Praising the level of Japanese space technology, astronaut Naoko Yamazaki expressed hope Friday that the government will allocate more money for science despite the pressure to cut overall expenditures.
Among the recent achievements of Japanese scientists is the Hayabusa spacecraft, which recently completed a seven-year round-trip to an asteroid and possibly brought back particles from the rock.
"The technology cultivated with the Hayabusa will greatly contribute (to international cooperation) on the global stage," such as asteroid exploration projects promised by U.S. President Barack Obama, Yamazaki said during a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.
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