News

Japan's space agency, JAXA, plans to increase the launch frequency of its H3 rocket to at least seven times a year, aiming for one-month intervals between launches. This ambitious goal requires upgrades at the Tanegashima Space Center, including additional liquid oxygen storage tanks and assembly buildings, with the aim of strengthening Japan's international competitiveness in the space industry.

Intuitive Machines' Athena lander successfully touched down on the Moon on Thursday, March 6, 2025, but encountered difficulties during its final approach, leading to uncertainty about its orientation. Despite the challenges, the mission was not considered a complete failure, and controllers were working to assess the situation and determine whether the lander's scientific instruments could still be deployed.

SpaceX successfully delivered four new astronauts to the International Space Station, replacing two NASA astronauts who had been stranded due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule. The new crew will spend the next few days learning the ropes before the outgoing crew returns to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki to address concerns about sexual assaults by U.S. military personnel and the return of land from U.S. military control to Japan. Tamaki emphasized the burden Okinawa bears in hosting U.S. military facilities and called for more serious preventative measures against sexual violence.

Part-time workers in Japan saw record wage increases during this year's "shunto" negotiations, with an average pay surge of 6.53%, driven by a nationwide trend and a severe labor shortage. This marks the ninth consecutive year that part-time workers' wage increases have outpaced those of regular employees.