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 A.I visited the launch site in Kyushu many years ago, (and I've been in Japan earlier than that,) I was in the Korean War. I have had growing admiration for the technical expertise of the Japanese people and their technicians, and I see great evidence of this in the development of the Japanese experiment module for the Space Station. It is very well ordered discipline and laid out, it is very ambitious. And the ambition of Japanese space activities is evidenced by the space plane HOPE and the development of rockets, and looking at varieties of rocket launch facilities, it is a testament to the very serious dedicated interest of the Japanese government and Japanese people in the exploration of space.I have great wishes for anyone attempting to make a more reliable and a cost-effective launch vehicle. I believe that, eventually, the reliability must depend upon our reusing the elements of the launch vehicle bringing them back and not in an ocean landing on a runway, examining the engine and the components of the rocket to see where they might possibly be wearing out. We will then increase the reliability and travel into space much more safely. So, reusable rockets, the investment in reusable rockets will pay off in increased reliability and safety.
[ Interview : October 15, 2003 ]
 The real-size mockup of the lunar module is attracting the most attention at the "Exhibition of Human Space Activities" (being held till the end of November, 2003.) Many people look at it with deep emotion murmuring, "It is amazing that such a huge object went all the way to the moon, and it happened 34 years ago..." Some must think back to the time when the first moon landing took place. When human beings first arrived at the moon, what were you doing? Some of you must have not been born. The people who were at the moon at that time commented on future space activities as follows. "It is gradually, slowly but gradually, coming true."
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