The operation of the "Misasa Deep Space Exploration Ground Station" constructed by JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture to communicate with the space probe began this month, and the opening ceremony was held on the 10th. It was.
The "Ground Station for Deep Space Exploration in Misasa" in Saku City was newly constructed by JAXA at a total construction cost of more than 10 billion yen due to the deterioration of the antenna of the "Usuda Deep Space Center" in the city.
According to JAXA, ground stations can use a satellite dish with a diameter of 54 meters to communicate with a place called "deep space" that is more than 2 million kilometers away from the earth.
This means that you can exchange more data than before, so you can receive finer images and videos.
At the opening ceremony held on the 10th, JAXA Director Hitoshi Kuninaka said, "It is a very important infrastructure that not only contributes to JAXA's space planning and projects, but also enables international cooperation with the world."
On the morning of the 10th, we communicated with the asteroid explorer "Hayabusa 2" and the people involved in the ceremony were observing.
Kenji Numata, project manager of JAXA, said, "I hope that the antenna will be proud of to the world and that the name Misasa will be known worldwide."