Category Archives: Japan

Thursday / 25 June 2015

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Team HAKUTO

Reveals Technology Developments

6252015 Japan Google Lunar XPrize Team HAKUTO Enters Agreement With Marubeni Information Systems For “Technological Assistance As Technology Partner”, Announcement Made At 26th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo 24-26 June; New Technology Includes 3D Printing & Scanning, Wheels Of Lunar Exploration Rover Shaped By Stratasys 3D Printer Have Heat Resistance & Adaptability To Harsh Temperatures In Space Environment

Credit: Lunar XPrize, Marubeni Information Systems

Friday / 5 June 2015

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Japan SLIM Moon Mission Now Planned For NET Oct 2019

JAXA SLIM

JAXA First Mission To Moon Surface – 120kg Smart Lander For Investigating Moon (SLIM) – Likely To Be Launched To Moon South Pole In Second Half Of Fiscal Year 2019 To Test Landing Capability Within A Few Hundred Meters; Will Launch On Epsilon Rocket From Tanegashima Space Center At 30.4° N, 130.97° E; Mission Will Advance Technologies Needed For Future Human Missions

Image Credit: JAXA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 May 2015

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Persuasive Reasons For Japan To Fulfill Lunar Aspirations

JAXALanderPersuasion

Japan Proposal For 2018 Lunar Lander Mission, Expected To Cost Between US$83M – $125M, Still Awaiting Final Approval; Public & Political Recognition Of Importance / Benefits Of Mission Needed To Garner Required Support; Standing As Global Leader In Space Would Be Enhanced If Japan Becomes 4th Or 5th (India 2017) Country To Soft Land On Moon; Could Stimulate Global Partners Like USA To Collaborate On Moon Surface Missions, Including Human Lunar Base; Resource Identification On Moon & ISRU Technology Demonstrations Could Ensure Permanent Sustainable Human Presence In Solar System

Image Credit: JAXA

 

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 May 2015

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International Space Powers Advancing Plans For Lunar Exploration

RussiaChinaESAMoon0515

Russia Invites China To Collaborate On Scientific Space Station In Lunar Orbit, Both Countries Have Stated Plans To Continue Robotic Exploration Of Moon Over Next Decade, Conduct Human Surface Missions By 2030; New ESA Leader Johann-Dietrich Wörner (L) Sees International Permanent Moon Station – Likely At Far Side – As Next Step After ISS; Japan Plan For ~2018 Lunar Lander Garnering Significant Attention From International Space Community

Pictured (R): Roscosmos Leader Igor Komarov, China Vice Premier Wang Yang

Image Credit: Russianspaceweb.com, RIA Novosti

Thursday / 23 April 2015

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Japan Moon Plans Stimulated By Ambitions & Successes Of Asian Neighbors

JapanMoon0415

JAXA Moon Program Proposal – Which Includes Announcement Of Plan To Send Robotic Lander Mission To Moon In 2018 – Cites Increased Competition For Resources On Moon, Risk Of Power Imbalance As Russia, China, India Advance Lunar Surface Development Plans; Proposal Includes Initial Phase Of Robotic Missions, Possibility Of Human Lunar Visits – Facilitated By International Cooperation – In Post-2025 2nd Phase

Image Credit: JAXA, CNSA, ISRO

Tuesday / 21 April 2015

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Japan Planning Moon Landing In 2018

SLIMjaxa0415

JAXA Reveals Plans To Become 4th Nation To Achieve Soft Moon Landing With Smart Lander For Investigating Moon (SLIM) Mission ~2018; Mission Expected To Cost Between US$84-125M, Use Epsilon Solid-Fueled Rocket; Funding / Development To Begin FY 2016; Goal Is To Achieve Landing Within ~100m Of Intended Landing Site; Japan Considering SLIM Stepping Stone To Human Moon Mission & Mars Landings; India Also Planning Moon Lander In 2017 / 2018 

Image Credit: JAXA

Tuesday / 31 March 2015

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Japan & India GLXP Teams Advancing

StabMoon0315

Japan-Based Team Hakuto Working With Anime Show Evangelion In Crowdfunding Campaign To Recreate Scene From The Show During Lunar Mission; Campaign Quickly Became Fastest Growing Japanese Crowdfunding Initiative  Ever, Has Raised US$338K Of $832K-Goal, Deadline For Campaign Is 5 April; India-Based Team Indus Set To Close US$1.5-M Pre-Series A Funding Round After Significant Investments From Infosys Co-Founder Nandan Nilekani (Inset) & Others; Indus Goal To Raise $30M For Mission, Including $20-25M For ISRO Launch

Pictured: (R) Japan Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, (L) Celebrity Natsuki Katou

Image Credit: Team Hakuto, Pradeep Guar

Tuesday / 24 February 2015

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Independent Moon Missions Advancing

Independent Moon MissionsTeam Hakuto Of Japan Announces It Is Teaming Up With Astrobotic To Land Rovers On Moon; Astrobotic Hopes To Carry Rovers From Several Teams On Its Griffin Lander, Setting Up An Actual 500-M Race To Win The US$20M GLXP; More Teams In Talks With Astrobotic About Ride-Share Possibilities; Team Hakuto Intends To Explore Lunar Skylights With Rovers Moonraker & Tetris; ILOA Also Advancing Mission To Land Observation / Communication Payload Near Moon South Pole Through Southeast Asia Meetings Including Galaxy Forum In Thailand Today

Image Credit: Astrobotic, Hakuto, NARIT, ILOA

Thursday / 22 January 2015

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GLXP Team Hakuto Advancing Mission
With Milestone Prize Tests

Hakuto0115

Japan-Based GLXP Team Hakuto Awaiting Announcement Of Results After Completing Milestone Prize Tests To Prove Flight Readiness Of Pre-Flight Model Rovers Moonraker & Tetris; Team Conducted Vibration, Thermal Vacuum & Field Mobility Tests; Field Tests In Nakatajima Sand Dunes, Overseen By GLXP Judge David Swanson & 25 Media Reps; 2 Rovers Successfully Climbed 30-Degree Slope, Navigated Through Obstacles, Completed 500-m Trek In ~4 Hours, Demonstrated Potential For Skylight Navigation Through Dual-Rover Towing System

Image Credit: Hakuto

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 January 2015

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Moon South Pole
Drawing New Lunar Pioneers

MSPNewEnterprises0115

New Moon South Pole Ventures Including UK-Based Lunar Mission One & Russia-Based Lin Industrial Join Established Declarations Of Interest In Moon South Pole Missions By USA (RPM), American Enterprises Such As Shackleton Energy Corporation, Japan (SELENE-2), India (Chandrayaan-2), Russia (Luna-Glob), ESA, ILOA; Moon South Pole – Replete With Valuable Resources & Providing A Relatively Stable Thermal Environment – Is Generally Considered Optimal Location For Human Lunar Exploration / Settlement

Image Credit: JAXA, Lunar Mission One, Lin Industrial