Japan space plans may include manned moon base

[Eisuke]

Japan space plans may include manned moon base
Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:56 AM GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's space agency is drawing up plans that could include manned space flights and a manned research base on the moon, a newspaper says.

Japan took a step towards restoring faith in its space programme on Saturday when it put a satellite in orbit, 15 months after its previous attempt ended in humiliating failure when the rocket had to be blown up shortly after launch.

That failure was particularly painful because it came shortly after China successfully put a man into space -- a move that Japan said at the time it had no plans to emulate.

The daily Mainichi Shimbun said on Monday a draft long-term plan being drawn up by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) includes developing a vehicle similar to the U.S. space shuttle by 2025.

Around the same time, it hopes to start constructing a research base on the moon, the paper said.

Other plans include using satellites to send information on disasters such as tsunami directly to mobile phones, it said.

An official at JAXA declined to comment on the possible contents of the plan, which is expected to be finalised by March 31, the end of Japan's fiscal year.

Article: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...APAN-SPACE.xml

[Brooker]

It seems Japan has had some troule getting started in the space race, but maybe their recent success can give them a boost. I'm not sure how likely it is that they'll have a base on the moon, but hey, there's nothing like an ambitious plan. It's good to see countries competing in the space race again. I think the main reason America hasn't done a whole lot in recent years is because there wasn't much competition to push them forward. Look what having the Russians to compete with did for space exploration. Maybe things are changing and I hope so. Go Japan!

[TwistedMac]

when I think of manned bases on the moon, I always think of Clive Cussler's Cyclops. In my opinion a great book. Many plot turns and twists and just a very fascinating story, and when it was written (and maybe even still) it was not an extremely unlikely scenario.

[PaulTB]

I found an article that actually gives details of the plan.

http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/search...00063000c.html

And translated a bit of it.

宇宙利用分野では、太陽系探査の中で月探査を主要な目 標に掲げた。5年後まで
に月面探査ロボットを開発し10年後に人間の長期滞在に 必要な水やエネルギーの確保
に関する技術の確立を目指す。20年後には、有人基地の 開発に着手し、太陽エ
ネルギーを利用した発電施設の開発も盛り込んだ。

In the field of space exploitation, from among the solar system investigation, we hold
exploration of the moon to be an important aim. In five years to develop a lunar surface
robot lander, in 10 years time to aim for development of techniques required to ensure
energy, water &c. to support long term residence of humans (on the moon). In 20 years
time to embark on development of a manned base, also including development of solar
energy electricty generation facilities.

これらの実現のため、有人宇宙活動にも積極的に取り組 む。最初の5年間は、7号機
の打ち上げに成功したH2Aロケットの信頼性向上や国際� F宙ステーションでの技術習
得を進める。10年後には次期主力ロケット開発と宇宙ス テーションに物資を輸送する
無人補給機「HTV」の実用化、20年後には米国のスペースシャトルのような有人再使
用輸送機の独自での開発着手を目標にした。

In order to realise the above, and to aggressively come to grips with manned space
activities we have decided on the following objectives.
1 - In the first five years improve the reliability of the H2A rocket whose seventh flight
succeeded and proceed with acquiring technological skills by means of the
International Space Station.
2 - In 10 years time, develop next generation rocket and bring the ISS unmanned cargo
transport (HTV) into use.
3 - In 20 years time, embark on the independent development of a manned space
transport such as America's space shuttle.

[Nefelia]

Brooker, it hasn't been well publicized, but I do believe the European Space Agency has been giving America some competition. The landing of a probe on Titan is a good example of such.

The ESA is also involved in a few other note-worthy projects, like the construction of the largest space-based telescope (will surpass the HUBBLE), and , er, other stuff (that I don't have the time to look up. ;p

[digicross]

...but doing them is another matter.

The problem with any manned mission to the Moon is that, are the people planning for the mission allowed to do it or not?

We have seen both the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. banned from doing any manned mission to the Moon. And recently also China and India.

Does the same goes for Japan?



As for E.S.A.'s space telescope.

I don't know whic telescope you're talking, but if you're talking about the Next Generation Space Telescope (now renamed as the James Webb Space Telescope) it was jointly developed with N.A.S.A. and the C.S.A. . The same also goes for Hubble.



As for competition.

Competition will only reduce the players into pieces. In short, no one will wins.



As for the space race.

Well... When did it began? Since there's no such as a space race at all, there's only propaganda to make people fight each other.



As for "Other plans include using satellites to send information on disasters such as tsunami directly to mobile phones, it said."

Great, wireless terror! Instant mass panic in the press of a single button.

[Brooker]

We have seen both the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. banned from doing any manned mission to the Moon. And recently also China and India.

Does the same goes for Japan?

Banned? By who?

As for "Other plans include using satellites to send information on disasters such as tsunami directly to mobile phones, it said."

Great, wireless terror! Instant mass panic in the press of a single button.

Or the ability to save lives by getting out of the way of it.

[bossel]

Banned? By who?

The great world conspiracy Digicross likes to hint at in pretty much every post he makes. I asked him several times who might be behind that conspiracy but IIRC he never answered.

[TheKansaiKid]

...but doing them is another matter.


As for competition.

Competition will only reduce the players into pieces. In short, no one will wins.

I disagree with you there.

I think that competition often introduces an element of motivation that may be lacking. With competition comes a drive to advance that doesn't otherwise exist. This is true in many aspects not just the space race. If Detroit auto makers would have had their way in the 70's and early 80's there would have been no competition from Japanese carmakers and American cars would still be shoddily made aircraft carrier sized boxes of steel.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

the moon's surface -- development is an ostensible announcement.
Truth! JAXA wants to make a space colony in fact.
Many OTAKU(s) must be in JAXA.

[alexriversan]

that's good news. but the problems on earth?

first, they should achieve these things:

more workplaces than jobseekers
laws against being poor/having no money
reduce the amount of special population group members by 1:20
laws against wrong data, especially cruel religious illustrations
one common language

[PaulTB]

We have seen both the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. banned from doing any manned mission to the Moon. And recently also China and India.

"we" might have, but I certainly haven't.

[alexriversan]

"we" might have, but I certainly haven't.

probably it means, due to insufficient translation, these nations have iced their moon mission plans. better to say: have put their plans "on ice".

such sentences are difficult to translate, though valid in the right context.