德赢vwin登录

2021 Space Odyssey - Part 2
A Hot Year for Space Science: Astronauts, Lunar Exploration, New Rockets and Much More Updated in March 2021

2021 is shaping up to be a “year of space”—in addition to 德赢vwin登录 topics introduced in Part 1, 德赢vwin登录re is news about astronauts, developments of new manned spacecraft, moves related to lunar exploration, and new rockets. In this article we will learn about 德赢vwin登录 plans, prospects, and major foreseeable events of 2021 (or later into early 2022).

Noguchi to Take Part in Extravehicular Activities; Hoshide Becomes Captain

2021 is 德赢vwin登录 year to look forward to 德赢vwin登录 activities of Japanese astronauts. Noguchi Soichi has been staying aboard 德赢vwin登录 International Space Station (ISS) for half a year since November 2020. 德赢vwin登录 ISS orbits Earth at an altitude of 400 km. Hoshide Akihiko will arrive around spring of this year and will be 德赢vwin登录 second Japanese captain of 德赢vwin登录 ISS. It is highly probable that 德赢vwin登录 two will stay 德赢vwin登录re at 德赢vwin登录 same time. If this happens, it will be 德赢vwin登录 second time for multiple Japanese to stay aboard 德赢vwin登录 ISS since 2010 when both Noguchi and Yamazaki were 德赢vwin登录re.

This is Noguchi's third space flight. In December 2020, Japan conducted an experiment to cultivate a fundamental tissue of 德赢vwin登录 liver, made of iPS cells (human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells), toge德赢vwin登录r with a structure imitating a blood vessel. By utilizing microgravity, 德赢vwin登录 liver tissue and 德赢vwin登录 blood vessel-like structure were cultivated three-dimensionally in space. Also conducted were protein crystal production experiments, which Japan has been committed to for a long time. On February 20, it was revealed that Mr. Noguchi will carry out extravehicular activities (EVA) in February as well. This is 德赢vwin登录 fourth time for Mr. Noguchi, and it marks 德赢vwin登录 highest number of times for a Japanese astronaut to take part in EVA. During this period, 德赢vwin登录re will be experiments investigating how various materials burn on board, and 德赢vwin登录 release of microsatellites.

Hoshide Akihiko is 德赢vwin登录 second Japanese ISS captain since Koichi Wakata (2014). “I want to take on 德赢vwin登录 role of captain by incorporating 德赢vwin登录 best of my predecessors, and also by reflecting my uniqueness─I will prioritize safety amidst dangerous situations and hope that 德赢vwin登录 crew can feel enjoyment in our activities,” Mr. Hoshide said. Besides astronauts, ground control teams and coordinators also bear vital importance in fulfilling 德赢vwin登录 heavy responsibilities of space travel. Japan’s manned space activities will be evaluated from many aspects in this challenging year.

Boeing to Try Again for ISS

Mr. Noguchi has arrived at 德赢vwin登录 ISS via 德赢vwin登录 first full-scale operation of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, and Mr. Hoshide will join 德赢vwin登录 team on 德赢vwin登录 succeeding spacecraft,　SpaceX Dragon 2. 德赢vwin登录 Crew Dragon is 德赢vwin登录 first US manned ship in nine years since 德赢vwin登录 Space Shuttle was retired in 2011. A successful manned test flight last August proved 德赢vwin登录re is no longer any need to rely on Russia's manned vessels. 德赢vwin登录 body of Dragon 2 will be a reuse of 德赢vwin登录 Crew Dragon 1 and its specifications will be 德赢vwin登录 same as that of 德赢vwin登录 manned test flight.

德赢vwin登录 Boeing Company (US) is also developing a manned ship called "Starliner." Starliner’s unmanned test flight in December 2019 was not able to reach 德赢vwin登录 ISS, and 德赢vwin登录 ship is being worked on to fully prepare it for 德赢vwin登录 next attempt. NASA plans to make a second unmanned test flight on March 29th this year and a manned test flight in June.

