Technology Museum is near TNSC. It offers a view of rocket history and technology in Japan.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:JAXA TNSC Yoshinobu LP1.jpg|Yoshinobu LP-1
File:H2A11001.jpg|The launch of H-IIA Flight 11 (ETS-VIII) from LP-1, 2006
File:H-IIA F13 launching KAGUYA.jpg|H-IIA Flight 13 (Kaguya) launching KAGUYA from LP-1, 2007
File:Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission (12812960063).jpg|H-IIA Flight 23 (GPM) rollout to LP-1, 2014
File:Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) pre-launch.jpg|H-IIA Flight 23 (GPM) at LP-1, 2014
File:Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission (12858255364).jpg|H-IIA rocket at the VAB
File:JAXA TNSC Yoshinobu LP2.jpg|Yoshinobu LP-2
File:H-ⅡBロケット8号機.jpg|HI-IIB Flight 8 (HTV-8) at LP-2, 2019
File:Tanegashima Space Center 1.jpg|The Space Science and Technology Museum
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Japan|Space|Spaceflight}}
* {{Annotated link|8866 Tanegashima}}
* {{Annotated link|Mitsubishi Heavy Industries}}
* {{Annotated link|Uchinoura Space Center}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Official website|https://global.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/index.html}} {{in lang|en}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w-2CHrFNl8 Introduction]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020317045230/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/tanshima.htm Article title]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100527140247/http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/stations/sitelist/GMSL_general.html SLR Global Performance Report Card]
* {{OSM|n|5641143022}}

{{Spaceport}}
{{JAXA Facilities}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1969]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Spaceports in Asia]]
[[Category:Transport buildings and structures in Kagoshima Prefecture]]
[[Category:Rocket launch sites in Japan]]
[[Category:Ōsumi Islands]]
[[Category:JAXA facilities]]