Society

SKY Perfect JSAT to make laser-armed satellite to zap space junk

Jun 13 (Japan Times) - SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. will develop a satellite to remove space debris with lasers, aiming to launch a related service in 2026.

The satellite communications service provider will make the satellite mainly with government-affiliated research institute Riken and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), it said Thursday.

The satellite will use lasers to push space debris into Earthâ€™s atmosphere so it burns up, according to SKY Perfect JSAT.

There are some 34,000 pieces of space debris at least 10 cm long, including fragments of old satellites and rockets, orbiting Earth. This space junk is hindering the deployment of new satellites.

Will Japan’s Gas Costs Fall?

Following the Japan-U.S. summit during the Trump administration, discussions about liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports gained momentum. The agreement to expand LNG purchases from the U.S. was seen as a key development, but significant challenges remain. Will this lead to lower gas prices in Japan? And what are the five countries that pose obstacles to fulfilling this commitment?

Thousands Clash in Aichi’s Naked Festival

Aichi’s famed Konomiya Hadaka Festival took place on February 10th at Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa City, where men clad in only fundoshi loincloths clashed in a frenzied struggle. The traditional event, which has continued for over 1,200 years, centers around the ‘Shin Otoko’ or ‘Sacred Man,’ chosen by lottery, whom participants believe will cleanse them of misfortune if they manage to touch him.

Japan to Release Emergency Rice Reserves Amid Rising Prices

Rice prices in Japan continue to rise, despite the government’s plan to release emergency reserves in an effort to stabilize the market. A bowl of tendon, topped with freshly fried tempura, is incomplete without steaming hot rice, but the cost of this staple has been steadily increasing.

Avalanche Strikes Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima

An avalanche occurred around noon on Monday along a prefectural road in Fukushima City, leaving two hot spring inns isolated once again due to record snowfall.

USJ Ticket Buyers to Receive Expo Admission

With just two months remaining until the opening of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, new initiatives are being introduced to enhance visitor convenience.

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Police Raid Kyoto University Dormitory Following Student Protest

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Low-Alcohol Drinks and Board Games: The Evolving Culture of Gen Z

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Fiery Descent at Wakayama's Kamikura Shrine

The annual Otomo Festival took place on February 6th at Kamikura Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. The event saw men clad in white robes, each carrying a flaming torch, racing down the shrine’s steep stone steps in a centuries-old tradition.