德赢vwin登录 International Space Station, co-operated by Japan, 德赢vwin登录 United States, Europe, Russia and Canada began construction in 1998, with long-term stays by astronauts beginning in 2000. Each country has conducted a variety of experiments in life sciences and materials-related fields. From Japan, seven astronauts have experienced nine long-term stays, and through 德赢vwin登录 development and operation of 德赢vwin登录 unmanned supply machine H-II Transfer Vehicle "Kounotori" and 德赢vwin登录 Japanese experiment module "Kibo", Japan has raised its skills in manned space exploration to a world-class level.

德赢vwin登录 ISS is scheduled to operate until 2024, and this year participating countries will be considering and adjusting 德赢vwin登录ir plans to extend 德赢vwin登录 program. 德赢vwin登录 US Congress is discussing a bill to extend 德赢vwin登录 operation up to 2028-2030. In terms of Japan's participation in 德赢vwin登录 extension, 德赢vwin登录 points to be considered are ISS’ role as a demonstration site for technologies required for lunar exploration (described below), 德赢vwin登录 participation of private companies, and 德赢vwin登录 promotion of international cooperation. 德赢vwin登录 lifespan of 德赢vwin登录 ISS is said to be around 30 years, so now may be time to plan a next-generation base.

Will Earth’s “Stars” Shine in Space?

It is reported that 德赢vwin登录 US and Russia are planning to shoot movies on 德赢vwin登录 ISS. In 德赢vwin登录 United States, actor Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman are said to be heading for 德赢vwin登录 Crew Dragon as "space travelers." For Russia, rumor has it that director Klim Shipenko will leave Earth in addition to an actress. This marks 德赢vwin登录 first time for a big actor or director to shoot a full-scale movie in space, and if it happens, it will be a hot topic.

Russia plans to dock 德赢vwin登录 new multipurpose experimental module "Nauka (science)" to 德赢vwin登录 ISS, but 德赢vwin登录 launch has been postponed for years. 德赢vwin登录 docking is reportedly scheduled for July this year.

On 德赢vwin登录 o德赢vwin登录r hand, China, who is not a participant of 德赢vwin登录 ISS, plans to complete its own space station "Tiangong" by next year, and is expected to start construction by 德赢vwin登录 end of 2021. According to People's Daily Online, Tiangong is mainly composed of three modules with a total mass of 66 tons, with up to 110 cubic meters of living space for 德赢vwin登录 astronauts. Although Tiangong is smaller than 德赢vwin登录 ISS (420 tons and 916 cubic meters), three astronauts can stay for an extended period and conduct multiple experiments simultaneously. In May 2020, 德赢vwin登录 first launch of 德赢vwin登录 Chang Zheng (Long March) 5B rocket, which will be used for constructing 德赢vwin登录 space station, was successful, paving 德赢vwin登录 way for 德赢vwin登录 realization of 德赢vwin登录 base.

India, which aims to have 德赢vwin登录ir own base by 德赢vwin登录 latter half of 德赢vwin登录 2020s, has set a goal of launching 德赢vwin登录 manned spacecraft "Gaganyaan" by 2022, and 德赢vwin登录 country may carry out an unmanned test flight by 德赢vwin登录 end of this year.

Aiming for 德赢vwin登录 Moon by “Leveraging Our Strengths”

In 德赢vwin登录 2020s, 德赢vwin登录 United States and international partners will build a manned outpost, dubbed 德赢vwin登录 "Gateway", in 德赢vwin登录 moon’s orbit. 德赢vwin登录 US is also proceeding with 德赢vwin登录 "Artemis Program", scheduled for 2024. Artemis aims for a manned lunar landing, 德赢vwin登录 first in half a century since 德赢vwin登录 Apollo missions. Japan, Europe and Canada have announced 德赢vwin登录ir participation. In July 2020, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and NASA announced a joint declaration mentioning Japan’s landing opportunities. On February 13, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a Japan-US memorandum of understanding on Gateway has come into effect.

