Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Japan Wants To Put a Man On the Moon, Accelerating Asian Space Race (cnn.com)

Posted by msmash on from the moving-forward dept.

Japan plans to put a man on the moon around 2030, according to a new proposal by the government's Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). From a report: It is the first time JAXA has revealed an intention to send Japanese astronauts beyond the International Space Station, and it will mostly likely be part of an international mission, the agency said. The announcement from Japan is just the latest in a series of ambitious space exploration plans by Asian countries, with the increasing competition for space-related power and prestige in the region echoing that of the Cold War space race of the mid-20th century. In December 2016, China announced plans to land a rover on Mars by 2020 as well as a manned mission to the Moon at some point in the future.

47 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. This is a *good* thing by Snotnose · · Score: 1

    China, India, Japan. The more countries trying to get us off this rock the better. Too bad the USA isn't in that list.

    1. Re:This is a *good* thing by iggymanz · · Score: 2

      oh, some other country has sent probes to every planet? footed the bill for more than a third of the costs of the ISS?

    2. Re:This is a *good* thing by sexconker · · Score: 1

      I agree, but lets be fair. The U. S. of A. did it forty-eight fucking years ago.

    3. Re:This is a *good* thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No, but Musk and SpaceX are. In a lot of ways that is better as long as SpaceX continues to do well and can afford to set sights beyond orbit. Mainly because they will be trying for a financially sustainable business and not just research/bragging rights.

    4. Re:This is a *good* thing by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      Once we learned that the moon isn't really made of cheese, we didn't go back.

    5. Re:This is a *good* thing by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

      "off this rock"

      Space nutter detected. At least you didn't mention "gravity well".

    6. Re:This is a *good* thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Too bad the USA isn't in that list.

      You are apparently unaware, but the USA sent people to the moon in 1969, and now has both public and private sector Mars programs in the works, in addition to being the only nation to send probes to every planet in the solar system, the only one to operate Mars rovers (not to mention having by far the best Mars track record), the only one to send probes out of the solar system, the one responsible for the vast majority of solar system exploration including the only probes sent to the outer planets such as Saturn, Pluto, the nation that operates the most space telescopes, and so on.

      Sure looks like it's done more than the rest of the world combined.

    7. Re:This is a *good* thing by murdocj · · Score: 1

      Yeah I'm sure other countries have probes in interstellar space, have operated rovers on Mars for years, orbiters around Saturn and Jupiter, .... oh, no, just the USA... nevermind.

    8. Re:This is a *good* thing by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

      Press releases are easy. The actual "rocket science" involving sending humans to the Moon, and getting them back alive, is far more difficult. Specialized electronics have to be used in space. Or, use a Minority Report style triple redundant processing system where there are three chips in case one gives an anomalous result. Honestly, though, we don't NEED to use "advanced electronics" to get to the Moon, obviously.

      Footprints and flags style missions are, other than the great PR, not that useful. IMHO, what we should be aiming for is building up telescopes on the far side.

    9. Re:This is a *good* thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      . Or, use a Minority Report style triple redundant processing

      Seriously? You think they came up with that in Minority Report? WTF. It's not like we haven't been doing EXACTLY THIS FOR CENTURIES It's called triple modular redundancy. Holy shit what the hell has /. come to. The Saturn V computers operated in this manner. If I recall correctly the Space Shuttle had 5 systems that did voting.

    10. Re: This is a *good* thing by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

      made in japan on the moon.

    11. Re:This is a *good* thing by yodleboy · · Score: 1

      it's so difficult that it was done with 1960's technology. the rocket science involved was solved a long time ago. the only thing missing these days is the will and the money.

    12. Re:This is a *good* thing by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      China, India, Japan. The more countries trying to get us off this rock the better. Too bad the USA isn't in that list.

      As manned government programs, we're not on the list. But in the private sector, hell yes.

    13. Re:This is a *good* thing by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      " Or, use a Minority Report style..."

      "You think they came up with that in Minority Report? "

      Not necessarily. He used it as an example. But...

      Let's do some assuming...
      1. Yes, he did. Holy shit what the hell has /. come to?
      2. No he didn't. He used as an example. Endit.
      3. On the 3rd hand, he indeed did learn about it from the movie. Well and good, many of us tend to learn it sometime, and if we're not engineers then we're going to get it from other sources. I found out about the concept from a Heinlein story.

      Note: I did not jump to the conclusion that Heinlein invented the concept. But perhaps that's just me.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    14. Re:This is a *good* thing by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      I agree, but lets be fair. The U. S. of A. did it forty-eight fucking years ago.

      That would have counted had we stayed.

    15. Re:This is a *good* thing by murdocj · · Score: 2

      i can't believe somebody actually modded the parent tripe up :(

    16. Re:This is a *good* thing by religionofpeas · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The more countries trying to get us off this rock the better. Too bad the USA isn't in that list.

      There's not "getting us off this rock". They're going to plant another flag, maybe pick up some rocks and do some science, and then come back home.

