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Japan Scrapping Moon Mission

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the overbudget-and-overdue dept.

jonerik writes to mention the AP is reporting that Japan may be scrapping their upcoming moon mission. The original plan was for the "Lunar-A" probe to implant two seismic sensors on the moon, however, the project took so long that the delivery probe has fallen victim to neglect and would take too much money to repair. From the article: "The mission would have been Japan's first to the surface of the moon, and was originally scheduled for lift off in 1995. [...] JAXA's space development committee recommended canceling the Lunar-A project on Monday, and a final decision will be made later in the month, [Satoko] Kanazawa said."

3 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Silly Japanese... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Son't they know it's easier to just fake a moon mission?

  2. The EU did not land on Moon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    > Currently, only the United States, Russia and the European Union have landed probes on the moon.
    Nor did ESA. SMART-1 crashed into the Moon, that's not called landing.

  3. Well, it says in my rocket manual ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    if you are laying this rocket up to be unused for more than six months:

    1) Park in a well aired garage
    2) Jack up the body and put chocks under the suspension points
    3) Fill all cylinders with a good quality mineral oil
    4) Unplug and remove the battery
    5) Be prepared to replace perished rubber components such as tyres or suspension bushes if unused for more that one year

    What bit do you think the Japanese left out?