Asian countries will launch a universal space satellite

The Japan Space Research Agency (JAXA) will work with Asian countries to develop a small experimental satellite expected to be launched into space in 2012.

JAXA hopes this partnership will serve as a stepping stone to the creation of a complete earth observation satellite to support member states in issues such as disaster monitoring.

India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea and Thailand have expressed interest in this project, which is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Science and will start next year.

The space race in the 21st century among Asian countries has become increasingly hot. Japan wants to increase its international position in the field of space technology development which is fiercely competitive.

India is currently competing with China and Japan to become the first Asian country to send people to the Moon. India also successfully launched the Moon probe ship on October 21, 2008.

Last month, India and Japan signed a security cooperation pact to pave the way for the two countries' space agencies to cooperate in disaster monitoring in a move that worries China.

Last week, 37-year-old Naoko Yamazaki was chosen as the first and second woman of Japan to enter the universe. Yamazaki will join the crew of the Atlantis spacecraft.

In a two-week mission, scheduled to take place in 2010, Atlantis will ship the equipment to the ISS international space station.