According to the Daily Yomiuri Online, Japan will seek to double spending on its space industry over the next 10 years, the idea being to spur private-sector technology development and promote exports.

“The government concluded it is necessary to expand the private sector’s stake in the industry and make inroads into overseas markets.”

Whether this will actually come to pass is a big ”if” given the fact that in recent years Japan has struggled to maintain any growth in space spending, forcing numerous projects to be stretched out. Moreover, Japan isn’t any better than the United States at sticking to future-year space budget plans.