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JAXA Reaches Agreement to Conduct Year-Round Launches

By Staff Writer | August 3, 2010

      [Satellite TODAY 08-02-10] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will be able to conduct launches throughout the year beginning in April, the agency announced July 29.
           Under the previous arrangement between the fishery council for the Tanegashima area and JAXA, launches from Tanegashima Space Center and the Uchinoura Space Center were allowed to take place only during a total of 190 days per year due to concerns about their impact on fishermen near the launch sites.
           The new agreement will expand that period to provide “launch opportunities whenever necessary and establishing a more open launch site system that is comparable to that in other countries,” JAXA said in a statement.
           The number of launches will be limited to 17 per year, and the launch plan will be discussed with fishermen each year.