Japan's 20-Year Plan for Space

rwven writes "Japan has just released information on their new space plan which will take them through the year 2025. Included in their plan are robots and nanotechnology for moon surveys as well as an eventual hydrogen powered mach-5 capable plane, a mach-2 capable passenger airliner and a manned mission to the moon. They will consider missions to mars and other planets after 2025. Space.com is also carrying this story."

Good for them!

[Rei]

The more competition in the arena of space, the more designs get tested out, and the quicker we find what reduces the cost of spaceflight and what makes it more expensive. The only downside is that we'll have to deal with the oversized Hello Kitty decals flying overhead :P

Japan is a small island. . .

[krf]

They have obviously run out of places to put hidden giant-mecha hangers, and are looking for room to build more.

Robotic moon surveyors, indeed!

Google Maps

[ajs]

Hey, if Japan just gets me decent sat. imagery for New Hampshire that Google Maps can use, I'd be happy ;-)

Robots in space

[Virtual Karma]

Now they can put the robot we saw in action here [slashdot.org] in space and have them fight the ultimate war of the machines. Imagine you having nuke armed robots on mars attacking flying robots over jupiter... pretty cool

So, this "Japan" outfit...

[Quiet_Desperation]

Are they accepting resumes? Japanese speakers only? Will they foot the bill for one of those intensive, immersive language camps if they like me?

I could live in Japan. I already watch way too much anime and read too many magnas. They have, like, five story stores there with nothing but. :-)

hondaship

[fox9397]

I wonder if the space ship will use 4 rocket boosters mounted sideways, in an innovative space saving design with front rocket Drive.

Re:Why Repeat Our Mistakes?

[carpe_noctem]

Well, robots are far more likely to turn against their masters and hatch a plot to take over the world. We wouldn't want to turn a fresh, virgin planet over to the robots so soon, would we?!

Schoolgirls of Mars

[The I Shing]

If Mars had plaid-skirted schoolgirls living on it they'd have been there twenty years ago. Am I right? Am I right? Is this thing on? Thank you, I'll be here all week.

Re:Nanotech?

[Percent Man]

Over the next decade, JAXA's plan calls for scientists to use buzzwords like "nanotechnology" and "hydrogen-powered."

Yeah, that sounds more like it.

What?! No Giant Robots?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Cheated! I want my giant robots!

Re:Good for them!

[IronChefMorimoto]

only downside is that we'll have to deal with the oversized Hello Kitty decals flying overhead

Screw Hello Kitty! I eagerly await the 500m wide advertisement starships flying overhead featuring hot Japanese babes a la Blade Runner! Imagine, though, all the auto accidents below as the world's Asian fetish types come out of the woodwork and gaze upward instead of forwards.

IronChefMorimoto

Re:Lowered cost?

[Brand X]

How about:
Real programmers type with 10 fingers: their left index finger and their right index finger.

The year 2025?

[payndz]

Will man still be alive? Will woman survive?

Seriously, though, it's weird because 2025AD used to seem like THE FUTURE!!! Whereas it's actually now only 20 years away, which isn't really all that long. Computer tech aside, was 1985 all that different from today?

[Activates DeLorean, goes back to 1985]
Me: Hi! I'm you, from THE FUTURE!!! 2005, to be exact!
1985 Me: Wow, the 21st Century! So, did we get our flying cars?
Me: Um, no.
1985 Me: Jetpacks? Bionic implants? AIs? Robot servants? Semiballistic airliners allowing us to reach anywhere in the world in two hours? Space holidays? No more poverty or hunger? A cure for cancer? World peace? No more self-serving shitwicks in high political office?
Me: Sorry, no, none of that. But on the plus side, our videogames kick ass, there'll be a new Star Trek TV series and there's this thing called 'the internet'.
1985 Me: What, like William Gibson's cyberspace?
Me: Again, no, not really.
1985 Me: Wow. The future sounds really shitty. At least tell me I get rich in the next 20 years.
Me: ...
1985 Me: Laid on a regular basis?
Me: ...
1985 Me: Okay, find me a bottle of whiskey and some pills. I'm going to create a time paradox.

Re:Good for them!

[StikyPad]

Imagine, though, all the auto accidents below as the world's Asian fetish types come out of the woodwork and gaze upward instead of forwards.

I don't think the four of them that actually go outside will make that much of a difference. Especially since two of them don't even drive.