Category Archives: Japan

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28-31 March 2014

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Moon South Pole 2016 Missions
An Emerging Priority For Space Powers

SouthPoleMoon2016

Japan / JAXA & Russia / Roscosmos Both Considering 2016 South Pole Lander; China May Be Evaluating South Pole Landing Of Chang’e-4; India Chandrayaan-2 South Pole Lander Could Be Ready For 2016 If GSLV 2nd Test Launch Successful; Europe Advancing South Pole Mission Concept; NASA Recognizes South Pole As Ideal Lunar Destination For Resource Prospecting / Utilization & Human Moon Base, USA Might Advance Lunar Lander Mission Development To Avoid Being Left Behind  

Image Credit: JAXA, ISRO, ROSCOSMOS, ESA, CNSA

Tuesday / 25 March 2014

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Apollo Moon Camera Sells For Nearly US$1M

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Purchase Of Camera Used By Jim Irwin On Apollo 15 Demonstrates Demand For Moon Mission Artifacts, May Add Incentive To Investors Of Commercial Human & Sample Return Moon Missions; Japanese Businessman Terukazu Fujisawa Secured The Hasselblad Electronic Data Camera For US$910,400 After Close Bidding War At Auction In Vienna; Camera Opened For Sale At US$110,000, Was Expected To Sell For About US$250,000

Image Credit: westlicht-auction.com, alanbeangallery.com, flickr

Friday / 7 March 2014

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Japan Diverse Interests In Moon Missions

Japan Moon

Japan Scientists Preparing For 2nd SELenological and ENgineering Explorer (SELENE-2) Moon Mission Consisting Of Orbiter, Lander, Rover To Launch NET 2018; SELENE-3 Sample Return To Follow, Eventually Human Moon Missions & Outpost; Japan Team Hakuto Strong Contender For GLXP / Selected To Compete For Terrestrial Milestone Prizes; Commercial Interest & Advertising From Moon Highlighted By Japan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Planning To Send ‘Pocari Sweat’ Sports Drink To Moon Surface On Astrobotic Lunar Lander

Image Credit: JAXA, GLXP, Hakuto

Thursday / 30 January 2014

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Moon Mining – A Rising Priority

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Private Companies & Government Agencies See Moon Mining As Critical Step Towards Future Sustainability, Expansion Of Humans Through Solar System; China Eyeing Lunar Helium-3; Russia Planning Prospecting & Sample Return Missions By 2020; USA Likely To Collaborate With Japan, Korea, Canada, Private Companies To Achieve US$250M Resource Prospector Mission At Moon South Pole ~2018 To Advance ISRU Capabilities; Moon Mining Plans Lead Inevitably To Property Rights Considerations

Image Credit: NASA, Roscosmos

Wednesday / 29 January 2014

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Japan SELENE Symposium In March 2014

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2nd SELENE Symposium On 4-5 March At NAOJ, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan; Regional & International Scientists Will Review New Lunar Mission Science Results, Discuss Opportunities For International Collaboration On Lunar Research & Future Missions; 1st Symposium (Jan 2013) Had Over 90 Participants From 7 Countries; SELENE-2 Orbiter / Lander / Rover Mission Expected 2017; Pictured: Science Organization Committee Chair Junichi Haruyama

Image Credit: JAXA, NAOJ

New Year / Holiday Edition
Wed 25 Dec 2013 – Fri 3 Jan 2014

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2020 Vision: Humanity A Multi World Species

LED-12-12-13Multi Nation Science And Commerce Human Lunar Expeditions 2019-2020 Preceded By Moon South Pole International Traffic Jam 2015-2016 With Robotic Landings From USA, PRC, Japan, India, Russia, as well as Moon Express / ILOA, Golden Spike, Shackleton Energy, Astrobotic, Lunar Lions, Others; NEOs, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Next

Ad Astra — Happy New Year / Holidays To All

 Image Credit: NASA, ILOA, ME, Penn State Lunar Lions, Astrobotic Technology

Tuesday / 18 June 2013

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International – Commercial Partnering For Moon Exploration

ILDC - Buzz

International Lunar Development Corp. Proposed By Buzz Aldrin To Facilitate Unified International, Commercial & Academic Partnerships To Advance Moon Exploration & Settlement; China, India, Russia, Japan, Europe, USA, NewSpace Companies Such As Bigelow, Shackleton Energy, Golden Spike Urged To Implement Step-By-Step Space Plan; Humans Need To Become Multi-World Species For Long-Term Survival, Will & Should Settle On Moon Long Before Mars, Europa, Etc

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, PISCES, Shackleton Energy Co., GSC

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 31 May – 3 June 2013

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Japan Lunar Aspirations Highlighted At International Space Symposium

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29th International Symposium On Space Technology & Science In Nagoya Japan 2-9 June; Features 3 Sessions On ‘Missions To The Moon’; Sho Sasaki (Inset) Of NAOJ To Present ‘Sciences Of Human Exploration Of Lunar Polar Regions’; Mitsubishi Electric Corp To Present On Lunar Transfer Vehicle Proposal; JAXA Planing Selene-2 Lunar Lander NET 2018 As A Precursor / Technology Demonstrator For Human Moon Exploration

Image Credit: JAXA, ISTS, NAOJ

Wednesday / 30 January 2013

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Destination Moon

RoboticVillageMoon

International Lunar Activity Gaining Momentum In 2010s As China Prepares For Chang’e-3,4,5 Lunar Lander Missions In 2013, 2015, 2017; Russia Luna-Glob Orbiter In 2015, Luna-Glob / Luna-Resurs Polar Landers in 2016, 2017; USA LADEE Orbiter In 2013; India Chandrayaan-2 Lander ~2015; Japan SELENE-2 Lander ~2018; Private Enterprise GLXP Landers 2014-2015, ILO-1 Lander 2015-2016, Golden Spike Company Human Mission ~2019

Credit: Dwayne Day – The Space Review

Image Credit: Corby Waste, fourth-millennium.net

Wednesday / 7 November 2012

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Japan / SELENE Analyze Lunar Past, Look To Lunar Future

Japan Lunar Orbiter Kaguya / SELENE Data Reveals Low-Calcium Pyroxene Mineral In ‘Ocean Of Storms’ On Moon; Ryosuke Nakamura From National Institute Of Advanced Industrial Science And Technology Says This Suggests Giant Impact Caused 29,000-km Wide Magma Sea; Future Japan Missions Hope To Confirm With SELENE-2 Rover Launch In Mid 2010s / SELENE-X Advanced Lander / Human Lunar Outpost In 2020s

Image Credit: JAXA, NIAIST