To celebrate “Space Day” in Japan (12th September) Japan’s forerunners in space science, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) have collaborated with Google Maps to allow people from all over the world to take virtual tours of the institutions.
Using the panoramic imagery available through Google’s Street View Space travel enthusiasts can explore these amazing institutions and really get a feel for what it is like to be an astronaut!
With JAXA you can take a stroll through the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) which was the site from which the Kounotori 3 rocket was recently launched, on a mission to deliver essential supplies to the ISS. Visitors can also check out the launch pad and tower and nose around the control room to their hearts content.
Space Science Technology Museum
Other JAXA highlights open to virtual visitors from around the world include the Tsukuba Space Center, Sagamihara Campus, Chofu Air and Space Center, Earth Observation Center, Usuda Outer Space Observatory, and the Uchinoura Space Center.
You can also make the most of the 360-degree views of the Miraikan Museum, wander around and check out all the exhibits as if you were really there. If you do fancy taking a look around, make sure you check out the Miraikan’s top features like “Geo Cosmos” – the famous hanging model of earth and the replica of the ISS.
Setsuto Murai, Strategic Partner Development Manager, said:
“We thank JAXA and the Miraikan for working with us to collect and share the new Street View imagery for these breathtaking and important sites of space innovation and technology. We hope the imagery on Google Maps brings the science of outer space much closer to people around the world.”
(Via Google Maps Blog
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