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Japan lost a 5-ton navigation satellite when it fell off a rocket during launch (arstechnica.com)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/spaceflight@sh.itjust.works
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[–] 13 points 9 months ago (1 child)

The front fell off?

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    • [–] 11 points 9 months ago

    Oof. It's one of those big geostationary satellites. Those things are ridiculously expensive with redundant systems and heavy shielding for how long their missions usually last. Tough break.

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    [–] 9 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    What sort of standards are these uh satellites built to?

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    • [–] 4 points 9 months ago (5 children)

    Sad news. It also reminds me I want to get down to see a launch one of these days. I remember looking into it before I lived here and ruling out going out there just for that (especially with very little Japanese at the time). I wonder how close I'm able to get and if/where there's a schedule.

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago (4 children)

    I want to get down to see a launch one of these days

    If you do, would you be willing to share your experience with the community? Coincidentally, I happened to be in Japan during this launch, but decided against trying to make it all the way down to Tanegashima. I did see the JAXA facilities in Tsukuba though, which were pretty cool.

    Definitely interested in trying to see a launch next time I'm in Japan though.

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago* (2 children)

    I'm in Japan, so I've looked at the logistic to go to Tanegashima Space Center. From Tokyo, it's like a big plane to Kagoshima, then a small plane to the island, and then a bus (if you're lucky) or an expensive taxi I guess. Of course, you could also take a ferry with a car from Kagoshima.
    The problem isn't transportation, it's the fact that the best (and arguably only "worth the effort") viewing spot is a park whose access is restricted to only a few hundred people during launch… and as usual for limited things in Japan, it's a lottery system. :(

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 child)

    Oof. I wonder if chartering a boat might be easier. I knew I should've gotten my boat license before I moved to the middle of nowhere, heh.

    Some useful links digging a bit (google translate should mostly get you there if needed)

    The exclusion zone doesn't look too terribly big (though is cut off). I'll have to poke at that a bit more.

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    • [–] 3 points 9 months ago

    I have it. It's mine now.

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