[lbo-talk] Japan overhauling troubled space programme

uvj at vsnl.com uvj at vsnl.com
Sun Jun 20 09:32:47 PDT 2004


THE TIMES OF INDIA

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2004

Japan overhauling troubled space programme

AP

TOKYO: Japan is planning a major scale-back of its troubled space programme by focusing on smaller satellites and relying more on other countries for launches, a newspaper report said on Saturday.

Space officials believe the current satellite programme is too complex - and have linked its numerous failures to a combination of the long time needed to develop a satellite and an overly ambitious launch schedule - said the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, citing unidentified officials.

Larger satellite launches need about three years of planning and five years of engineering -- but at least one launch had been scheduled per year, it said.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is thinking about abandoning that framework and concentrating on smaller-scale launches that need shorter development times, the Yomiuri said.

The agency has also proposed to a Science Ministry panel that Japan consider getting other countries to do more of its launches, the report said.

Japan in 1970 became the fourth country to put a satellite into Earth orbit, but its space programme has since floundered.

Its ambitions to enter the commercial satellite launching business suffered a blow last November with the failed liftoff of its primary launch vehicle, the H-2A rocket. The domestically developed rocket, carrying two Japanese spy satellites, veered off course and was destroyed in mid-air by mission controllers.

Copyright © 2004 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list