In The Future, Your Kids May Be Lunar Cavemen (And Women)
Forget inflatable space bases or mobile lunar outposts embracing the way of the nomad.
Future lunar settlers may end up settling within lunar caves starting with this one discovered by Japan’s lunar satellite SELENE (video courtesy of Spacevidcast, via Space Transport News).
Since radiation will be a major factor for future lunar colonists, establishing outposts within these caves may be the wisest course of action (at least until artificial magnetic fields are perfected).
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Japanese Space Androids To Conquer Lunar Frontier
(Hat Tip: Engadget)
What does an country with moon aspirations do when its rival outnumbers it 10 to 1? Send in the robots of course! It looks as if the Japanese are seriously considering leveraging their silicon friends in order to make lunar life more habitable.
(Times Online) But by 2020, Japan predicts, humanoid robots will be ready to colonise the Moon. [...]
The group’s remit was to draft a five-year plan on the development and exploitation of space – a programme for action that was initially to have included the goal of putting a human Japanese astronaut on the Moon within the next 20 years. In the latest plans, though, robots have inherited the prime position in Japan’s first – and still unconstructed – lunar lander. Experts have been arguing for years that the country’s aim should be to develop humanoid robots to the point where they are capable of everything people can do, and more.
Unless Japan desires to create Cylons (or worse, Terminators) they may want to refocus their efforts on beefing up their own citizens for the lunar stroll.
Although robots would give the land of the rising sun an early advantage against China, it may also devalue their claims of ownership over certain lunar real estate (as a country would have to have a very good reason for injuring a human as opposed to destroying a machine).
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Why Japan Needs To Embrace Human Spaceflight
(Hat Tip: Hobby Space)
Earlier this month, the land of the rising sun decided to reverse its robotic space policy and actually embrace the idea of sending flesh and blood to explore the heavens above.
(Mainichi Daily News) The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) wants “to have the technology for independent manned missions,” President Keiji Tachikawa announced last month, in a reversal of Japan’s policy against manned space exploration.
The plan on manned space missions was due to be mentioned in a meeting of an expert panel at the government’s space development strategy headquarters on Friday. While not setting any specific time frame, it does call for a review of current policy on manned space missions as part of plans for the proposed Space Solar Power System (SSPS), and a future manned mission to the moon.
This is a smart (although late) move for Japan, who had to watch as their rival China conducted its first spacewalk (establishing the Asian giant as the dominant space power).
Although Japan has successfully launched a satellite around the Moon (in HD nonetheless), they need to place more emphasis on sending their own citizens into space, especially now that China is intent on building a military space station by the end of next year.
Unlike their silicon beasts that roam the heavens above, a human presence will help the Japanese establish a public claim to outer space (as robots can always be blasted out of the sky without raising too much public outrage).
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Confirmed: Moon Is "As Wet" As A Terrestrian Desert
While this comes to no surprise based on last years analysis, it looks as if Japan’s lunar satellite Selene confirms what many scientists have suspected all along.
(Moon Daily) “The surface can tell us a lot about what’s happening inside the Moon, but until now mapping has been very limited,” C.K Shum, professor of Earth sciences at Ohio State University, said in the February 13 issue of Science.
“For instance, with this new high-resolution map, we can confirm that there is very little water on the Moon today, even deep in the interior. And we can use that information to think about water on other planets, including Mars.” [...]
The hard surface suggests very little water, researchers said. If there were water, even deep within the Moon, the surface would be more flexible than it was shown to be.
Since hauling water from the homeworld would probably increase the cost of a lunar outpost, future settlers may choose to simply import hydrogen from Earth instead (as it is much lighter).
Colonists could “simply” combine the hydrogen with oxygen extracted from lunar rocks, which would enable settlers to quench their thirst (not to mention help create rocket fuel as well).
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Japanese, Indian Space Alliance Is Making China Nervous?
Despite the fact that neither of these countries have launched a human into orbit, both Japan and India have successfully launched satellites around the Moon, respectively.
While China has also launched a lunar satellite (not to mention conducted a space walk), they seem to fear an alliance between the two rival nations, one that seems to benefit the US and put the Asian giant at a disadvantage.
