[extropy-chat] Mars probe marred

[Mike Lorrey]

--- Technotranscendence <neptune at superlink.net> wrote:> 
> http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-life-03k.html
> 
> I check SpaceDaily almost every day...
> 
> BTW, on the general topic of the Japanese space program, it's a
> rather lackluster effort.  I mean I expected a lot more seeing
> how well Japan does in other high technology areas.  Any ideas
> on why this is the case?

I think they are downplaying their capabilities with this probe in
particular as a matter of keeping expectations low until achievments
are made as a form of 'face saving management'... as for their space
program as a whole, the NASDA is a government program, not an industry
program. Japanese government is conservative, cautious, and not prone
to change, initiative, or new ideas, and their space policy is in
keeping with their overall foreign policy, which is passive and
pacifist. Exploration was a hallmark of the militarists from the late
1800's up to WWII, who gave up on government in '45 and went into
industry, and agressive foreign policy (which space policy can be seen
to be a component of) is a discredited concept in Japan, i.e. something
best left to the Americans to screw up.

=====
Mike Lorrey
"Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
                                       - Gen. John Stark
"Fascists are objectively pro-pacifist..."
                                       - Mike Lorrey
Do not label me, I am an ism of one...
Sado-Mikeyism: http://mikeysoft.zblogger.com

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