Mars / Japan

GBurch1@aol.com
Sun, 4 Apr 1999 20:12:57 EDT

In a message dated 99-04-04 19:44:38 EDT, jeff@ultraviolet.com (Jeff Taylor) wrote: 

> btw: on another point of interest, relating to Mars colonies, someone said

> they'd heard Japan announced they are entering the space race and they
> recently sent a probe to Mars AND announced they are planning a manned mars
> mission. Can anyone confirm or deny this based on some more legitimate
> source?

I follow developments in space technology as an interested layman and can tell you this sounds like bunk. The Japanese do have an active, if relatively small space program, but they don't have the lifting capacity to do anything like a manned Mars mission -- especially in the midst of a serious economic recession. 

	Greg Burch     <GBurch1@aol.com>----<gburch@lockeliddell.com>
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