Japan's military blasting off to space

by Phil Skipper | May 13, 2008 at 05:11 pm | 202 views | add comment

Japanese MPs have backed plans to scrap rules restricting the use of military technology in space.

While I think Japan's desire to go Star Wars is largely defensive (China's been pretty active on this front as well), I think we've got enough war to keep ourselves busy without sending up more space junk into orbit (of which there is a lot!)

Lawmakers say Japan still opposes putting weapons into space, but claim the rules drawn up in 1969 have stifled innovation by Japanese firms.

Some supporters of the bill say it could open the way to Japan launching spy satellites.

Tokyo was alarmed last year when China conducted a test and shot down one of its own weather satellites.