Category Archives: Japan

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 April 2022

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2022 Moon Missions Preview: CAPSTONE Could Lead Way on 3 May

Launch window opening 3 May for CAPSTONE orbiter still on schedule; Artemis-1 SLS / Orion / 10 CubeSat launch now likely July-August; Intuitive Machines Nova-C cradle (built by Caldwell Group) to transport lunar lander to KSC arrives in Houston for testing / launch windows for IM-1 & IM-2 announced ‘soon’; Astrobotic Peregrine flight model to have solar panels, fuel tanks, engines installed – launch late 2022; Luna-25 ‘later this year’; Japan ispace lander end of 2022 via SpaceX, SLIM pushed to March 2023; Korea Pathfinder 1 August Launch; ISRO Somanath puts doubt on Chandrayaan-3 launch in 2022

Credits: Advanced Space / Jason Johnson, IM, Astrobotic, ispace, ISRO

Wednesday / 23 February 2022

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JAXA-led Consortium Contracts with Ark Edge Space to Develop Cislunar Communication / Positioning Plan

Artemis member Japan advancing lunar network concept with Tokyo-based company Ark Edge Space, recently capitalized with US$3.5M seed investment, conducting study of lunar satellite constellation linked to Earth; Managed by JAXA with industry (Kiyohara Optical, ispace, KDDI Corp, Mitsubishi) and academic (University of Tokyo) partners, effort is part of ministerial STARDUST (Strategic Programs for Accelerating Research, Development and Utilization of Space Technology) initiative; ESA Moonlight, UK / SSTL Lunar Pathfinder, NASA LunaNet, IM Lunar Telemetry and Tracking Network striving to achieve similar functionality

Pictured: Takayoshi Fukuyo (L), Shuhei Matsushita (R)
Credits: NASA, JAXA, Ark Edge Space
 

Tuesday / 4 January 2022

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Land of the Rising Moon:
Japan Plans Human Lunar Landing as Early as 2026, Two 2022 Robotic Landers

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announces hope for Japan to be 2nd nation (and 1st from Asia) to land Astronaut on Moon via Artemis missions 4-8 (2026-2029); Canada Astronaut to fly around Moon 2024 / Artemis 2, two USA selected to land 2025 / Artemis 3; JAXA Astronaut recruitment period open until 4 March; SLIM lander preparing for launch 2nd half 2022; ispace HAKUTO-R launch NET July with 2 rovers; Japan budgeting for Cislunar Gateway tech contributions, HTV-X cargo ships ~2026, human lunar surface rover ~2029

Credits: JAXA, ISAS, NASA, ispace

Tuesday / 8 June 2021

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ispace To Deploy Multiple International Space Agency Moon Rovers 2022-2026

ispace Of Japan, Under CLPS-like Contract From JAXA, To Carry Small (80mm Diameter, 250g Mass) 2-wheeled Spherical Rover To Moon; Hakuto-R Mission 1 Is Slated To Launch To Lacus Somniorum (37.56°N / 30.8°E), Possibly In Competition With USA Enterprises Astrobotic And Intuitive Machines For Historic First Private Landing On Another World; ispace Is Also Scheduled In 2022 To Deliver 10kg Rashid Rover For UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Instruments From Mission Control Space Services, Canadensys And NGC Of Canada Through US$124M Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program; CSA-ASC / NASA Rover By 2026

Credits: ispace, JAXA, CSA-ASC, UAESA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 Nov 2020

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ispace Japan Expands USA Presence, Aims For CLPS Awards With Draper-led Team

Moon Exploration Company ispace, Fueled By US$125M+ Funding, Opens Location In Denver CO; 1st Generation Lander Hakuto-R Set For 2022 / 2023 Missions Has ~30-kg Payload Capacity, Design Of New Heavier Class Lander Meeting CLPS / Artemis Requirements To Be Overseen By USA Lander Program Director Kursten O’Neill (L) And CEO Kyle Acierno (R), Production To Be Contracted To General Atomics; ispace Has Grand Vision Of “One Earth-Moon Ecosystem” Actualized Through Mission Sequence In Which “Swarms Of Rovers” Facilitate Human Activity On Lunar Surface

Credits: ispace

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 Oct 2020

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JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi May Join SpaceX Lunar ‘Universal Art Project’

