Russia Stands Ready for Manned Flights to Mars
Manned space missions to the Moon may resume in 2015-2020, Anatoly Perminov, head of the Federal Space Agency of Russia (Roskosmos) announced Wednesday. Man-controlled flights to Mars will begin in 2030.
The U.S. space program requires that starting from 2020 the Moon is to become a nesting place for flights to other planets, including Mars. To this effect, manned space missions to the Moon will resume in 2015.
Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan are pressing ahead with the space programs focused on the Moon/Mars flights. At first, it is necessary to master space assembly. Then, flights to the Moon and Mars could be planned, Perminov pointed out.
Federal Space Agency launches in 2006 the simulation stage of its Mars-500 project, which financing started in March of 2005. The project is carried on in line with the national space program of arranging manned missions to Mars and sets forth assembly of a spaceship that will simulate space environment.
Starting from 2006, six volunteers, from 35 to 55 years old, perhaps from different countries, will be confined to a module spaceship 500 days long. The experts will study response of a human body and equipment operation in conditions close to the Mars flight.
Though the Agency's press service declines to disclose the project budget, the sources say 18,268.63 million rubles will be allocated for the federal space program in 2005 from the 25,156.40-million ruble budget of the Agency.
The Agency studies all chances to apply nuclear facilities in the Mars flights. Perminov said some projects are existing, including the project of Russian scientist Evgeny Velikhov. Such units were created and put in operation, but the projects were terminated due to the lack of funds. Still, there are research institutes in Russia that proceed with developing similar facilities, Perminov pointed out.
Perminov also called for the 29.7-percent increase in financing Russia’s space industry in 2006 compared to 24 billion rubles planned for that purpose. The funds are needed to commission 26 space vehicles finished by 80 percent-90 percent to-date. The U.S. space program requires that starting from 2020 the Moon is to become a nesting place for flights to other planets, including Mars. To this effect, manned space missions to the Moon will resume in 2015.Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan are pressing ahead with the space programs focused on the Moon/Mars flights. At first, it is necessary to master space assembly. Then, flights to the Moon and Mars could be planned, Perminov pointed out.Federal Space Agency launches in 2006 the simulation stage of its Mars-500 project, which financing started in March of 2005. The project is carried on in line with the national space program of arranging manned missions to Mars and sets forth assembly of a spaceship that will simulate space environment.Starting from 2006, six volunteers, from 35 to 55 years old, perhaps from different countries, will be confined to a module spaceship 500 days long. The experts will study response of a human body and equipment operation in conditions close to the Mars flight.Though the Agency's press service declines to disclose the project budget, the sources say 18,268.63 million rubles will be allocated for the federal space program in 2005 from the 25,156.40-million ruble budget of the Agency.The Agency studies all chances to apply nuclear facilities in the Mars flights. Perminov said some projects are existing, including the project of Russian scientist Evgeny Velikhov. Such units were created and put in operation, but the projects were terminated due to the lack of funds. Still, there are research institutes in Russia that proceed with developing similar facilities, Perminov pointed out.Perminov also called for the 29.7-percent increase in financing Russia’s space industry in 2006 compared to 24 billion rubles planned for that purpose. The funds are needed to commission 26 space vehicles finished by 80 percent-90 percent to-date. by www.kommersant.com
'''April 6, 2005'''

Japan said it would decide within 10 years whether it would pursue its moon program on its own, or if it would team up with other nations.
Japan announced on Wednesday a program to send astronauts to the moon by 2025. The plan calls for the establishment of a moon base that would be operated by Japanese astronauts and robots.

"Until now, the question has been, 'Can Japan develop its own manned spaceship?' We will know the answer in another 10 years," JAXA Chairman Keiji Tachikawa told the ''Associated Press''.

The plan includes the development of robots and nanotechnology, and calls for the design of a space vehicle to carry passengers and cargo to the moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) asked for a budget increase to about US$2.6 billion a year to fund the program.

Aerospace professor Taketoshi Hibiya, who works at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Technology, questioned the value of going to the moon.

No country has sent a manned mission to the moon since the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s.
"If you are hoping to exploit energy resources for example, the question is whether you gain more energy than you expend getting to the moon and back," Hibiya told ''Reuters''. "As scientists, we want to experiment with everything, including manned flight, if we can get the money," he said. "Unfortunately, the country's budget is in a bad way at the moment."

Japan is running a national debt of 751 trillion yen (US$6.94 trillion).

Japan said it would decide within 10 years whether it would pursue its moon program on its own, or if it would team up with other nations.

No country has sent a manned mission to the moon since the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s. China and Russia are both planning moon programs of their own. China plans to send a satellite to the moon in 2007. Russia has a plan to send personnel to the moon sometime between 2015-2020 as part of a larger program to one day send a mission to Mars.

JAXA's next mission will survey the moon with the ''SELENE'' probe. The mission was scheduled to launch this year, but has been delayed for unknown reasons.