(Asia Times) India and Japan’s agreement in October to expand cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), in the field of disaster management, has the raised the ire of a China fearful that the US is masterminding a powerful space alliance between its allies in the region.
All of Asia wants to see improved regional disaster management capabilities, but the growing ties between ISRO and JAXA come just as India and Japan are devising an action plan to advance security cooperation.
“China is concerned about the general effort of the US during the Bush Administration to form a Japanese-Indian alliance to contain China,” said Dr Gregory Kulacki, senior analyst and China project manager at the Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists.
One may wonder why this alliance would make China nervous since they have already created a similar alliance with Russia, as well as offered to train astronauts from other countries.
Even though China probably fears a military alliance between India and Japan, they may also be worried that an alliance between the two Asian giants could knock China from its current status the space super power in the region.
Such an alliance could also convince other space faring democracies (such as the US and most of Europe) to work together, leaving Aristocracies like Russia and China to fend for themselves in the vacuum of space.
Whether or not the US will actively partner with Japan and India has yet to be seen, but either way it looks as if America may have found a way to counter the rising space power by reaching out to China’s rivals.
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Awesome: Japan May Commit $10 Billion Towards Space Elevator
(Hat Tip: Space Travel)
With both the US and China relying upon rockets to secure their solar future beyond the heavens, it looks as if the nation of the rising sun is placing its bets on the space elevator.
(RIA Novosti) Japanese engineers intend to build an elevator to deliver cargo into space. Japanese authorities are prepared to allocate $10 billion for the project.
The space elevator is expected to cut the cost of delivering cargo into space and is considered one of the most ambitious projects of the 21st century. The Japanese plan to unveil a schedule for the elevator’s assembly and commissioning this November.
While the space elevator has its share of engineering problems, its successful construction would pretty much guarentee Japan’s space dominance over its rivals, as Japan would be able to launch cargo at much lower prices than either China or the US could via rockets.
A space elevator would enable Japan to establish large colonies fairly quickly on both the Moon and Mars–not to mention help the nation generate billions of Yen by renting it out to half the planet.
Note: The first Japanese Space Elevator conference is coming up, so be sure to check out the Space Elevator Blog for highlights from Tokyo!
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Video: Earthrise In HD
(Hat Tip: Moon Today)
To some people, space is a boring location, lacking beaches, liquid water and forests that often make Earth an ideal place to live.
But as Japan’s SELENE satellite goes to show, its the view that attracts people to the cosmos (something FedEx admitted last year).
Note: Click on the image above to watch.
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Lunar Revelation Via Japanese Maps
While NASA and other space agencies are busy planning on how to land people on the moon, Japan is busy mapping the lunar in extreme detail using its SELENE satellite (which is currently orbiting the Moon).
(Universe Today) The Japanese SELENE lunar orbiter has returned some of the most detailed maps of the Moon to date. The new collection of high-definition maps includes topological data and mineral location. Critically, the locations of uranium, thorium and potassium have been mapped, essential for mission planners when considering the future of manned settlements on the Moon. Seeing the lunar relief mapped to such fine detail makes for an impressive sight. So far six million data points have been collected and there’s more to come. [...]
According to the JAXA press release, these new maps are ten-times more accurate than previous maps. Using the laser altimeter (LALT) instrument, 3D data of the shapes and altitudes of surface features are promising to give the most advanced relief mapping capabilities ever performed on a planetary body other than the Earth.
Hopefully more uranium will be discovered, as it would allow colonists to construct settlements virtually anywhere upon the moon’s surface without the need for heavy dependence upon regenerative fuel cells or solar power.
Energy aside, these maps would also help future colonists determine which would be the best locations for settlement, not to mention whether or not building a railroad would be practical upon that dusty world.
While Japan has yet to launch any humans into space, they may be able to barter with NASA for a future trip, especially if they locate any more valuable resources (such as helium-3).
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Japan: We Will Build A Solar Powered Satellite By 2030
(Hat Tip: Posthuman Blues)
Ironically while it seems half the planet is in a space race to either beat their neighbors to the stars, it looks as if Japan is busy figuring out a way to harness the power of one.
