JAXA Masuda Tracking and Communication Station

The Masuda Tracking and Communication Station was established at Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, in 1974 as a facility of the then National Space Development Agency. The main role of the Station is to receive signals from satellites, monitor if satellites are maintaining their proper positions and attitudes (satellite tracking and control), collect functional status data of satellites’ onboard electronic devices, then send any received data to the Tsukuba Space Center. In addition, commands are transmitted from the station to satellites, if necessary, to maintain and control them. Apart from the satellite tracking and control facility, there is a precision radar at the station to track a launch vehicle and receive telemetry signals transmitted from a launch vehicle for monitoring its flight status.