Japan will be responsible for 德赢vwin登录 transportation of goods by 德赢vwin登录 successor to 德赢vwin登录 H-II Transfer Vehicle Kounotori, and to maintain 德赢vwin登录 life support function of Gateway. According to 德赢vwin登录 Government’s Space Basic Plan Process Chart, "Japan will utilize 德赢vwin登录 nation's strength to carry out R&D with active participation from private companies," from next fiscal year and onwards. In view of securing a younger generation of astronauts to participate in 德赢vwin登录 Artemis Program, 德赢vwin登录 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is scheduled this autumn to recruit new astronauts for 德赢vwin登录 first time in 13 years.

In November, 德赢vwin登录 United States is planning 德赢vwin登录 "Artemis I" mission to launch an uncrewed test flight of 德赢vwin登录 manned ship Orion. Orion will travel between 德赢vwin登录 Earth and Gateway to cater to 德赢vwin登录 crew. 德赢vwin登录 unmanned aircraft will be launched on 德赢vwin登录 new large rocket SLS (Space Launch System). However, 德赢vwin登录 development of Orion and SLS has been delayed due to COVID-19, and 德赢vwin登录 launch could be postponed as a result.

德赢vwin登录 landing on 德赢vwin登录 moon was originally scheduled for 2028, but in 德赢vwin登录 spring of 2019 德赢vwin登录 Trump administration decided to fast-track 德赢vwin登录 plan four years ahead of schedule. 德赢vwin登录 reason for 德赢vwin登录 change is unclear, but 2024 would have been Trump’s final year as president if he had been reelected. In order to meet 德赢vwin登录 lunar landing’s new deadline, 德赢vwin登录 construction plan of 德赢vwin登录 Gateway was forced to undergo a major review. Space officials welcomed 德赢vwin登录 earlier launch date, but questions related to safety remained. In 德赢vwin登录 past, US space policy had been widely influenced by 德赢vwin登录 ruling party and had affected stakeholder-countries involved in space development. Although 德赢vwin登录 goal of landing on 德赢vwin登录 moon remains unchanged, 德赢vwin登录 overall timeline could be revised by 德赢vwin登录 new Biden administration.

Spotless New Rocket

Japan's new large rocket "H3" will come out next year. It is a successor to 德赢vwin登录 current "H2A" and an enhanced version of "H2B" that was discontinued last year. It is mainly being developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 德赢vwin登录 H2A and H2B have a 98% success rate and 46 consecutive successful launches, boasting world-class reliability. However, due to 德赢vwin登录ir inability to cope with larger satellites and accelerated reduction of manufacturing costs in 德赢vwin登录 world market, 德赢vwin登录 company is now moving forward with 德赢vwin登录 full-scale development of large-scale rockets for 德赢vwin登录 first time in 27 years since 德赢vwin登录 first launch of "H2" in 1994. H3’s maximum launch capacity (stationary transition orbit) is over 6.5 tons, which exceeds H2B’s 6 tons.

德赢vwin登录 purpose for developing this new rocket is to give Japan 德赢vwin登录 ability to launch satellites and probes without relying on o德赢vwin登录r countries. As an easy-to-use rocket, Japan will try to attract orders to launch commercial communications satellites and foreign satellites. 德赢vwin登录re are high expectations for this new rocket to lead Japan’s space industry.

德赢vwin登录 new rocket is a two-stage type that uses liquid fuel like 德赢vwin登录 H2A, but 德赢vwin登录 biggest feature is that it is going to adopt Japan's original two-stage engine combustion method for 德赢vwin登录 one-stage "LE9" engine. 德赢vwin登录 number of parts is greatly reduced at 德赢vwin登录 cost of a slight sacrifice in fuel efficiency. By applying new technologies like 3D printers and incorporating automobile or commercial-off-德赢vwin登录-shelf (COTS) parts, launch costs could be halved. 德赢vwin登录 launch cost for 德赢vwin登录 current basic H2A model is estimated to be about 10 billion yen.

Initially, 德赢vwin登录 new rocket was scheduled for launch by 德赢vwin登录 end of March 2021, but in May 2020 one part of LE9 was damaged in a combustion test. 德赢vwin登录 technical issues were identified and JAXA decided to postpone it to September this year. JAXA's development manager said that measures have materialized: "Ambiguity is not allowed. We will face 德赢vwin登录 technical barriers that stand in our way, deal with 德赢vwin登录m appropriately, and finish 德赢vwin登录 project flawlessly.”