(Pink Tentacle) JAXA, which plans to have a Space Solar Power System (SSPS) up and running by 2030, envisions a system consisting of giant solar collectors in geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The satellites convert sunlight into powerful microwave (or laser) beams that are aimed at receiving stations on Earth, where they are converted into electricity.
On February 20, JAXA will take a step closer to the goal when they begin testing a microwave power transmission system designed to beam the power from the satellites to Earth. In a series of experiments to be conducted at the Taiki Multi-Purpose Aerospace Park in Hokkaido, the researchers will use a 2.4-meter-diameter transmission antenna to send a microwave beam over 50 meters to a rectenna (rectifying antenna) that converts the microwave energy into electricity and powers a household heater. The researchers expect these initial tests to provide valuable engineering data that will pave the way for JAXA to build larger, more powerful systems.
If Japan is successful in their tests, they will not need to worry about mining the moon for Helium-3 later on down the road.
Although they have yet to put a human into space, Japan may gain a lead later on in the space race by focusing their attention upon harnessing the energy from above.
If successful, Japan could not only become energy independent, but sell their technology to not only present Earth governments, but future lunar and Martian colonies as well.
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Japan's Lunar Orbiter Dances Around The Moon
(Image Credit: JAXA)
The land of the rising sun has a new accomplishment to boast about. Having successfully launched its satellite from Earth to the moon, SELENE now orbits this lunar world in an attempt to better understand Earth’s nearest neighbor.
(Moon Daily) “The satellite successfully entered the moon’s orbit. We are glad that we achieved one of the big challenges in this mission,” said Tatsuo Oshima, a spokesman from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). [...]
Once it gets close to the moon it will start observation of land features and study gravitational fields, the JAXA spokesman said.
“Our next challenge is a successful launch of observation activities with cameras and radars functioning normally,” he said.
Hopefully Japan’s SELENE satellite will help the island nation (as well as the world) locate fertile grounds for habitation on the Moon. Although they have yet to launch one of their own in space, Japan does have plans to establish a lunar colony in 2030.
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Japan's Lunar Satellite To Launch In September
After a brief delay, it looks as if the samurai nation’s lunar satellite will finally take its place among the heavens next month.
Scheduled for launch on September 13th, the SELENE orbiter could enlighten our species by providing detailed images of the lunar surface.
(International Herald Tribune) The SELENE project is the largest lunar mission since the U.S. Apollo program in terms of overall scope and ambition, outpacing the former Soviet Union’s Luna program and NASA’s Clementine and Lunar Prospector projects, Oshima said.
It involves placing the main satellite in orbit at an altitude of about 100 kilometers (60 miles) and deploying the two smaller satellites in polar orbits.
Mapping the moon would give the Japanese an edge over their American, European and Chinese neighbors by allowing them to locate the best landing sites, especially those suspected of harboring helium 3.
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Japan Catching Space Elevator Fever
Despite their recent setbacks in the public sector, it looks as if some Japanese citizens are taking it upon themselves to enable the masses to access the heavens.
(Space Elevator Blog) Today I heard back from Mr. Shiuchi Ohno, one of the founders of the newly formed Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA). I had emailed them a few questions – here are his responses;
Q) How long has JSEA been in existence?
A) JSEA is an association just born in this month. We will have first meeting this weekend in Tokyo. Last year, my friend and I went to Seattle to meet Mr.Michael and Mr. Tomas of Liftport company. We proposed them to start Japanese branch. But they couldn’t decide until now. Then we decided to start actual activity in Japan for the real SE.
Japan’s entrance into the space elevator field should help spark some “friendly competition” between the samurai nation and the US, at least in the private sector.
Despite the fact that this organization is still in its infancy, the Japan Space Elevator Association should help broaden the international appeal of the concept, as well as encourage other countries to form clubs of their own.
Ted Semon has more over on his weblog regarding this organization, which will hopefully impact Japan as much as LiftPort has impacted the US.
