Japan planning moon mission

Does this have more to do with science or China? I'm sure the answer is a little bit of both.

How difficult is it going to be to land on the bloody moon???

Japan has already made it to an asteroid, a far more challenging feat!!!

They should take a poll of those still in temporary shelter about how they think about spending money to get a robot to the moon.

How awesome!

I am wondering why was the exploration of the moon short-lived, the research forgotten and ignored and eventually abandoned by the United States?

Landing on an asteroid is a pretty great feat, but even landing on the moon is difficult. The US managed it 6 out of 7 attempts, but there were also other mishaps along the way and more near-miss brushes with disaster than generally realized. Moon exploration was probably short-lived for any number of reasons-- low returns versus cost, declining interest, bad economy in the early 70s, the decision to focus on the space shuttle program for its lower costs and more immediate and practical benefits, differing science factions winning out over others, a lower sense of urgency once the feat was accomplished and the Cold War started winding down, political in-fighting. Many others. I've been hoping someone, anyone, would get up there and establish a permanent presence. I'd much rather we'd spent money and international cooperative energy building a moon base with an eye on Mars than wasting it on that ISS nonsense.

Anyway, go Japan! Take up that space slack and let's explore the universe!

Printing that much money?

I was wondering what they were going to do with that HUGE budget surplus that's been piling up....

Brilliant way to ensure all their borrowed money is put to work helping the average Taro in Japan.

Japan should fix its problem at home such as collapsing demographics and out of control domestic debt before exploring deep space.

A space program is a great project around which to rally the population, it's also very economically stimulating.

15 billion yen

Not much by itself, but it sure does add up. Japan's ministry of finance needs to get a grip on spending.

I guess most people would rather pay a little less tax, but hey, not like I have a vote.

As much as it is exciting to visit the moon, I feel that this money is being wasted. I and millions of others are paying higher tax now... Tax for? Literally burning millions of dollars up to launch a rocket? One thing comes to my mind when I see these articles... I think about the poor people who are basically homeless due to the 03/11 Tsunami.

Why haven't these people been helped properly?

As a TAX paying resident, I'm sure most of you agree.. We should be able to legally control where our money is spent, and if it actually supports our life.

I agree, JapanGirl.

Mankind were on the moon in the 1960s-50 years after Japan is sending a probe to the moon?????

15billion that the same price as a Paul McCartney ticket.

Japan's other moon probes have discovered a series of underground caves, that could become the ideal location for long term settler shelters. I bet they want this investigated and might probably claim ownership...

Send Abe. He'd feel right at home.

I wonder which country will be the first to extract precious minerals from the moon first ? The race is on.....

Why don't you put a man on the moon as China did, or was it United, well it has been done so it can be done.

Abe, with his luney policies, would feel right at home on the moon(lunatic that he is). Maybe he could take Newt Gingrich with him(postulated a US Lunar colony).

JANDWORLD. The apollo program adjusted to inflation was 15 trillion ¥. JAXA is only asking for 15 billion ¥. I say. Go ahead. Invest it and learn

I suggest the first Lunar inhabitants be LDP: Luney Dopes Party. Let the first to inhabit be the current leader. Surely, he'd be pleased to explore the lunar caves.

A day late & a dollar short. Fix TEPCO. Fix all the other crap next. Cold War is over.

Explore the surface, find some caves , then send Abe to retire there.

It seems that Fukushima crippled nuclear plants are much more important than such moon mission for our taxpayers' money as it is not unlimited to be used.

Japan plans to launch an unmanned mission to the moon as a stepping stone to a future visit to Mars, officials and local media said Monday.

How about rebuilding Fukushima first and prioritising the clean up of the nuclear plants there? They should also work on reducing the national debt as well. There are a ton of more useful things they could be doing than planning a visit to Mars (let alone hosting the 2020 Olympics)