Most ambitious plans have been shelved, and major budget reviews are being conducted. The wisdom of having two separate rocket-development programs, a characteristic of the Japanese space industry since its inception in the late 60's, is being questioned. The media has also turned against expensive space projects. Newspapers are criticizing the high cost of being competitive. Many see the need for radical change.
Japan still has some bright spots.
There are also plenty of experimental successes on board the American space shuttle. This report summarizes the agencies and related organizations that are involved in Japan's space program, budgets and proposed schedules. We also assess the likely future of key aspects of the program. An autonomous US non-profit, that collaborates with other public, private, and educational organizations, worldwide, to analyze and disseminate information about Asian science and technology. These contain text and often, charts, graphs and pictures.