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.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) unveiled the plan for a moon lander to a council of the cabinet office and the ministry of education, culture, sports science and technology, a JAXA official said.
If successful, Japan will be the fourth country to send an unmanned probe to the moon after Russia, the United States and China.
"This is an initial step and a lot of procedures are still ahead before the plan is formally approved," the official said.
According to the evening edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun, JAXA plans to launch the moon mission as early as the fiscal year starting in April 2018, with a development cost estimated at up to 15 billion yen ($126 million).
The probe, named SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), will be carried by the nation's solid-fuel "Epsilon" rocket, the newspaper said, adding that the ministry plans to request a budget for the programme next year.
If successful, Japan will be the fourth country to send an unmanned probe to the moon after Russia, the United States and China, the daily said.
This is part of Japan's effort to prepare for a mission to Mars in the future, the Yomiuri reported.
Source: AFP
GMT 10:08 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Microsoft to open 4 data centresGMT 06:12 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Instagram, Google+ join EU groupGMT 05:06 2018 Monday ,22 January
Rocket Lab successfully sends rocketGMT 09:03 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Europe's space agency bracesGMT 06:19 2018 Sunday ,21 January
A fake news article reportsGMT 04:17 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Google, Tencent eye collaborationGMT 06:00 2018 Friday ,19 January
Australia lifesaving drone makes first rescueGMT 07:36 2018 Thursday ,18 January
French glitches put technology under reviewMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor