Japan headed to the Moon in 20 years?

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1339842.htm

Summary: JAXA says it will have a man-rated rocket (developed from the
H-2A) within 10 years, and will land a man on the Moon within 20 years.

My comments:
OK, I realize that the Japanese space program has always been stronger
on plans than on actions... but with the Chinese now making serious
progress in space, one wonders whether JAXA may now have the political
support it needs to do the same.

Certainly the Japanese have the technical know-how; in fact, considering
their innovation in nearly all other technical fields and their
future-thinking population, their slow progress in space development has
always been a little baffling. I suspect that it's been simply a matter
of not seeing much profit in it. But with space tourism now a reality,
plus the threat of Chinese dominance of space (speaking here from the
Japanese point of view), perhaps things are different.

I have no doubt that, with sufficient political will, the Japanese could
indeed reach these goals easily. But is the will there? Or is this
just another empty plan?

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No one will go to the moon unless proper immigration procedures have
been done.

Not Japan.

Not China.

Not India.

Not the Russian Federation.

Not the U.S.A.

And so on.



As for Japan's 'innovation' and 'future-thinking'.

Er... Japanese aren't known for that. They are only known for being
obedient servants. So most of the technical know-how probably came from
outside and then later on 'they' will disguised it as coming from
inside Japan, either that to boost morale (good, though 'they' usually
would do this to make people fight each other) or to badmouth other
countries' 'performance' (bad).

And the obedient servant mentality probably would explained on why they
have a slow progress on space development, they are ordered to do so.



As for space tourism is a reality.

What space tourism?

There's no space tourism.

And even the so called 'orbital tourism' is still a political move.

Aerospace tourism, yes. But space tourism?



As for the Chinese governments and the Japanese governments.

Considering that both governments in reality is under one ruler along
with other 'official' governments in the world, they all are under
'their' rule. It's doubtful that the Japanese government would panic
just because the Chinese government do something.

Unless they are ordered to pretend to fight each other, or... the
Chinese government is no longer under 'their' rule, if that's the case,
then the 'international community' would demand and force a 'reform' on
the Chinese government.



As for J.A.X.A.'s plans for future manned moon missions.

I have seen no press release or information on its website, so I will
assume that it's just another lies by the mass media.

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/index_e.html

http://www.jaxa.jp/

"Joe Strout" wrote ...
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1339842.htm

Old news.

http://www.google.co.uk/groups?selm=....dem on.co.uk

I note that the Radio Australia page states "Last Updated 06/04/2005"
which makes me suspect that the news article was _first_ published
much longer ago.

Summary: JAXA says it will have a man-rated rocket (developed from the
H-2A) within 10 years, and will land a man on the Moon within 20 years.

The date line doesn't match up.

It seems to be /next generation/ rocket within 10 years.
Manned rocket within 20 years.
'Embark on development of manned base' within 20 years (not clear that
'man on moon' is implied at this point).

My comments:
OK, I realize that the Japanese space program has always been stronger
on plans than on actions... but with the Chinese now making serious
progress in space, one wonders whether JAXA may now have the political
support it needs to do the same.

I've seen surprisingly little competitive spirit between Japan and China in
with regard to space.

Certainly the Japanese have the technical know-how; in fact, considering
their innovation in nearly all other technical fields and their
future-thinking population, their slow progress in space development has
always been a little baffling.

As a /single country/ they are second only to the U.S.

I suspect that it's been simply a matter
of not seeing much profit in it. But with space tourism now a reality,
plus the threat of Chinese dominance of space (speaking here from the
Japanese point of view),

I think that's more of an Western view than a Japanese view.

I have no doubt that, with sufficient political will, the Japanese could
indeed reach these goals easily. But is the will there? Or is this
just another empty plan?

I think there's a good chance it will go ahead, with a typical amount of
schedule slippage and on the apparently longer timeline of the article I
linked to.

In article ,
"Paul Blay" wrote:

"Joe Strout" wrote ...
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1339842.htm

Old news.

Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, but it was new to me.

I've seen surprisingly little competitive spirit between Japan and China in
with regard to space.

Me too. Is this because China's progress in this area has only recently
become embarrassingly obvious? Or because they really don't care?

Given the long history of animosity between the two countries, it's hard
to imagine that the Japanese aren't feeling a bit put out by the success
of the Chinese space program. Seems like it would be very similar to
how Sputnik stirred emotions in the U.S.

But perhaps that's not a good enough reason to pursue an ambitious
program in the face of a national debt -- the Japanese may be more
practical than Americans in this regard.

Certainly the Japanese have the technical know-how; in fact, considering
their innovation in nearly all other technical fields and their
future-thinking population, their slow progress in space development has
always been a little baffling.

As a /single country/ they are second only to the U.S.

