Jan 21, 2010

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...

Apr 8, 2009

(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...

Mar 20, 2009

(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...

Feb 16, 2009

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...

Nov 26, 2008

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...

Oct 7, 2008

(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...

Apr 23, 2008

(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. Content Copyright 2006-2009...

Apr 14, 2008

(Image: Detailed map of the moon, Credit: JAXA) 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...