2009-10-27

HTV Will End Its Flight Soon


Japan's space development agency,JAXA will put HTV, Japan's first unmanned space transporter, into earth's atmosphere on 2 November (Japan standard time). HTV delivered materials to ISS on September 18 and currently being docked at ISS. Reentry will burn most part of the vehicle completing its mission. Successful reentry would increase international credibility of HTV as reliable transportation to ISS.

Before its reentry, HTV, after loading rubbish from ISS, will be moved by manipulator by the station to a proper position. HTV will leave ISS after 1 a.m. October 31 subsequently it will lower its altitude by blasting its engine and it is scheduled to let HTV reenter earth's atmosphere at 6:28 a.m. 2.

HTV, according to JAXA, is mostly made of aluminum and will be melted at its reentry. Its heat resistance compnents as well as its remainings would fall on South Pacific's wide area stretching off coasts of New Zealinad to Chile. JAXA willl monitor operating status of the control devices and the location of the vehicle until last moment before the reentry.

2009-10-24

JAL's Business Rescue Plan to be Shown to Banks




A task force of business experts reporting to Seiji Maekawa, Minister of Land and Transportation completed an outline of business reconstruction plan for Japan Airlines mainly based on financial support of 550 billion yen on October 24. The plan will be presented to main banks led by DBJ and when being agreed by them, a path for JAL's salvage would be finalized.

The plan calls for capital reinforcement of 300 billion yen including public funding and request for commercial banks for debt waiver worth 30 billion yen. Financially crunched JAL needs a bridge loan of 180 billion yen as well, and the plan presumes this loan to be guaranteed by the Japanese government.

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