    17. Re:This is a *good* thing by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      footed the bill for more than a third of the costs of the ISS?

      I'm not sure launching the thing on the STS counts; just because a third of the funds was swallowed by an uneconomical transportation system doesn't mean that the utility of *that* contribution is proportional to its accounting value.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    18. Re:This is a *good* thing by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Well the first sentence seems correct - the other day, a legislation proposal appeared that would slash propulsion and LV R&D funding from USAF, with the sole and apparently targeted exception of continuing AR-1 funding, despite *that* being perhaps the least promising project of them all.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    19. Re:This is a *good* thing by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      And can't do it now which makes it really pathetic. The terrible thing is the US did it to themselves. They have very good people who are more than capable of going to the Moon and staying. It's a political problem. The politicians are more concerned about playing politics than space or even the state of the country. NASA gets its mandate changed every two to four years and major decisions are seemingly based on how many jobs can be spread out across the nation.

      With focus, some investment, and a bit of tolerance of risk humanity could have already had a base on the Moon to serve as a test bed and launchpad to reach further out into the solar system. But the politicians have been playing their games and we have all lost out because of that.

    20. Re:This is a *good* thing by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      oh, some other country has sent probes to every planet? footed the bill for more than a third of the costs of the ISS?

      But we're done with that now. We have our hats to sell to each other.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    21. Re:This is a *good* thing by murdocj · · Score: 1

      Yeah the whole "USA evil" part is that part I object to. Yes, trump is an evil psychopath, but I'm hoping he's a bump in the road. And then the whole "Russia / China headed into the galaxy" whereas in reality they are talking about doing what the USA is already doing, but doing it a decade from now. And finally the whole "get off this rock" thing is absurd. Mankind is NOT going to survive on Mars, or Europa. If mankind survives it will be on the most habitable planet in the solar system, Earth.

    22. Re:This is a *good* thing by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      That's what they want you to think. Once it was confirmed the Moon was made of blue cheese the cheese lobby from Wisconsin to cover it up and cap funding for NASA. Why do you think the US has never wanted to go back to the Moon? Obama wanted to send people to an asteroid instead of the Moon. The Moon mission would be easier, faster to get go the objective, easier on the astronauts, and able to start permanent base yet Obama went for the asteroid.

    23. Re:This is a *good* thing by religionofpeas · · Score: 1

      With focus, some investment, and a bit of tolerance of risk humanity could have already had a base on the Moon to serve as a test bed and launchpad to reach further out into the solar system.

      We have sent probes further out into the solar system. Doing that from the Moon would make it a million times more expensive.

    24. Re:This is a *good* thing by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      so you're ignorant of the missions in progress, we're not done with anything.

    25. Re:This is a *good* thing by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      they're "pushing into space" where the USA has already been. We have functional probe outside the solar system. No other country comes close to where the USA was 20 years ago let alone now. In fact, I will grant my admiration to one thing the USA has never done that the Soviet Union did, to have probes land and function on Venus. Too bad their space program became bogged down by bureaucracy.

    26. Re: This is a *good* thing by newcastlejon · · Score: 1

      Maybe. Maybe we just filmed it in a studio. Hard to say.

      Not really. If you believe this guy who, unlike most conspiracists, shows his work, it would have been harder to fake the moon landing than it would have been to actually go there. And here's a more light-hearted yet equally credible take.

      --
      If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    27. Re:This is a *good* thing by sexconker · · Score: 1

      I agree, but lets be fair. The U. S. of A. did it forty-eight fucking years ago.

      Going to the moon is the space equivalent of getting a masters degree. It is more than most will do, but not pioneering new science. And just because you did it 50 years ago, doesn't mean it is not a valuable learning experience for those doing it today.

      LOLWUT

      Your first two statements dismiss the significance and value of going to the moon. And no, it's not the equivalent of getting a Master's degree when you're the first and only to have done it.
      Your third statement then goes on to say that it's a "valuable learning experience".

      So which is it?

    28. Re: This is a *good* thing by Maritz · · Score: 1

      It's only 'hard to say' if you're a fucking moron.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    29. Re: This is a *good* thing by Maritz · · Score: 1

      It's not about whether they went, or didn't go. If everybody said they didn't go, this tosser would say they did. It's about being contrarian, and thinking you're the smart cookie who has seen behind the curtain. Sheeple, etc.

      Every one of that type of wanker should be ignored, people need to stop giving them oxygen.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    30. Re:This is a *good* thing by Maritz · · Score: 1

      The US had a massive, massive lead in aerospace. They are doing their best to throw it away, politically and culturally. The rampant anti-intellectual sentiment in the US will pretty much ensure they're at the back of the pack in coming decades. Keep on teaching creationism in biology class, retards, see where it gets you in 25 years.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    31. Re:This is a *good* thing by Maritz · · Score: 1

      Don't you usually post AC, "space nutter" twat?

