The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) has developed a series of launch vehicles for delivering modest scale scientific satellites into space. This capability is unique for an inter-university research institute. The present ISAS launch vehicle, M-3S II, carries a 770 kg payload into a low earth orbit (LEO). A new program for the development of a more capable vehicle, M-V, started recently, which will have a LEO capability three times that of M-3S II. The enhanced launch capability will further expand the scope of the ISAS missions to include planetary explorations.