Chapter 278 Lecture
On December 8, India and Russia announced an agreement on deepening space cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement includes Russia's participation in the development of the Gaganyan spacecraft and India's formal participation in Russia's "Chandra-25" exploration mission scheduled to be launched in 2017.
The Luna-25 probe weighs 1.5 tons and is launched into the lunar orbit by a Soyuz rocket. It has no rover but only a lander that can collect samples on the spot.
But the innovation is that it is the first probe to land on the lunar pole. After India joins, Russia will share lunar orbit transfer and landing technology with OSRO.
The total funding for the Gaganyan spacecraft plus the Luna-25 is $640 million.
As soon as the news came out, everyone knew that India must have been cheated.
After all, although the funding for the Luna-25 has not been made public, it is reasonable to speculate that it is at most 3 billion rubles by RKA standards, which is less than $50 million, and ISRO paid 140 million for it.
Even if Russia promised to share technology, Luna-25 is the successor of Luna-24, which was launched in 1976. Does that mean India got technology from at least 40 years ago?
It may even be inferior. After all, Luna-24 also has a sampling return part, which brought back 170 grams of lunar soil for the alliance. Luna-25 is not as good as Luna-24.
Of course, you can only laugh if you have the capital to laugh. Most countries are still very envious.
For example, the other half of the Asian star: the island country.
When Xiwen Samarkand Luna brought back two cooperative projects during her trip, JAXA immediately became jealous.
The relationship between India and Russia is more delicate, but in general, as long as India is willing to pay, Luna will dare to sell, and maybe it can really teach something real.
Amei is different. It strictly restricts JAXA's aerospace development. It often takes money but does not do anything. It deliberately blocks it. No matter how much money is given, it is a bottomless pit.
There are no restrictions on probe technology, but it is different on rockets. The high failure rate of H2 and H3 rockets is also due to these factors.
If "Chandra-25" is really launched as scheduled, doesn't it mean that India can really master the lunar landing technology, and the Asia Star Project is really likely to become a reality?
The prospects of the Asia Star Project in the island country are actually not very good. Although JAXA and Mitsubishi have tried their best to prove that the H-X rocket technology is mature and easy to manufacture, there are doubts about whether the plan can proceed smoothly and whether the island country is really capable of participating in the lunar project.
The lower level is better. Most people think that the Asia Star Project is a copy of the Artemis Project SLS rocket. With the help of various wild experts, people think that it is time to start selecting astronauts.
The official media did not puncture this beautiful fantasy and deliberately let it go. The Asia Star Project can boost national confidence and reduce the voices in society that completely lean towards the next door. Finally, there is something balanced.
However, after an internal assessment, JAXA believes that the total cost of the Asia Star Project is 6 to 8 billion US dollars. Even if the two countries share the cost equally, it will cost more than 3 billion US dollars.
3 billion US dollars is not a lot of money, and it is not difficult to squeeze it out, but the cabinet does not trust JAXA's research and development capabilities, especially the moon rocket like H-X, which always feels unreal.
So the current state of the Asia Star Project is that both sides keep drawing PPTs, but there is no specific research and development work at all, and it is all confused.
Both Mitsubishi and JAXA feel the omen of the plan failing, but some people are struggling for it.
"Kishikita-san, please take a look at these reports."
The president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tsutomu Kishimoto, took a report submitted by the Minister of the National Police Agency, Yasuhiro Tsuki, and read it carefully.
Yasuhiro Tsumugi: "In the past year, the number of our high-level talents going abroad has increased by 65%, and two-thirds of these people have gone to the mainland to find jobs; among the people, there are more and more supporters of the concept of Asia, which is almost becoming one of the mainstream ideas.
If this continues, the country will no longer be a country!"
After reading the report, Kishimoto Tsu grabbed his middle-parted hair hard.
"Tsumugi-san, but no matter how their thoughts change, the choice is not with them, nor with us, and it is only popular for a period of time, and it will not affect the normal development of society."
Tsumugi Yasuhiro shook his head: "Sir, you are right, but public opinion will affect the general election! Next year is the 98th general election."
I have to admit that Yasuhiro Tsumugi hit the point, but Kishimoto Tsu still hesitated.
The former attacked again:
"The beauty of the Asia Star Project is India. Cooperating with them will not arouse the vigilance of the Americans. It is a purely civilian project, and a large amount of funds can be shared. The funds of H-3 can be directly transferred to support the development of H-X rockets.
Besides, Ame, Russia, China, and Europe all have their own moon landing plans. How can we be content to lag behind? We and India are emerging forces in the future, and we must resolutely attack!
If under your leadership, the island country astronauts land on the moon, their status will probably be second only to His Majesty Meiji, and will be sung by our nation for generations!"
Kishimoto Tsu knew that Tsuyuki Yasuhiro not only represented the National Police Agency, but also the national elements in the government. They naturally hoped that the Asia Star Project would be implemented, so after continuous fermentation, Tsuyuki Yasuhiro was pushed up.
What he said was also right. Once the Asia Star Project succeeded, his reputation would naturally be unparalleled.
"Do it, sir!"
Tsuki Yasuhiro suddenly stood up and yelled and bowed his head, which frightened Kishimoto Tsu's heart so much that he almost got sent away.
After pressing Tsuki Yasuhiro back on the tatami, Kishimoto Tsu rubbed his chest and couldn't help but be aroused.
After a long time, he raised his head and met Tsuki Yasuhiro's fiery eyes.
Hesitantly said:
"If JAXA and ISRO can ensure that the Asia Star Project is completed before 2021, then I can initiate a motion to convince them."
Tsuki Yasuhiro excitedly stood up again and bowed directly to more than 90 degrees.
"Hey! But this is JAXA's responsibility. I think you need to organize another more formal consultation. JAXA will definitely give you a satisfactory answer! I look forward to welcoming our astronauts back from the moon safely during your tenure!"
Kishimoto Tsu, who was flattered, was still very useful to the horse, and he also thought that he was a figure like Kennedy.
"Then arrange it as soon as possible. We will postpone the plan to join the Artemis plan. If it can really be realized, I will also appeal to the people."
Tsuyuki Yasuhiro's eyes lit up: "Don't worry, sir, your feat of sending astronauts to the moon represents the rise of our nation. Such an action with a huge influence must be well publicized, and there must be a TV speech."
"No, the TV speech is a bit too high-profile." Kishimoto Tsutomu shook his head,
"I think it is more appropriate to have offline street speeches and online broadcasts. Well, in Nara City, let the people feel close!"
"Ha Yi! The National Police Agency will absolutely guarantee the order on the scene and your safety!"