I don't understand this. How are they ahead of Russia? Or China?

I think there's a good chance it will go ahead, with a typical amount of
schedule slippage and on the apparently longer timeline of the article I
linked to.

That seems reasonable to me.

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In article .com,
wrote:

No one will go to the moon unless proper immigration procedures have
been done.

This is obvious nonsense. You can't have immigration procedures until
there is a country to immigrate to. And you can't have a country until
you have some people there. Obviously the people have to come first.

As for Japan's 'innovation' and 'future-thinking'.

Er... Japanese aren't known for that. They are only known for being
obedient servants. So most of the technical know-how probably came from
outside and then later on 'they' will disguised it as coming from
inside Japan...

Boy, are YOU behind the times. Japan's technology sector leads the
world in a number of areas, including robotics, semiconductors (e.g.
solid-state blue lasers), consumer electronics, and more. Their "Earth
Simulator" held the title of the world's fastest supercomputer for many
years, displaced just this year I think. And the people embrace new
technologies far faster than virtually anywhere else -- HDTV was already
common there when I visited in 1988, for example. Your view is
backwards and Just Plain Wrong.

As for space tourism is a reality.

What space tourism?

There's no space tourism.

Sure there is. Two people have already paid $20M for a week on orbit,
with another one (a Japanese, as it happens) reportedly lined up for
later this year. Virgin Galactic has contracted the construction of
suborbital spacecraft exclusively for the purpose of tourism. Other
companies (e.g. XCOR) are also making progress, albiet somewhat slower.
Space tourism is real, whether you care to admit it or not.

As for the Chinese governments and the Japanese governments.

Considering that both governments in reality is under one ruler along
with other 'official' governments in the world, they all are under
'their' rule.

Who is "they"? Are these the alien lizards that are secretly
controlling all of Earth's affairs, by any chance? Uh-oh, you know
their secret -- watch out, they'll be after you now!

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| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
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"Joe Strout" wrote ...

Me too. Is this because China's progress in this area has only recently
become embarrassingly obvious? Or because they really don't care?

I'd go for the "really don't care" option.

Given the long history of animosity between the two countries, it's hard
to imagine that the Japanese aren't feeling a bit put out by the success
of the Chinese space program. Seems like it would be very similar to
how Sputnik stirred emotions in the U.S.

I don't think there is that sort of animosity. Don't forget that Japan was
the guilty party in most recent big conflict - they've a distinct tendency
to try to ignore history or fudge over it but most of the grudge holding
is naturally on the /other/ side.

As a /single country/ they are second only to the U.S.

I don't understand this. How are they ahead of Russia?

Russia barely counts as a /single/ country in terms of space industry.
Most of their stuff is coasting from good old USSR days or is still
firmly reliant on multiple former Soviet Union countries.

Or China?

OK I admit that China is a good counter example - it is certainly ahead
in terms of manned space.

However Japan's satellite industry is much more sophisticated and
their launchers have more potential if they were just a bit less buggy
(and had less trouble with the fishing unions).

In article ,
"Paul Blay" wrote:

Given the long history of animosity between the two countries, it's hard
to imagine that the Japanese aren't feeling a bit put out by the success
of the Chinese space program. Seems like it would be very similar to
how Sputnik stirred emotions in the U.S.

I don't think there is that sort of animosity. Don't forget that Japan was
the guilty party in most recent big conflict - they've a distinct tendency
to try to ignore history or fudge over it but most of the grudge holding
is naturally on the /other/ side.

That's a good point.

I don't understand this. How are they ahead of Russia?

Russia barely counts as a /single/ country in terms of space industry.
Most of their stuff is coasting from good old USSR days or is still
firmly reliant on multiple former Soviet Union countries.

True.

Or China?

OK I admit that China is a good counter example - it is certainly ahead
in terms of manned space.

However Japan's satellite industry is much more sophisticated and
their launchers have more potential if they were just a bit less buggy
(and had less trouble with the fishing unions).

Fair enough.

Best,
- Joe

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| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
| http://www.macwebdir.com |
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On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:13:34 -0500, in a place far, far away, Joe
Strout made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a
way as to indicate that:

Summary: JAXA says it will have a man-rated rocket (developed from the
H-2A) within 10 years, and will land a man on the Moon within 20 years.

I have no doubt that, with sufficient political will, the Japanese could
indeed reach these goals easily. But is the will there? Or is this
just another empty plan?

If it's based on an H-2A, it will be no more competitive than any
other expendable launcher in the face of an active space tourism
industry.

"Joe Strout" wrote in message
...
snip

As a /single country/ they are second only to the U.S.

I don't understand this. How are they ahead of Russia? Or China?


I would also count EU as a single country. Spacewise certainly, and
otherwise, IMO.

( and even if you don't, France is in the running ).