Veteran Spacefarer (STS-114, ISS Expedition 22) Soichi Noguchi Is Interested In Accompanying Fashion Entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa And 6-8 Artists On 6-Day Lunar Circumlunar Trajectory Orbit Mission #DearMoon In 2023, Telling Business Insider “We’ve Had A Lot Of Discussions” And “I’m Really Looking Forward To Talking To Him After This Mission” In Reference To Upcoming Crew-1 In Which SpaceX Dragon Resilience Craft Is To Transport Noguchi Along With Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover And Shannon Walker To ISS On Halloween (31 Oct); Mark Kelly, Ringo Starr And Elon Musk Have Also Expressed Interest

 

Credits: JAXA, SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 25-28 Sep 2020

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Asia Lunar Exploration: Ongoing And Near Future

ISRO Second Soft Landing Attempt Slated For Early 2021 (Chandrayaan-3), During Which 350-kg Capacity Lander Technology Will Be Validated For Collaborative LUPEX Mission With Japan NET 2023; JAXA To Contribute H3 Launch Vehicle / Rover And Precision Landing Technology Trialed During 2022 SLIM; Meanwhile On Lunar Near / Far Sides CSNA Craft Continue Observations – CE-3 Operational ~7 Years, Returning Astronomical Observations / Data From Mare Imbrium; CE-4 Lander And Rover Hibernate On Far Side, Anticipate Reactivation For 23rd Lunar Day (644 Earth Days) On 8 Oct, Yutu-2 Has Traversed 547.17 m; CE-5 Sample Return LM-5 Launch Expected From Wenchang SLC On Hainan 24 Nov

 

Credits: CNSA, JAXA, ISRO

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 Aug 2020

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Roscosmos Luna 25 To Moon South Pole Region 2021, And Japan ispace Hakuto-R 2022 Forge Ahead With Landing Plans

Russia Luna 25, Destined For Boguslavsky Crater Launching 1 Oct 2021 From Vostochny, Commences Science Instruments Integration; Its Soyuz Launch Secondary Payload Capacity Being Offered To Customers Via GK Launch Services; Hakuto-R Commercial Lander To Launch 2022 On SpaceX Falcon 9 Surpasses Critical Design Review; Now Plans For 30-kg Of Total Payloads To Be Delivered On Smaller, Light Craft (2.3-meter Tall, 2.6-meter Wide, 1,050-kg) Taking 2X As Long To Reach Moon Mid-Latitude Site; 2nd Lander On Track For 2023

Pictured: ispace Team Members; Credits: ispace, Lavochkin, Roscosmos, NASA

Friday / 7 Aug 2020

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India Chandrayaan-3 Progresses While LRO Gives Hope That Pragyan Rover Survived Crash

ISRO Chair K Sivan (R) States Agency Analyzing Data After Space Enthusiast Compares NASA LRO Chandrayaan-2 Images Taken Nov 2019 & Jan 2020 Finding Possibility That Pragyan Rover May Be Intact And Rolled Out After 6 Sep 2019 Impact Near 70°S; Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter With 8 Payloads Continues Operations & Will Contribute To ~US$86M Chandrayaan-3 Mission Launching Q2 2021; VSSC Director S Somanath Confirms Plans For Chandrayaan-4 And Beyond; Partnership With JAXA May Produce 2024 Lunar Polar Exploration Mission Of South Pole Lander + Rover

Credits: NASA, LRO, ISRO, Shanmuga Subramanian via Twitter

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 July 2020

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USA And Japan Sign Joint Exploration Declaration Of Intent On Artemis

NASA Administrator Bridenstine Signs JEDI With Koichi Hagiuda, Japan Minister Of Education, Culture, Sports, Science And Technology; Specific Commitments Yet To Be Formalized, JAXA Will Likely Collaborate On International Habitation Module, Energy And Gas Storage On Gateway; Also Will Contribute Mission Data From 2022 Smart Lander For Investigating Moon And Offer Next Generation Cargo Capacity Via Uncrewed HTV-X Powered By H3 Rocket In 2022; Crewed Rover Being Developed In Conjunction With Toyota Motor Company For 2029

Credits: NASA, JAXA, Toyota