Japan says “Fly Me To The Moon”

22 Thermidor, CCXII; Gacudai Gannen, Xitxigaçu 7; August 10, 2004

NEWSFLASH, QUIÒTO, JAPAN:

In a surprising announcement Her Majesty the Emperor and Louisiannan First Président, Jean-François Young announced today the now unified space efforts of these two countries. This speech was carried live to Louisianne via Télétoile, then disseminated via aero-stats.

Most of President Young’s speech focused on internal issues for Louisianne and foreign policy, but he also spent a large portion speaking of the unified space effort now extant between Louisianne and the Empire of Japan.

Speaking of the space effort, President Young said:

“Finally, if we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny, the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent years should have made clear to us all, as did the German satellite at the start of an CCXI, the impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take. Since early in my term, our efforts in space have been under review. With the advice of the Council, and the Chairman of the National Space Exploration Committee, we have examined where we are strong and where we are not, where we may succeed and where we may not. Now it is time to take longer strides—time for a great new enterprise—time for this republic to take a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on Earth.

“I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we have never made the republic-wide decisions or marshaled the countrywide resources required for such leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or managed our resources and our time so as to insure their fulfillment.

“Recognizing the head start obtained by the Germans and others with their large rocket engines, which gives them many perceived months of lead-time, and recognizing the likelihood that they will exploit this lead for some time to come in still more impressive successes, we nevertheless are required to make renewed efforts on our own. We are not alone in this effort. We are joined, partnered with the honorable Japanese in this race for space. While we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first, although the field is currently left to Louisianne and Japan, we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last. We take an additional risk by making it in full view of the world, but as shown our own successful launches of three satellites, this very risk enhances our stature when we are successful. But this is not merely a race. Space is open to us now; and our eagerness to share its meaning is not governed by the efforts of others. We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.”

“…I believe that this republic and this empire should commit themselves to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man or woman on the moon and returning him or her safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to humankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space;…

“We propose additional funds for other engine development and for unmanned explorations—explorations which are particularly important for one purpose which this nation will never overlook: the survival of the man or woman who first makes this daring flight. But in a very real sense, it will not be one man or woman going to the moon—if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire republic and empire.”

“…[W]e are not alone. We have friends and allies all over the world who share our devotion to freedom. May I cite as a symbol of traditional and effective friendship the great ally I am pleased to visit today— Japan. I have looked forward to my visit to Japan, and to my discussion with Her Majesty the Emperor, as a meeting of particular significance, permitting the kind of close and ranging consultation that will strengthen both our countries and serve the common purposes of world-wide peace and liberty.”

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the end of our negotiations with the Japanese, and the co-union of our space programs, and am pleased to unveil Le Cygne’s sister ship, Cumo Maru, which will be used in our ongoing space efforts. It was agreed upon by Her Majesty the Emperor and myself that this goal of attaining the honor of landing on the Moon for the Louisiannan and Japanese people should be achieved before the end of ten year’s time.”

The new space agency is known in english as the “Transoceanic Alliance for the Exploration of Space” but will be more frequently referred to in the media as ATOE, from the french “Alliance au Travers l’Océan pour l’Exploration de l’Espace.”

Media questions are asked to refer to this address:

http://www.geocities.com/bo_arthur/atoe/index.html

Interviews with Prince Fumihito, director of the Imperial Space Agency and Jean-Louis Cattin, director of the Comité National de l’Espace Loiusiannais are expected to be available in the next two days.

Mission goals for Louisianne and Japan are stated as being:

1) Successfully launch human beings to space and return them to Earth.
2) Establish and orbital base of operations to aid in exploration goals, and serve as a construction platform for deep space vessels.
3) Build and Launch before the end of the decade a ship capable of safely transporting humans to study the moon and report on their findings.
4) To learn of the Solar System at large and increase our knowledge of our surroundings.

Those pilots who will venture into outer space are referred to as cosmonauts or utxùhicòxi. It is expected, however, that the Cambrian press will refer to them as ‘Bethinauts’ both original terms deriving from ‘Universe Sailor.’