Japanese cargo vehicle reenters atmosphere

Monday 02nd November, 09:22 AM JST

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9 Comments

mushroomcloud at 12:11 PM JST - 2nd November

It will get interesting when Japan attaches a re-entry module to this cargo vessel, to allow the safe return of humans, thereby fulfilling Japan's long cherished goal of achieving manned space flight.

As it stands now, Japan is many years away from this goal, but hopefully with hard work, dedication, and help from other nations seasoned in manned space flight, Japan will be able to enter the elite club of space faring nations, currently occupied by the US, Russia, and China.
edogawa at 03:25 PM JST - 2nd November

japan has the capability to build such a vehicle now, current stumbling blocks to doing so are cost, the need for better launch facilities and the lack of qualified pilots for such a vehicle.
edogawa at 03:25 PM JST - 2nd November

japan has the capability to build such a vehicle now, current stumbling blocks to doing so are cost, the need for better launch facilities and the lack of qualified pilots for such a vehicle.
stirfry at 06:52 PM JST - 2nd November

yeah just those 3 tiny things
PepinGalarga at 08:31 PM JST - 2nd November

the US and Russia set up a manned space program 60 years ago with stone age technology, slide rules and all. Maybe NK should give it a try and launch Kim Jong-il into the stratosphere.
glycol57 at 09:09 PM JST - 2nd November

Manned space flight is more of a "status" thing than a necessity. It is insanely expensive at this point in time - money that could be used more productively on scientific probes, robots capable of space/moon/mars construction & repair plus, of course, the lucrative satellite-launching business.

A more worthy project for Japan would be in finding ways to drastically reduce the the price, and increase the reliability, of getting things off this planet. It has done so well at this in other areas of technology after all ... and, if it CAN make space cheaper and safer, then a Japanese manned space program will follow naturally from those successes.
mushroomcloud at 11:49 PM JST - 3rd November

glyco, I completely agree with all of your comments, it's just that Japan is a nation obsessed with 'status' and 'rankings'. It has hurt Japan's pride considerably that China is now the top space power in Asia due to having a manned space program, and Japan's top space scientists and engineers have admitted to this fact.

So, the only outcome left is for Japan to have a manned space program of her own; she can do it, but it will be many years away from reality.
bdiego at 10:39 AM JST - 4th November

Yeah, it's a status symbol..that said with China trying to overtake the US and Russia it definitely has significance in morale. If they actually pull it off it'll be interesting to see how everyone reacts.

It all comes down to costs and how much risk they're willing to take.
TokyoGas at 02:20 PM JST - 4th November

Always wonder why they don't aim these things towards the sun and give it a push.