In 1965, the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) set up the Kakuda Branch in the west area of the KSPC under the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology Agency of the Government. In 1978, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) set up the former Kakuda Propulsion Center in the east area of the KSPC. The Kakuda Branch mainly conducted research on the development of design skill to maintain and enhance the reliability of Japan’s rocket engines, while the Kakuda Propulsion Center developed and tested full-scale engines incorporating achievements made by the Kakuda Branch. Both centers played an important role in research and development of Japan’s rocket engines. Since JAXA was established by integrating three aerospace organizations – the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), NAL, and NASDA – in October 2003, Kakuda Branch and Kakuda Propulsion Center were merged to form KSPC which undertakes all rocket engine works from research, development to tests.

R&D on Japan’s liquid propellant rocket engines have been conducted in KSPC. Those typical engines were the high performance LE-5 liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen (LOX/LH2) engine used for the H-Ⅰ rocket second stage and derivative version, the LE-5B for the H-ⅡA rocket. In addition, a turbo-pump system of the LE-7, a staged combustion LOX/LH2 booster engine that powers the H-Ⅱ cryogenic first stage, and a turbo-pump system of the LE-7A, a derivative version for the first stage of the H-ⅡA rocket, have been also developed in KSPC. KSPC also conducts R&D on a small spherical solid rocket motor that was used as an upper stage engine or apogee kick motor. KSPC has been studying basic and advanced technology to improve the performance and functionality of Japan’s space propulsion systems.