種子島宇宙センター Tanegashima Uchū Sentā | |
Osaki range with the Yoshinobu Launch Complex in the distance | |
Agency overview | |
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Headquarters | Tanegashima, Japan 30°24′00″N 130°58′12″E / 30.40000°N 130.97000°E |
Parent agency | JAXA |
Website | global |
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The Tanegashima Space Center (種子島宇宙センター, Tanegashima Uchū Sentā) (TNSC) is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9,700,000 square metres (2,400 acres; 970 ha).[1] It is located on the southeastern tip of Tanegashima, an island approximately 40 kilometers (25 mi) south of Kyushu, an island and region and Japan. Construction on the site started in 1966.[1] It was established in 1969 when the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) was formed, and is now run by JAXA. The activities that take place at TNSC include assembly, testing, launching, and tracking satellites, as well as rocket engine firing tests.