Uchinoura Space Center / spaceport
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The Uchinoura Space Center is a rocket-launch facility covering approximately 700,000 square meters, situated on a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Kagoshima Prefecture. It functions as a launch complex for sounding rockets and the Epsilon launch vehicle, and operates large parabolic antennas for tracking satellites and spacecraft. Japan's first satellite, OHSUMI, was launched from this site in 1970.
key details
faq
Where is Uchinoura Space Center?
Uchinoura Space Center is located in Japan. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
How many launches has Uchinoura Space Center hosted?
Uchinoura Space Center has hosted 43 launches. (source, as of 2026-09-08)
Who operates Uchinoura Space Center?
Uchinoura Space Center is operated by JAXA. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
facts
events
- notable2026-09-03BepiColombo separates from transfer module, begins Mercury arrival phase
- notable2026-08-20JAXA schedules MMX Mars-moon sample-return launch for October 20
- notable2026-08-11JAXA launches Michibiki 7 navigation satellite on H3 rocket's 9th flight
- notable2026-07-23JAXA completes Epsilon S second-stage engine test after switching to backup motor
- notable2026-07-11JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy fly RV-X reusable rocket testbed on first hop
- notable2026-07-05JAXA's Hayabusa2 makes closest-ever asteroid flyby, first laser ranging
- notable2026-06-12JAXA flies H3 in its boosterless 30 configuration with six satellites aboard
timeline
- 20222022-10-12Epsilon 6 fails after launch from Uchinoura, destroying three satellites (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20132013-09-14Epsilon rocket makes maiden flight from Uchinoura, launching SPRINT-A (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 19701970Japan's first satellite Ohsumi launches from Uchinoura's KS Center (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 19621962Uchinoura Space Center facility established as a University of Tokyo research site (source, as of 2026-07-12)
sources
[2] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
country2026-07-05launches totalfirst-party2026-09-08
[3] global.jaxa.jp ↗
websitefirst-party2026-07-05