Update: Related-Russia Today Examines Space Elevators (Video)
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Japan Saves Its Lunar Mission For Another Day
(Image: Artist drawing of SELENE satellites, Credit: JAXA, via MSNBC)
With news of the Japanese delaying their satellite mission to the moon, some may wonder if Japan has what it takes to not only pull ahead of China, but establish itself as a space power.
While some may write off the Japanese space program as “third rate,” upon closer examination it looks as if the Japanese are making sure their satellites voyage off world is a successful one.
(MSNBC) The Selenological and Engineering Explorer — or SELENE — probe was to have been launched aboard one of the space program’s mainstay H-2A rockets on Aug. 17, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said in a statement issued Friday.
However, during an inspection it was discovered that some components were improperly installed on the two smaller satellites that accompany the main orbiter, JAXA said. The components will be replaced, and a new launch date will be announced once it has been determined, it said.
Japan’s SELENE mission will give the Japanese space program an edge over its rivals by providing crucial data on the lunar terrain and perhaps help Japan locate valuable resources on the Moon’s far side. Two of the smaller satellites will observe their respective poles, while the third larger satellite will hover about 100 kilometers above the surface.
Although news of the delay is disappointing and a setback for the Asian nation, it is better to enter the space arena “slow and steady,” than to burn out like a shooting star.
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Japan Heading For Lunar Orbit In August
With the recent setback of the Chinese lunar orbiter, Japan may be able to beat its Asian rival towards Earth’s nearest neighbor.
Although the samurai nation has yet to demonstrate an ability to launch a human into space, their lunar satellite will nonetheless aid in our path to colonizing the moon by providing invaluable data of its surface.
(Chron.com) All systems are finally go for Japan’s first lunar orbiter, which is scheduled for launch on Aug. 16, officials announced today. [...]
JAXA says the SELENE project is the largest lunar mission since the U.S. Apollo program.
It involves placing a main satellite in orbit at an altitude of about 60 miles and deploying two smaller satellites in polar orbits. Researchers will use data gathered by the probes to study the moon’s origin and evolution.
Hopefully this mission will not only narrow down habitation sites in the polar regions (where the Sun never sets) but also locate resources throughout this cream colored world. If the Japanese are able to locate places of interest, they may be able to use that information with NASA in exchange for a lift to the lunar surface.
Hopefully Japan will be able to pull this mission off in a couple of months, as it would help boost the appeal of traveling to the stars not only within Japan, but internationally as well.
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China's Lunar Delay May Aid Japan
It looks as if the red dragon is having to take a breather regarding its ascent towards the lunar heavens. With China delaying its lunar orbiter for “unspecified reasons,” Japan may be in the perfect position to eclipse its Asian rival.
(Aviation Week) China’s new oxygen/hydrogen propulsion system development, needed for even more ambitious Chinese lunar missions, is also falling years behind schedule, U. S. intelligence analysts believe.
China had originally planned to launch its 5,000-lb. Chang’e lunar orbiter in April on an existing Long March booster. Beijing officials who had been touting the spring target for a year suddenly are announcing a September or October date at the earliest for their first Moon mission, as if the early spring target had never been on the books.
In contrast, the 6,600-lb. Japanese Selene lunar orbiter has been delivered to the Tanegashima Space Center for launch in early August on an increasingly important Asia-Pacific space mission.
China’s setback could easily help Japan regain its place in the Asian space as the nation has remained in China’s shadow for far too long. Although they have yet to launch a human being into space, a successful lunar mission would go a long ways towards convincing Japanese officials of the value of space, let alone a future lunar colony.
Japan has enormous potential technology wise, but if the nation of the rising sun ever desires to see their flag shine on other worlds, they will need to demonstrate an ability to not only send robots to the cosmos, but humans as well.
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Wish Upon A Moon, Japanese Style
With the Chinese red dragon giving even NASA a run for their money, Japan is attempting to promote space culture among its own, seeking not only to regain its lost leadership in the eastern space race, but over take its rival of a billion people.
(Chron.com) Japan’s space agency JAXA announced last week that the much-delayed SELENE probe will be launched in August aboard an H-2A rocket, the mainstay of Japan’s space program. [...]
