Japan Halts Work on Troubled H-2 Rocket
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TOKYO — Japan announced today that it will halt development of the troubled H-2 rocket--considered the key to Japan’s space program--after two failed launches this year.
The Sankei newspaper called the Science and Technology Agency’s decision a huge setback to Japan’s space program, which is competing with Europe and the U.S. for a share of commercial satellite launches.
Japan has been plagued over the past few years by bureaucratic wrangling, cost overruns and technical difficulties.
The agency has decided that Japan should concentrate instead on developing the next generation of rockets, called the H-2A.
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