Japan Plans a Moonbase by 2030

Aglassis writes "The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced at a conference that they are planning to build a Moonbase by 2030. Since JAXA doesn't currently have a 100 ton-class heavy lift rocket or a human transportation system perhaps now is a good time for JAXA to join in with NASA on the Project Constellation rocket program."

Comments

Re:But are they sending any sailors there?

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a "for instance" -- you need a deeply throtleable rocket engine to safely land a vehicle on the Moon. We had one on the LEM in Apollo, but it hasn't been built in 35 years. There are no CAD models of such an engine; the plans have been lost; the manufacturing isn't around; the rocket will be made with different materials, and will need a complete redesign anyway.

Another "for instance" -- space suits have been made for in-space only use. We need to develop a space suit that can walk on the Moon again. There are no plans, the materials are all different, and the suit will need to be designed and tested.

You know what? If you fuckers can't practice enough forensic and reverse engineering to figure it out pronto using the latest in modeling and simulation technology, then it's time to outsource all of you. I'm not kidding, and I'm a US government employee. As far as the newer challenges you've cited, sure, R&D is needed.

This kind of institutional horseshit just makes me sick. You're as useless as DoD.