“This mission will involve observation of the whole moon, not just parts of it,” said JAXA spokesman Satoki Kurokawa. “It is a very ambitious project.”
The mission is a stepping stone in Japan’s plan to more aggressively pursue space objectives — including a lunar landing and, possibly, manned missions in space. To raise public awareness, JAXA is conducting a “Wish Upon the Moon” campaign that allows people to send brief messages up with the orbiter.
Japan has not had as much success as their eastern brethren in regards to the space race. With problems ranging from Martian space probes going off course, to over delaying a lunar probe, the land of the rising sun does not appear too shiny lately regarding its space program.
Although one could site Japan’s problems as being financial, technical, etc., their main issue here seems to be the fact that they are attempting to overtake China by pioneering “grandiose” missions without taking the necessary baby steps first.
China is already determined to revisit the moon, (hat tip: Space For Commerce) regardless whether the US, Russia, Japan or India beat them to it. If Japan desires to actually become a space power, then they need to discover national reasons for colonizing space apart from world activities, as that will inspire their people more than “keeping up with the Joneses.”
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Japan Getting Back Into The Space Game?
(Hat Tip: Space Law Probe)
After previously floundering around regarding its lunar approach, it looks like the land of the rising sun is doing some serious soul searching regarding its place in the universe space race.
(Daily Yomiuri Online) On the surface, Japan’s space development program appears to be going smoothly. In reality, however, it is barely holding together and lacks any real substance.
The Liberal Democratic Party hopes to significantly improve the situation by establishing what it calls the “Basic Space Law.” The legislation would call for a Space Strategy Headquarters to be set up and presided over by the government to promote comprehensive space-related policies.
Japan’s proposed basic law consists of three pillars which are:
- Reinforcing the nation’s security through the development and utilization of space.
- Promoting space-related research and development.
- Promoting the development of the space industry.
Although it is great that Japan is finally creating a vision for its space program, what the nation really needs to do is back up that vision with Yen (Japanese dollars), and lots of it.
Hopefully we will see a real initiative from Japan to colonize space, because if not then they will have to hitch hike a ride from India or (even worse) their Chinese rivals.
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Is Japan Giving Up On The Moon?
Despite being known as a tech savy nation, it looks as if the land of the rising sun is giving up on visiting the lunar surface in person.
(MSNBC) Japan’s space agency has recommended scrapping its first moon mission after more than a decade of delays, a spokeswoman said Monday, in the latest blow to the country’s beleaguered space program.
The Lunar-A probe was envisioned as planting two seismic sensors on the lunar surface to gather information about the moon’s core and learn more about the origins of the Earth’s only natural satellite.
But development of the so-called penetrator probes has taken so long that the mission’s mother ship, which was built 10 years ago, has fallen into disrepair and would require too much money to fix, said Satoko Kanazawa, a spokeswoman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.
Although the Japanese are still planning on launching satellites to observe the moon from afar, this lacks the same intimacy of sending a robot or human upon the surface. While Japan hesitates to actually visit the cosmos, China is taking ownership of it, with plans to even build a space station next year.
If Japan does not figure out a way to reignite their passion for exploring the universe, they may have to accept playing second fiddle to their Chinese neighbors.
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Japan Aiming For Moon Base By 2030
Despite having a zero track record in sending humans into space, the samurai nation is aiming at constructing a lunar base on the Moon by 2030.
(New Scientist Space) Japan’s space agency has set a goal of constructing a crewed lunar base by 2030, an official said on Wednesday.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed its ambition to an international conference in Tokyo this week but has not yet been allotted the budget for the ambitious project. [...]
“The feasibility of the plan is unclear at this point as we need to gain understanding by the government and the Japanese people on our plan, but technologically it would be possible in a few decades,” said Satoki Kurokawa, spokesman for JAXA.
Despite being known as a tech savvy country, I am not sure if the nation of Japan is serious about space travel. Their Chinese “neighbor” has already begun space farming via satellites and is already planning to build a space station next year.
Japan better start thinking of ways to promote a space culture before the red dragon leaves them behind as a second rate space power.
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