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Japan, U.S. to build lunar orbiting outpost

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Japan and the United States have formally launched a plan to build a lunar orbiting outpost, a key part of a NASA-led program to land astronauts on the moon by 2024.

Japan will provide technical expertise in the construction of the Gateway, to be used by astronauts as a base for the Artemis lunar exploration program, under the memorandum of understanding between Japan and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration signed at the end of December, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

I hope this program survives the coming financial disaster of the Olympics. Developing space and the attendant technology is what can give the people hope and dreams, not that increasingly sad, delusional spectacle.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

"If Musk fails to be the first, then it will be China. Japan will also have no involvement in it."

If China fails, it will be Vietnam. Japan will have no involvement.

And if Vietnam fails, then it will be Eswatini. Japan will have no involvement.

If Eswatini fails, then it will be Nauru. Japan will have no involvement.

If Nauru fails, then it will be Disneyland.

Mikey will the first one on the moon with the full involvement of Ellon, China, and Vietnam.

Japan will not want any involvement.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Not even a simple FFP2-mask or available vaccine for all citizens , but playing like idiots in space and throwing away the last financial resources at maximum high speed.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

At some point mankind must become a multi planet species if it intends to survive, and that implies man must master long distance space flight and develop the ability to live and work for years on end in space. No matter how well man takes care of this planet, it is ultimately doomed. While the Sun is in its Main Phase now, that will end eventually. As the Sun consumes its hydrogen supply, fusing it into helium, it will gradually heat up. In a couple of hundred million years the Earth will be too hot for liquid water to exist and become uninhabitable. In a billion years or so the Sun will finish consuming its hydrogen and exit the Main Phase. That that point it will balloon rapidly into a red giant with a diameter greater than the current orbit of Earth around the Sun. Earth will either be pulled into the sun by gravity or its surface re-melted from the intense heat. That means for mankind to survive as a species (along with our doggies and other critters) we must master space travel and find other planets we can inhabit. While we have time there is no time like the present to begin learning.

A space complex at the Lunar LaGrange Point such as L4 or L5 would have a very stable orbit so almost no fuel is required to keep a satellite or space colony in position there and being in zero gravity there would be no need for the massive boosters used to launch spacecraft from Earth. Also satellites or a space station can be parked in very small orbits around LaGrange Points L1 or L2 with very little energy expended.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Excellent. Eventually will land on Uranus as wel.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Tax money. I can’t see myself going to the moon in the near future. Can’t even go to a beach in Thailand.

i guess USA sees Japan as an ATM.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Inspired by big corps rectifying the climate crisis would be a better use of that money.

Priorities on earth before wasteful space exploration on The Moon.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

What ??? Seriously??? How about investing that money in research towards the next plague or health services ect ?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

If the US goes back to the moon first, it will be because of Elon Musk..

Yes, but Musk is right aligned, majority of NASA folks are right aligned, majority of NASA assets are in right aligned states.. so going to the Moon will be a purely private/public right aligned project.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Larr FlintJan. 17  02:55 pm JST

What ??? Seriously??? How about investing that money in research towards the next plague or health services ect ?

This is the investment for the humans to survive.

Let's be honest global warming is a man-made disaster. We need to go to space to save human kind from viruses, plagues, earth destruction and so on.

It's an evolutionary step and we must do this so mankind can survive the future.

Desert TortoiseJan. 17  01:50 pm JST

At some point mankind must become a multi planet species if it intends to survive, and that implies man must master long distance space flight and develop the ability to live and work for years on end in space. No matter how well man takes care of this planet, it is ultimately doomed. While the Sun is in its Main Phase now, that will end eventually. As the Sun consumes its hydrogen supply, fusing it into helium, it will gradually heat up. In a couple of hundred million years the Earth will be too hot for liquid water to exist and become uninhabitable. In a billion years or so the Sun will finish consuming its hydrogen and exit the Main Phase. That that point it will balloon rapidly into a red giant with a diameter greater than the current orbit of Earth around the Sun. Earth will either be pulled into the sun by gravity or its surface re-melted from the intense heat. That means for mankind to survive as a species (along with our doggies and other critters) we must master space travel and find other planets we can inhabit. While we have time there is no time like the present to begin learning.

A space complex at the Lunar LaGrange Point such as L4 or L5 would have a very stable orbit so almost no fuel is required to keep a satellite or space colony in position there and being in zero gravity there would be no need for the massive boosters used to launch spacecraft from Earth. Also satellites or a space station can be parked in very small orbits around LaGrange Points L1 or L2 with very little energy expended.

And our ISS is major step forward this very minute.

SandyBeachHeavenJan. 17  02:17 pm JST

Excellent. Eventually will land on Uranus as wel.

Or at least its moons.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cool.

I wish all the nations of Earth would cooperate in space exploration.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Excellent. Eventually will land on Uranus as well.

I don't think I want anything landing down there! ^_^

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Excellent. Eventually will land on Uranus as wel.

Or at least its moons.

Lol. Uranus and its moons. Too funny.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Great news. They should throw in with SpaceX. Best chance for pulling this off is the Starship and that is progressing rapidly.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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