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SORA-Q(Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2(LEV-2)), an ultra-compact transformable lunar robot developed by Japanese toy manufacturer TOMY Company, Ltd., together with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA), Sony Group Corporation, and Doshisha University, is aiming for the Moon. ‘SORA(宙)’ means universe in Japanese. As for the letter “Q”, it is named after the English words “Question” and “Quest”, the Japanese word “Kyu” (reads as ‘q’) means sphere, and the robot’s silhouette that resemble the shape of the letter “Q” in the alphabet. The robot is ultra-compact, weighing approximately 250g, and transforms from a spherical shape with a diameter of approximately 8cm into a robot on the Moon’s surface. SORA-Q can move freely on its ...

The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) is a museum located in Washington, D.C. that exhibits collections related to aircraft and spacecraft. NASM closed in March 2022 and partially reopened in October 2022 with eight new and renovated galleries. The rest of the building is still transforming, and the full building is anticipated to reopen in 2026. In the renovated galleries regarding space, you can learn about the history of space exploration in the U.S. (reaching the moon, exploring Mars, etc.). Also, you can find a number of iconic objects such as the command module Columbia and Neil Armstrong’s Apollo space suit. Further, they showcase the Artemis Project as a ...

To make a sustainable space base, humans are needed to build a sustainable agricultural system in the outer space. And to make this real, some studies and practices are taking place. The practices by the Lunar Farming Concept Studying Working Group from Japan are exactly the one of those. Its report of 2019 shows us that some agricultural plants are selected for space farming; rice plants, soy beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, lettuces and the others (mustard spinaches, for example). Compared to the earthy agriculture, there are less atmospheric pressure, less gravity, but more direct rays. Therefore, we are facing some important issues to overcome. And the study ...

While the role of commercial space systems is extending in security and economic society in Japan, there are growing concerns about cybersecurity due to the spread of digital technology in space systems and the advancing complexity of networks. Considering this situation, the Japanese government released the Guidelines on Cybersecurity Measures for Commercial Space Systems Ver 1.0 on 21 July 2022 to encourage business operators to take voluntary cybersecurity measures. The guidelines cover earth observation satellites and ground systems (satellite operation facilities, satellite data utilization facilities, development and manufacturing facilities) mainly operated by commercial companies, and cover the design, development, manufacturing, operation, maintenance, and disposal phases of satellite systems. The guidelines ...

NIHONBASHI SPACE WEEK 2022 has begun in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan!This event is one of the largest space business exhibitions in Japan, where domestic and international space business players gather in Tokyo. JSLA will be at the event together with Mr. Yamasaki of Uchida & Samejima Law Firm who will be participating as a mentor for “NEDO Supply Chain Data Challenge Finalists”, and other prominent members of JSLA will also be at the event. If you see us, please come and say hello. We look forward to seeing you at the forefront of the space business! Homma Yumiko（本間 由美子）a member of JSLA and an attorney at GVA LPChttps://japan-space-law-association.org/honma-yumiko/https://gvalaw.jp/en/members/yhonma (Source: NIHONBASHI SPACE ...