Japan launches 'affordable' Epsilon space rocket

[the_physicist]

Japan has launched the first in a new generation of space rockets, hoping the design will make missions more affordable

Comments

[that_therapist]

The AI aspect sounds really interesting, especially having so few people at the launch site.

And yeah, the Trek fan in me laughed at the M-5 bit...

[the_physicist]

i just hope they ironed out all the bugs, lmao. can you imagine? XD

[that_therapist]

About the AI? I do think it's cool and interesting that the Japanese have started to use this for rocket launches. But I guess watching loads of sci-fi has given me a tendency to think of stuff that can easily go wrong in cases like this.

I do get a perverse kick out of the fact that the Episilon's predecessor was called the M-5, so thinking of AI multi-tronic computers that can take over starships in the 23rd century and Japanese AI space rockets in the 21st... It all starts here! XD

[fenris_lorsrai]

Japan's other recent space innovations included sending a talking robot to the International Space Station.

what does the robot talk about?

[the_physicist]

there's a vid here! http://www.space.com/22658-kirobo-talking-robot-speaks-space-video.html

[that_therapist]

I WANT ONE.