The Fishermen's Problem

The rockets' impact points are located near an area where many Japanese fishermen operate. There were no problems while ISAS was only launching sounding rockets for academic use, but as soon as NASDA's predecessor started launches for applicational use in 1963, the fishermen lodged complaints with the Japanese Government against these infringements to their fishing rights. ISAS was caught up in the trouble. The negotiations prevented ISAS from launching any rockets in 1967-1968.

Due to the fishermen's problem, the launches of sounding rockets from KSC and Tanegashima Space Center are limited to two periods, January to February and August to September, every year. Since the fishermen's problem began, the annual rate of sounding rocket launches has been around four or five. Subjects of observation have been selected from the fields of aeronomy, magnetospheric physics, astronomy and astrophysics.


Establishment of KSC and Former ISAS INDEX The Challenge of Japan's First Satellite

Japanese