Japan's First Space Shuttle Tests Well

Ananova ^ | 10-18-2002

[blam]

Japan's first space shuttle tests well

Japan says the first test-flight of its delta-wing space shuttle has been a success.

The unmanned vehicle is smaller than the US space shuttle and is a prototype for the larger Hope-X project.

The Hope-X was recently shelved because of budget cuts but prototype test-flights are going ahead.

On its first test flight, Japan's delta-wing space shuttle successfully lifted off Christmas Island in the South Pacific and soared for about 8 kilometres (5 miles) before landing with only a slight jolt, Japan's space agency announced.

The 10-minute flight was the latest success for the country's beleaguered and cash-strapped space program.

Last month, its often problematic H-2A rocket reversed a string of glitches by putting two satellites in orbit after a trouble-free launch.

Japan's space shuttle, an unmanned jet-powered craft, took flight from the National Space Development Agency's tiny tracking outpost on Christmas Island. Cruising at only about 210 kph (130 mph), it peaked at an altitude of 600 metres (1,968 feet) before gliding back to earth.

The flight tested the craft's navigation and automatic piloting through global positioning satellites.

Four more tests are planned through next week, with the craft's speed gradually being jacked up to about 0.5 mach, or half the speed of sound, Inoue said.

Japan's space shuttle is not expected to be a competitor to NASA's craft, which has been flying now for more than two decades out of the United States.

Story filed: 11:17 Friday 18th October 2002

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Christmas Island ?

[GATOR NAVY]

Good point. As far as I know, all of Japan's launches are from Tanegashima off of Kyushu. There is also a Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean south of Java owned by Australia.

[marron]

Who controls space engineering technology will own the next century.

Several countries are starting to dabble in it. If we don't want to become the Britain of the 21st century, we had better get serious. We had better plant some people on the moon, and start organizing a serious Mars mission.

Space travel will not really take off until private companies get into it, but that can't happen until we start getting some core samples back from the moon, and Mars, and some of the asteroids. This does not require manned missions, it can be done robotically, but we need to get busy.

[blam]

(ping)

I've read numerous stories about what a mistake the US space shuttle was. Is that still believed by some? If so, what's up with the Japs?

[Frank_Discussion]

Yes and no. In comparison to the Apollo technology it replaced, it was a marvel. In truth, it still is.

But it costs a lot to operate, and partially because it isn't really what it was supposed to be, a reusable spacecraft. It is really what you might call, "re-buildable".

It is kind of a love-hate thing. You can look at it and say: "Surely we can do better than that." Then you think about it and say: "Well, nobody else is."

Then you look around, and realize that somebody will do better. For my money, I hope it'll be either NASA or a private US-based company that moves up the ladder.

[Jabba the Nutt]

What did the Japanese have blow up in Australian 6 months ago? A hypersonic craft? (Memory is the second thing to go.;^))

[ArrogantBustard]

You can look at it and say: "Surely we can do better than that." Then you think about it and say: "Well, nobody else is."

Recall that in its last days, Mir was a troublesome, often broken, moldy kludge. It did, however, have on great advantage over the US space station. It was in orbit.

[blam]

Australians Say Hypersonic Flight Test A Success

[RightWhale]

The Japanese Space Shuttle is sort of the same idea, some kind of lifting body, but not so big and expensive. Anyway, it's early and they have plenty of time to change direction before they are too committed to one plan over another.