The Baptism of Deep Space
Hayabusa was struck with a multitude of energies.
Somehow...
Geeze . . . but I can't say anything.
Are you alright!?
Hayabusa!?
Hayabusa!?
Kuh....
Ah....
With enough radiation poured out that a human would not have stood a chance,
the largest solar flare in recorded history was observed.
Between the end of October and the beginning of November,
You want what you want.
Hearing that makes me happy.
What Minerva says is compelling.
Everyone, you're the best.
Because we didn't have enough money, people were able to cover it.
It's alright.
Of course.
True, if only we had a more of a budget, right?
October, 2003
* If only we had more of a budget<p>The scale of NASA's budget is about 10 times that of JAXA's.</p><p>In the recording industry, that's the difference between major record labels and indie labels. In terms of time and money spent on research, there is just no matching NASA.</p><p>Furthermore, in this world <tt>(of space exploration)</tt>, because cooperation is crucial, the research, is in a way, open for all to see. <tt>(It is not like development research in the private sector, where companies with pioneering research can protect it with patents.)</tt></p><p>If there is a research topic which seems profitable or interesting, the massively funded NASA can make up any lost ground and move to the forefront with incredible speed.</p><p>As such, JAXA research tends to be constrained to rather ambitious, low-budget, and short-term projects.</p><p>Please imagine it for yourself.</p><p>For example: In a cooking contest, you have to compete with an opponent given 100 dollars while you are given 10 dollars.</p><p>Your opponent is also a premier chef, and you are limited to buying ingredients from the same marketplace.</p><p>It's stiff competition.</p>
* What Minerva says<p>Minerva takes everything literally.</p>
* Solar flare<p>The phenomenon of large amounts of electromagnetic waves and matter being released due to an explosion near the sun's black spots.</p><p>Under the XMCBA ranking system, the third largest solar flare since the ranking system's inception (in 1976) occurred on October 28, 2003 with a strength of X17.2.</p><p>The effects of that solar flare caused troubles such as a decrease in energy output from the Hayabusa-san's solar cell and slight damage in its solid state memory, which can lead to mistakes in data interpretation.</p><p>Aside from Hayabusa-san, the solar flare had other massive effects, such as the momentary shutdown of the DRTS (Data Relay Test Satellite) Kodama, worldwide communications interference, and the appearance of an aurora in Hokkaido.</p><p>On November 4th, 2003, the largest observed solar flare occurred with a strength of X28. Because that flare was not directed towards Earth, there was little damage. However, had it been facing the Earth, it is presumed there would have been quite a lot of damage.</p>
* Wham<p>In order to clarify, all depictions and onomatopoeia of solar flare damage including impacts and smoke are dramatizations created for this manga.</p>
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