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Space


Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC)

Mazu, Kukinaga, Minamitane-machi, 
Kumage-gun, Kagoshima 891-37 
Phone: 81-9972-6-2111 
Fax:   81-9972-4-4004

The Tanegashima Space Center, NASDA's largest facility, is located at the southeastern end of Tanegashima island, 115 kilometers south of Kyushu.

This 8.6 million square meter complex plays a central role in pre-launch countdown and post-launch tracking operations. On-site facilities include the Takesaki Range (for small rockets), the Osaki Range (for J-I and H-II launch vehicles),the Masuda Tracking and Communication Station, the Nogi Radar Station, the Uchugaoka Radar Station and optical observation facilities to the west. There are also related developmental facilities for firing of liquid- and solid- fuel rocket engines.
  • Yoshinobu Launch (H-II) Complex is the launch base for the H-II rocket, which will be the major vehicle for future space transportation. Completed in 1993, main facilities include: the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for rocket assembly, preparation and checking; the Mobile Launcher (ML); the Pad Service Tower (PST) for final checks of launch vehicles, propellant storage and supply facilities; and the Launch Control Building (Blockhouse) for coordinating and issuing instructions for on-site launch operations.
  • Second Spacecraft Testing and Assembling Building (#2STA), in addition to unpacking the two-ton satellites to be launched with the H-II, is used for conducting various experiments such as radio wave characteristics and ompatibility tests. After the tests, the satellite is transported to the neighboring Spacecraft and Fairing Assembling Building, for loading of propellant, and final joining of the satellite with the fairing.
  • Yoshinobu LE-7 Engine Test Facility is used as the site for test firing of the H-II launch vehicle's first stage LE-7 engine. Located next to the Yoshinobu Launch Complex, it includes storage and supply facilities for propellants (liquid hydrogen. liquid oxygen, helium and nitrogen) and supply facilities for water and electricity.
  • Osaki J-I Launch Complex is the launch base for the J-I rocket, which launches small satellites. The mobile Service Tower, the Block House, and other facilities for J-I launch vehicle were used for H-I launch vehicles and refurbished for the J-I.
  • Takesaki Range includes facilities such as a launch control building and an assembly building. Since 1991, it has been used as the launch site for the TR-IA rocket, a small space test rocket that is an improvement over the TR-I. This Range was the launch site for small rockets designed to be used for technological development (LS-C, JCR, TT-500A,TR-I, etc.)
  • Takesaki Range Control Center collects and analyzes information, issues commands, makes adjustments and monitors the pre-launch operations for rockets and satellites at Tanegashima. It is also concerned with ground safety, launching and tracking.
  • The Masuda TDAS is located in the middle of Tanegashima Island. In addition to satellite tracking and control, TDAS is involved in the inspection and confirmation of the function of satellite on rocket at the Osaki Rocket Launch Complex with electric waves prior to the liftoff. It features the same equipment at NASDA's other Tracking and Communication Stations.

Location of Tanegashima Space Center Facilities

  1. Power Supply Facility
  2. Spin Test Building
  3. Solid Propellant Storage Facilities
  4. Solid Motor Test Building
  5. Third-stage and Satellite Assembly Building
  6. Spacecraft Test and Assembly Building
  7. Water Supply Facilities
  8. Flight Optical Tracking
  9. Static Firing Test Facility
  10. Liquid Fuel Oxygin Storage
  11. Static Firing Test Facility for the LE-7
  12. Yoshinobu (H-II) Launch Complex
  13. Rocket Assembly Building 1
  14. Rocket Assembly Building 2
  15. 80M Meteological Observation Tower
  16. Block House
  17. J-I Rocket Launch Complex
  18. Osaki RCC
  19. Nakanoyama Telemetry Station
  20. Fourth Optical Tracking Station
  21. Tanegashima Lighthouse
  22. Static Firing Test Facility
    for Solid Motor
  23. Administration Building
  24. Takesaki RCC
  25. TR-IA Rocket Launcher
  26. Meteological Observation House
  27. Takesaki observation Tower




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