The images in this blog are from a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) presentation given at the European Space Agency’s Integrated Architecture Review held from 7-8 July at ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands
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Interestingly, for some anyway, JAXA appears to have started its own Mars exploration study but what will this pre-phase A come up with we ask? Don’t bother asking me to ask JAXA. I might as well shout at a brick wall for all the times I have emailed its PR department
MMmmm, dig that Earth background and HII-B Earth departure stage kicking that Selene-2 out of Earth orbit
So according to this a political decision regarding Japan’s human lunar and space transportation system will be taken soon. Japan recently passed a new law about its space involvement and its government should be getting a dedicated space minister
JAXA, was at one stage, interested in working with ESA on Kliper/Clipper back when the European agency was going to work with the Russians on that. I have asked ESA about Japanese interest in CSTS but JAXA’s role seems to have been a bit up in the air
Hopefully 2010 will see this new minister head up a Japanese decision to get involved with CSTS or maybe CTSE? There are problems with JAXA and Russian involvement as Japan and Russia have never signed a peace treaty so they are still technically at war. Basically JAXA has to be a partner with ESA and has no involvement with the Russian side of the equation
I am not sure what this is, it is either one absolutely huge crane vehicle thing next to a habitation module or it’s some sort of pressurised resupply cannister alongside a compact-car sized crane vehicle
And finally, this is another SELENE-2 concept
For other JAXA concept images go here
