2021/4/19, Episode 2 of the Study Session 3

(a series article about the discussion of the study session) this article translated by google translation.)

　The second speaker at the 3rd study session was Professor Kimura of Tokyo University of Science. The previous time, he talked about Japan's space development policy, so in a subsequent questionnaire, there were voices saying, "want to know what is going on in each country in the world, next time." Therefore, this time, he spoke under the title of "Space Development Strategy of Countries and Japan".

Moon projects that become more overcrowded
Prof. Kimura first showed the committee materials of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology（MEXT） in which he is active as a member, and began to explain. The area around the earth is already commercialised, many small satellites are flying, and commercial satellites are also flying. On the other hand, when it comes to exploration, there are not so many players yet, and it seems that nations are competing with each other. There is a document of the MEXT called "International Trends in Space Exploration" that describes efforts other than the orbit around the earth, and there is a project to go to the sun of each country and explore Jupiter and small solar system bodies. It is possible to grasp the efforts up to about 2025.
　However, there are two categories that are excluded from the list and have separate details. It's Mars and the Moon, because there are so many national efforts that we can't put them in the same table. On Mars, a rover called Perseverance landed on a mission called Mars 2020 in the United States to explore whether Mars has life the other day. There is also a mission called ExoMars 2020 in Europe, and China also has its own plans. And the other day, the Japanese H2 rocket launched the Mars orbiter of the United Arab Emirates. Japan also plans a mission called MMX in 2024, which plans to explore its satellites rather than Mars itself.
Regarding Moon, more missions are listed in the separated table. And if you compare the tables of the past few years, you can see that the number of missions is increasing year by year. Japan also plans to send an unmanned rover in collaboration with India as a lunar polar exploration mission. In addition to JAXA, there are Japanese companies that have made a name for themselves as the transportation service to the moon, CLPS of the NASA project. Because the moon is close, the preparation period for each project can be shortened, maybe a few years. The number of missions is increasing.

Differences in space budget between Japan and the US
　Next, Prof. Kimura explained the scale of Japan's budget. It seems that the space-related budget is increasing every year in Japan as well, but it is still 212.4 billion yen, which is 1/200 of NASA (the initial 2021 + the third supplementary budget of 2020). The division of efforts is also different from that in the US. For example, the budget for the debris issue is closely related to national security and is allocated so. And the budget for manned space is allocated to "creating new knowledge through space science and exploration" (although that may be an important point of view). The lunar polar exploration plan, the lunar orbiting manned base, and the Mars rover are all in the same category. Is this because the composition of Japan's space-related efforts is narrow, or is it due to the vertical division between ministries and agencies?
Prof. Kimura said, "The moon may have water resources, and the polar exploration that Japan plans to carry out in collaboration with India has become a hot topic overseas because water can be used as fuel. It decomposes into hydrogen and oxygen. It can also be used as fuel to go to Mars. This year, the US has been allocated almost full budget bills for Orion spacecraft and SLS rockets, and the gateway has increased, though not full. Because maybe the use of ultra-small satellites is advancing internationally ... ", Prof. Kimura is thinking so. Originally, the small satellite was a strong field of Japan, but the US and Europe are now investing tremendously, and it seems that there is a growing sense of crisis that Japan may be left behind. But the Japanese government is also interested in the data utilization provided by microsatellites.
　The debris issue, on the other hand, was previously completely uninterested by the government but is now taking up a significant position in the policy. The debate about space safety, which originally started in Europe, began with international pressure to Japan that needs to tackle it firmly, but initially, the budget was not invested in technological development to prevent or eliminate debris. The budget was finally allocated as it was discussed in security. So Prof. Kimura seems to be a little disappointed that the original consideration for the environment was not the trigger for the effort.

Space development utilization promotion cost installation
Although few, the Japanese government is also trying to focus on "promotion of space development and utilization," and this year the Cabinet Office is taking the lead in making such a budget. Behind this is the US lunar exploration Artemis program. Japan has already signed bilateral cooperation "Joint Declaration on Lunar Exploration Cooperation (JEDI)" with the US and has signed an MOU by taking charge of the gateway to the lunar orbiting manned base in the Artemis program. Japan's part is basic functions related to living ability, life support systems, etc. Tokyo University of Science will set up the Space Colony Research Center this year to focus on research on living in outer space. Prof. Kimura said, "Many of the technologies related to space dwelling are useful even on the ground. Japan is not very advanced in life support systems, but by demonstrating it here and gaining knowledge, it will be possible. It will also be a gateway to Mars, by having a base here, we can not only transport to the moon but also create a foothold in deep space, especially Mars. " He has great expectations for the future potential of the initiative.
In addition, as the cost of launching small satellites has decreased, an "advanced remote sensing project" has been set up in Japan for data utilisation. Energy and communications required for future lunar development are also mentioned as future efforts. However, Prof. Kimura feels that the situation is "unfortunate" compared to the US, which has invested more than 10 times the budget of Japan so that the private sector can take the lead in CLPS.
"After all, the private sector must take action in Japan," he strongly appealed at the end of his lecture. ..