Japanese Space capsule completes its lab mission (Freeper title: Japanese have MIRV capability)

Asahi Shimbun ^ | 5-31-03 | Asahi Shimbun

[bonesmccoy]

The capsule is plucked from the sea after a splashy re-entry.

A satellite capsule carrying superconductive materials grown in space was recovered Friday in waters southeast of the Ogasawara islands after completing its nine-month mission.

It is the first time Japan has recovered materials it produced in space.

The capsule disengaged from its host in space, an experimental satellite called the Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System (USERS), just after 4 a.m. Friday.

After orbiting the Earth once, it exited its orbit by reversing its engine and re-entered the atmosphere.

At 6:34 a.m., a search plane picked up signals from the capsule. It then located the buoy attached to the module, which had sunk in the sea about 1,000 kilometers southeast of Chichijima island, part of the Ogasawara chain.

The capsule was lifted from the water at 9:50 a.m. by a recovery crane.

The satellite was developed by the Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer, a consortium of space-related businesses commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. It cost 23 billion yen to develop.

After launching into orbit on an H2-A rocket in September, the satellite produced superconductive materials while orbiting under microgravity conditions.

The highly magnetic materials can be used in a number of industrial applications, including generators.

The bell-shaped capsule, which is 1.6 meters long and 1.5 meters in diameter at its base, contains three electric furnaces. The furnaces were used to melt primary substances so that crystals of the superconductive materials could be grown. Experts believe that microgravity conditions enable the growth of large, uniform crystals.

Data from the satellite indicates the experiments have been successful, according to institute officials.

The satellite will stay in its orbit to test how products designed to be used on Earth perform in space.(IHT/Asahi: May 31,2003)

[bonesmccoy]

Here's my two cents.

It is not coincidental that this "test" or "demonstration" occurs following North Korean sabre rattling.

The reality is that the Japanese can detach a payload from a "mother vehicle", calculate trajectory accurately, calculate the burn rates to return the vehicle at a designated zone, and then recover the vehicle.

That seems remarkably close to: Build missile with multiple vehicles as payload. Detach reentry vehicle from satillite vehicle. Identify "landing zone" Reenter vehicle on target.

The only missing step is "detonate" weapon on target.

[Destro]

NOMAD?!!

[bonesmccoy]

When that green blooded SOB put his katra into my head!

[prisoner6]

Yeah, I agree. Showing their stuff, so to speak.

I also wonder - despite the Japanese economy - why they haven't developed a man in space project.

prisoner6

[TigerLikesRooster]

What a wonderful gift N. Korea is giving to China for her continuing support, compelling Japan to be on her way to a first-rate nuclear power !:)

[Redcloak]

STERILIZE!

[steveegg]

They're definitely close enough to do some city-busting, though it sounds like they've got a bit to go for US-grade CEPs.

[jriemer]

Bones,

AmericanInTokyo and I have been talking about this subject for months. He's an very astute NK watcher and together, we have been posting articles about Japan's march toward "space independance" in the last year. Their most recent accomplishment is launching a two-part recon satellite over the Yellow Sea with the capabilities of our KH-11 spy sats. Japan Launches 2 Spy Sats

Since the Japanese launched their first satellite into orbit in 1970, they had the capability to launch and hit a single target most anywhere in the world. Their current crop of boosters have had multiple-insertion technology (that can be used for MIRVing) for quite some time. All they would have to do is choose a warhead; however, they are pacifists by constitutional design. If provoked, the ones with the most to fear are the NKs and their masters.

[bonesmccoy]

NASDA does support a man in space project. They work with NASA at JSC to put NASDA astronauts aboard the shuttle and the international space station.

Since the US supplies the ticket, there is no need for Japan to develop an independent launch platform. In addition, their geographic location (not on the equator) means that the Japanese have a disadvantageous position on the globe to launch rockets. The French solved this issue by building their Ariane facility in French Guiana.

There are probably launch sites which could be built in Africa or SE Asia. That would be an interesting international development program.

[bonesmccoy]

The Japanese have previously demonstrated much of the techniques and capabilities that we have in space.

I have been following the AIT threads, which are quite interesting.

thanks for your comments...

[The Pheonix]

Japan and all small island states with high population densities have an intrinsic disadvantage when having an all-out nuclear exchange with big continental land-mass nations like Russia and China

Russia, China, and the USA could disperse their population and industrial centres

But Japan, Britian etc would suffer much, much more damage due to a higher concentration of population and industrial centres---say 85% of JApanese poplation and industrial capacity destroyed, vs 30% for Russia

just my 2 cents worth

[jriemer]

A potentially nuclear Japan would be a deterrant against agression and intimidation in the region. Right now, NK can easily vaporize any Japanese city / industrial center. By introducing the possibility of a nuclear Japan, NK would have to keep in their calculus the cost of retaliaion. This "equation" doesn't even factor in the American nuclear weapons in the region.

This is the same mutally assured destruction that has kept the Cold war cool all these years.

[The Pheonix]

The U.S., China, Japan and South Korea do not want war in East Asia at this moment in time, as this would wreck the economies of every one of them, and indeed even the economy of the whole World

One way or the other they will have to rein in the "pscho and sicko" North Korean Regime, without resorting to war

[jriemer]

How do you propose doing this without military pressure as all the diplomatic efforts since the end of the Korean war have done absolutely nothing other than strengthen the NKs and provide them WMDs? Diplomacy enabled Saddam Hussein to trifle with the UN and further rape, plunder and murder in his country for 12 years after the end of Gulf War I.

Japan should have the right to defend themselves from potential aggression by NK in the manner they see fit.

South Korea has decided that they will live with the monster next door much like a battered spouse chooses to live with their batterer. Their foreign policy has been essentially co-opted in the intrest of appeasement and not their own immediate safety.

[The Pheonix]

yes,absolutely, I do agree 100% that Japan has the right to go nuclear if she so desire. In fact it is her birth-right

You are right. Maybe it will turn out to be a good thing if it results in a "Balance of Power" in East Asia

And then the Chicoms would not be able to push Japan around

[JoeFromSidney]

I do agree 100% that Japan has the right to go nuclear if she so desire.

The policy of nonproliferation has served us well for 50 years. However, the nuclear genie is out of the bottle and can't be put back. It's time for a new policy, one that recognizes that most of the nations of the world, and some non-state actors, will have nuclear weapons.

[bonesmccoy]

Wiping out industrial centers in China is not very difficult. They really only have two areas.. Shanghai and Hong Kong. Shengzhen might be a third. When nuclear effects are large enough, you can easily wipe out the industrial productivity of California with four well placed warheads (Oakland, SF, LA basin, San Jose).

But your point regarding population centers is well taken. The surrounding areas around Hiroshima and Nagasaki had "suburban" populations who survived the only nuclear attacks on civilian targets in world history.