The report, compiled by the panel chaired by Katsuhiko Shirai, president of Waseda University, caps one year of deliberations by its members. The panel advises the government's Strategic Headquarters for Space Development.

The panel will shortly submit the report to space development minister Seiji Maehara. The report will be referred to when the government devises Japan's space exploration plans.

The report recommends that Japan arrange for a lunar exploration vehicle to make a soft landing on the surface of the moon in 2015.

It also proposes that Japan install an unmanned exploration base around the southern pole of the moon in 2020 with an eye to getting a robot to explore the heavenly body for several months.

It further recommends that Japan also conduct research for manned space travel so it may develop technology necessary to enable astronauts to go to space and then return to Earth, and spend 90 billion yen on the research by around 2020.

After receiving the recommendations, the government will study how to harmonize the new exploration plans with the ongoing programs to send science satellites into space against the backdrop of the nation's budgetary constraints, the officials said.