Japan is setting up a new space agency formed from the merger of three agencies, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). The new agency, to be called Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is scheduled to be launch operations on Oct. 1.

Japan Aerospace Exploration will promote academic research in space science in cooperation with universities, basic research concerning space scientific technology, fundamental research and development related to space, as well as spacecraft development, launch services, tracking and operation.