Tarpaulin mishap delays Japan's first military satellite by two years

2 years? A tarpaulin? Is it April 1st?

Damn blue sheets, supposed to protect, not destroy!

How can a multi-million$ project possibly have a $10 sheet oversight that required tens of millions of dollars to repair? Somebody had 1 job! Pls. dont tell me that's where my tax went.

Sounds a little far fetched / convenient

How can a multi-million$ project

Not have insurance for the transportation to cover such of situation.

It's amazing how the success of a multimillion dollar space program can be determined by a ten dollar blue tarp. It might be time to review their procedures, might it not?

Classic! The blue sheets strike again!

Doh!

China mass produces tarpaulin

Seriously, a thing that costs millions and millions of $s and the best they can come up with to cover it's sensitive instruments, is a 100 yen blue tarp. Muppets!

The document did not detail who was responsible for the mishap, or whether they suffered any consequences.

I think I can hazard a guest.

Wardrobe malfunction?

A tarpaulin? hey it worked fine for NASA in "The Martian"

They should never have entrusted JAXA or military personnel to put the blue sheet in place.

You need a salaryman for that.

ah Japan and their blue sheets, from makeshift shelters to protectors of privacy. If you don't want people to see put a blue sheet over it. There was a huge crash at Suzuka circuit a while ago , one of first people on the scene where the blue sheet people, actually white sheet in that instants , never mind the driver in the car was in a serious condition they were unwrapping the blue sheet before even the paramedics were even getting the guy from the car. Form over function comes first in Japan. watch?v=m1j7hmJmSJA

The "small stuff" matters most. Anybody remember the US Challenger space shuttle (30 years ago), which was doomed because of the failure of a couple of rubber O-rings? Incompetence is everywhere!

@Chikuyokei yes incompetence is everywhere, but Japan struggles to get a working satellite into orbit, that's a far cry from the complexities of the space shuttle.

Well truthfully some one in a foreign company sabotaged it cannot blame the north they don't have the technology so lets blain those nasty Frenchies if the tarp was made in China then it Could be the North Koreans so what Its money wasted for not having the item packaged and plated properly for transport

Are not the Japanese more than capable of sending up their own satellites? Even Kim in NK might be able to pull it off.

Given the last satellite they put into orbit blew into pieces just after going into operation due to stupid errors, is this a surprise?

It is obvious defending Diaoyu/Senkaku is a very expensive drain on Tokyo's budget. There is very little economic benefit and strategic military value those pieces of rocks offer to Japan. Donate Diaoyu/Senkaku to UN, all problems solved!