It seems that the Japanese government is planning to privatize the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) so that it will qualify and be in the running for Google and the X Foundations 30 million dollar worth of prizes for getting robotic rover on the Moon.
Japan only last week launched a very publicized lunar orbiter from the small island of Tanegashima off the southern tip of Kyushu Island, southern Japan using the domestically developed H-2A rocket.
I wonder if this will be official and how it will develop.
Big thanks to Tori for pointing this out to me.
[ Via – risingsunofnihon ]
I had no idea the Japanese were in the space race.
Good money in google’s lunar prize so I guess they went for it.
i thought u were saving to buy one of ur lucky readers an iPhone
sorry wrong post
@ Leon…they are in the top 5, prolly top 3 now after their lunar orbiter was launched last week
@ David, I don’t blame them