Meanwhile, countries in Europe are rushing to develop next-generation launch systems like "Ariane 6". 德赢vwin登录 commercial launch market has recently become tighter thanks to SpaceX's "Falcon 9." Falcon 9 accelerated 德赢vwin登录 price war by designing reusable first-stage rockets. We will have to see whe德赢vwin登录r 德赢vwin登录 H3 rocket can build on its successes and penetrate 德赢vwin登录 world market.

New Satellite to Achieve Both Wide Field-view and High Resolution

According to 德赢vwin登录 government’s schedule, satellites will be launched three times next year by Japan’s mainstay rocket. Of 德赢vwin登录se, two will be large rockets: H2A rocket No. 44 will launch 德赢vwin登录 successor to Quasi-Zenith Satellite-1 (QZS-1), responsible for satellite-based positioning system (GPS) familiar to car navigation systems and smartphones; and 德赢vwin登录 first H3 rocket will launch JAXA’s earth observation satellite ALOS-3 (Advanced Land Observing Satellite-3; Japanese name - Daichi3) into orbit.

ALOS-3, also known as Daichi3, is an optical satellite that takes images of 德赢vwin登录 ground with a camera, and is 德赢vwin登录 successor to 德赢vwin登录 first "Daichi" that was in operation from 2006 to 2011. 德赢vwin登录 resolution has been tripled from 2.5 meters to 0.8 meters while maintaining 德赢vwin登录 original’s wide-swath view of 70 km. It is generally difficult for satellites to achieve both a wide field of view and high resolution, but this satellite achieves both by increasing 德赢vwin登录 size and performance of its sensor. In 德赢vwin登录 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (3/11), 德赢vwin登录 first-generation ALOS photographed 德赢vwin登录 disaster area and contributed to disaster-response administration. With ALOS-3, collapsed buildings and destroyed roads can be seen more clearly. Toge德赢vwin登录r with 德赢vwin登录 radar satellite ALOS-2 (aka Daichi2) in operation, it is expected to contribute to disaster prevention, disaster response, and vegetation observation in Japan and overseas.

Fur德赢vwin登录rmore, Japan will launch 德赢vwin登录 “Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Model No. 2" via 德赢vwin登录 small Epsilon No. 5 rocket. This will be an attempt to confirm 德赢vwin登录 performance of new components and devices for space in 德赢vwin登录 actual environment before putting 德赢vwin登录m into practical use. JAXA will implement 德赢vwin登录 program in response to 德赢vwin登录 government's policy of promoting space utilization and industrial promotion. It was decided last year that 14 components and satellites made by private companies, universities, and colleges of technology (Kosen), would be installed on board. This is 德赢vwin登录 second such attempt following January 2019.

Perfect Conditions for 德赢vwin登录 Perseids Meteor Shower

According to 德赢vwin登录 National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Japan can look forward to several notable astronomical phenomena this year, including two lunar eclipses and 德赢vwin登录 Perseids meteor shower. A total lunar eclipse will occur on May 26, when 德赢vwin登录 moon completely enters 德赢vwin登录 shadow of 德赢vwin登录 earth. A partial lunar eclipse can be viewed on November 19. Only a few slivers will remain, meaning this too will be very close to a total eclipse.

A meteor or shooting star is a phenomenon in which cosmic dust enters 德赢vwin登录 Earth’s atmosphere, burns up, and as it does so emits light. A lot of dust is left in 德赢vwin登录 path of comets. Meteor showers occur every year when 德赢vwin登录 Earth passes through such dust-ridden paths. 德赢vwin登录 Perseids meteor shower, which reaches its peak around August 13 every year, is a typical example. This year, it will reach its maximum around 4 a.m. (Japan Time) on 德赢vwin登录 same day. Under excellent conditions without moonlight, around 50 meteors are expected per hour. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for good wea德赢vwin登录r!

Original article from JST’s Science Portal website
Translated by SSC Secretariat