The Next-Generation Rockets That Japan Could Use To Protect Itself

Japan's solid-fuel rocket Epsilon blasted off on September 14, 2013 on its maiden voyage carrying a telescope for remote observation of planets in a launch coordinated from a laptop computer-based command centre. Epsilon is scheduled for a follow up launch at the end of 2016. Uncertainties about U.S. policy in Asia will affect the security postures of allies in the region. Japan, for one, is going to tilt even more toward its own national security space ventures. As the country's defense minister Tomomi Inada urged recently, the time is ripe for Japan to reevaluate how best to protect itself.