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Launch Sites

ISAS and NASDA conduct their spacelaunch activities at two separate sites. The oldest facility is known as the Kagoshima Space Center and is maintained by ISAS on Kyushu Island. All M-3SII missions are launched from Kagoshima which will also support future M-5 flights. NASDA operates the Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashimasouth of Kagoshima for all H-class vehicle launches. The H-I launch pad is currently being modified to support the new J-I vehicle. A new facility about 1 km away was constructed for H-II operations. Due to strict fishing industry requirements, all Japanese launches from both Kagoshima and Tanegashima are limited to two 2-month periods each year: January-February and August-September. Consequently, the current maximum flight rate each year is two M-class, two J-class, and two H-class launch vehicles.