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An artist's conception of what the Planet-B spacecraft looks like while orbiting Mars. Click on image for full size (192K GIF) Courtesy of NASA

On July 4, 1998, the Planet-B probe was launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). Planet-B is on its way to Mars to study the Martian atmosphere, and its interaction with the solar wind. The probe was built, launched and will be controlled solely by Japan. Planet-B will reach Mars in October making Japan the third country (along with Russia and the U.S.) to reach another planet.

This successful launch has paved the way for future Japanese missions. In the next years, they are hoping to send a mission to the Moon, to an asteroid, and to Mercury.

An artist's conception of what the Planet-B spacecraft looks like while orbiting Mars. Click on image for full size (192K GIF) Courtesy of NASA

On July 4, 1998, the Planet-B probe was launched sucessfully by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). Planet-B is on its way to Mars to study the upper Martian atmosphere and ionosphere, and its interaction with the solar wind. The probe carries 14 instruments from Japan, Canada, Sweden, Germany and the United States, but the spacecraft was built, launched and will be controlled solely by Japan. Barring any unforeseen mishaps, Planet-B will reach Mars in October making Japan the third country (along with Russia and the U.S.) to reach another planet.

This successful launch has paved the way for future Japanese missions. In the next years, they are hoping to send a mission to the Moon, to an asteroid, and to Mercury. Japan is the only Asian country participating in the International Space Station.