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Relic Russian ICBM To the Rescue for Science
helio writes "Japanese space agency, JAXA, has announced that the agency will use DNEPR space launch system to launch OICETS (Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite). Initially OICETS was to be launched with Japan's H-IIA rocket, however the delay in their development and a lack of time in the schedule force JAXA to utilize Russian's DNEPR system. For those who are too young to remember Cold War, DNEPR space launch system used to be Russian's inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM). As you may guess, the OICETS satellite will be launched from a silo."
Lets hope that the US doesn't have an automated response system that watches for anything coming out of the silos. It doesn't make for good international relations to launch a couple thousand nukes in response to communications satellite.
"The Japanese space agency, JAXA, has announced that the agency will use the DNEPR space launch system to launch the OICETS (Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite). Initially the OICETS was to be launched with Japan's H-IIA rocket, however the delay in their development and a lack of time in the schedule force JAXA to utilize the Russian's DNEPR system. For those who are too young to remember the Cold War, the DNEPR space launch system used to be the Russian's inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM). As you may guess, the OICETS satellite will be launched from a silo."
You know, Engrish can be cute, or it can be a pain to read.
You can't take the sky from me...
no kidding
wtf do all the acronyms mean?
It is nice to finally see some old war technology used for beneficial purposes. While this is not the first time it has been done - it is always nice to hear. Especially when a group takes an obvious military weapon only device and transforms it into something useful (i.e. the military uses decomissioned tanks to make barrier reefs).
I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
Seriously however, I can't think of a better use for old Russian ICBMs.
Well, I could not think of better use for old American ICBMs either. Or Chinese.
Well, I'm sure it's kind of mutual. Chinese have a LOONG memory, and it's only been ~60 years since the occupation of China by the Japanese was ended. The Japanese conduct in China won them great emnity - I'm sure China considers Japan a Hostile Power even after all this time.