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    32. Re:This is a *good* thing by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

      ONE country managed to do this, and it cost (in today's dollar) around $125 billion. Having blueprints to do something is far easier than the very exacting and stringent engineering to actually accomplished this goal. Low-earth orbit is far easier than getting to the Moon and back. I still agree with you, it is completely possible with will and money. But it's ALOT of money. However, I also believe that Japan has the technical ability to accomplish this.

  2. Technical hurdles to overcome... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Develop freeze dried sushi
    2. Overcome SJW objections to putting a *man* on the moon instead of a person
    3. Escape Godzilla's clutch

    1. Re:Technical hurdles to overcome... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      The moment the Japanese set up New Tokyo on the Moon, Space Godzilla will have to stomp through it, poop green cheese and take selfies.

    2. Re:Technical hurdles to overcome... by murdocj · · Score: 1

      avoid waking up the aliens in suspended animation in the lunar caverns.

    3. Re:Technical hurdles to overcome... by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      2. Overcome SJW objections to putting a *man* on the moon instead of a person

      Japan is not concerned about this one. Their point 2 will be: Shop for all the needed electronics at Ahikabara.

  3. I'm not sure Japan has any business doing it by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    but I'm not sure they don't. I don't know enough about the country except that they're economy is in permanent recession and their only solution so far has been to try and get more women to work. I've also read that income inequality is worse over there than here in the States, which outside of the 2nd world is hard to imagine. If this spread some of that money around it'd be a good thing. Nationalism has so far been the only reliable way to pry money from the hands of the ruling class short of a plague or war crashing the population.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  4. Makes more sense than skipping to Mars! by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 2

    We haven't really "conquered" the moon yet.

    We would first establish a continuously inhabited moon base, begin to build some infrastructure. This would make the leap to Mars SO much more practical! We might even get to Mars sooner by leveraging a moon base, than by trying to get directly to Mars.

    There is no appetite in the US to spend what it would take to make this happen. I hope Japan and China succeed. Maybe it will wake us up and get things moving again.

    1. Re:Makes more sense than skipping to Mars! by tquasar · · Score: 1

      There is no political support in the US of A and that means no money either. The whole world will benefit when any of these missions are successful just as when any technological advance creates new products and ways of making things.

    2. Re:Makes more sense than skipping to Mars! by religionofpeas · · Score: 2

      We would first establish a continuously inhabited moon base, begin to build some infrastructure. This would make the leap to Mars SO much more practical!

      Everything we need for going to Mars (assuming we'd want that in the first place) is right here on Earth. On the Moon there's nothing but a cold dead vacuum. It makes absolutely no sense to go the Moon first.

    3. Re:Makes more sense than skipping to Mars! by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 1

      Sure, we have all the natural resources we need to build a spaceship. But that's thinking about the problem like a construction problem. The real issue with Mars isn't getting there (though that is a major challenge), it's surviving there. Establishing a base on the moon would teach us a lot about how to survive on another world...lessons we would not be able to learn hear on Earth. Oh, sure, we can run simulations on Earth, but as any good engineer will tell you, a simulation does not tell you everything. When something goes wrong, on Earth it's easy to abort the experiment, or bring in a replacement part. A moon base would be a better simulation, because of the difficulty of getting supplies there.

  5. Excellent news by quax · · Score: 1

    Nothing like some patriotic competitive vigor to get the funds allocated.

    Much better use of resources than an arms race.

  6. They will make it... by Giannis81 · · Score: 1

    If Americans and Russians did it, I m 100% sure Japanese will too. Technologiacally speaking, the have the power!

    --
    Gadgets - Power Banks
  7. Why? by spinitch · · Score: 1

    With the many challenges facing the world and Japan why is sending a person to the moon a priority goal? Japanese have astronauts to ISS , satellites, even remote drones selected to operate on moon. Meanwhile population aging rapidly, large public debt, Tsukishima nuclear meltdown clean-up, Olympics boondoggle underway and still struggling to move the famous Tsukiji fish market. It is their country so free to pursue as they fancy but would thin better to Focus on AI , machine learning, robotics etc.. For space exploration stick with remote equipment etc... where costs more manageable and some commercial enterprise halo affects.

  8. LEO like the rest of us by CanEHdian · · Score: 1

    Nice all these plans, but for 45 years almost we've been stuck to Low Earth Orbit. Oh we're going... back to the Moon!!! Oh no we're going tooo.... the asteroid belt!! Oh no, we're going to Mars!! Oh no, we're going to have floating cities in the Venusian atmosphere where the air pressure is comparable to that of the surface of Earth.... all talk, and every time it comes up it's 10 years further out. Why can't Japan be a "team player" and stick to ELO as well? It would be so embarassing when the NASA/ESA mission to the Moon in the 2050s has to ask Japan permission to use one of their landing pads and pay top Yen to refuel for blast-off.

    --
    When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
  9. Re:japan shud learn to fly first by Agripa · · Score: 1

    They have incredible troubles with their satellites. Why would they think they can launch a human and have them survive?

    Why would they expect to launch humans and expect them to survive? They have not in the past.