2021/1/15, Episode 1 of the Study Session2

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

History of Space development in Japan
The second study session began by looking back on the "History of Japanese Space Development." Professor Kimura of Tokyo University of Science also explained what he felt through his own experience.。
From when we can call "space development" started? Is it from Sputnik 1 in 1957, when humans first launched the satellite? At that time, Japan was banned from developing some technologies after World War II, but research and development in the aviation field resumed in 1952, and at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which was established at the University of Tokyo, the pencil rocket development had begun. However, it was a solid fuel rocket that was researching, under the condition that is limited only for the scientific exploration.
After that, discussions on the use of space as an industry began in Japan in the broadcasting and communication areas, and the Space Development Promotion Headquarters was established at the Science and Technology Agency (at that time) in 1964. Then, in 1969, the same year that humankind stood on the moon on Apollo 11, the National Space Development Agency of Japan was established under the Science and Technology Agency, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and developed domestic communication satellites, broadcasting satellites, and meteorological satellites. It was aiming to develop a liquid rocket. Unlike the purpose of scientific exploration, it is the development of satellites and launch rockets for the business of supporting communications and broadcasting and forecasting the weather. Then, separately the Space Development Committee was set up in the Ministry of Education to discuss space policy here and consult with the Prime Minister.

End of a dream of strengthening the domestic satellite industry
In this way, the Japanese space industry started, and in the 1980s, Japanese technology became stronger in the communications area, producing domestic products such as BS and CS, and strengthening the industry, but in the end, the hope didn't realise.
　In the 1980s, the enemy of the US trade war was Japan. The US had a car trade deficit with Japan, and in 1989 called for the opening of the satellite market in a trade negotiation called Super 301. As the Japanese government accepted this and products came in from the US, domestic products could not compete and lost the opportunity to grow as an industry. "After that, Japan hasn't been able to deal with the development of commercial broadcasting satellites and communication satellites as a policy...." Kimura recalled.
　Due to the continuous failure of the H2 rocket, Japan's space development has entered the winter era. The flow of administrative reforms such as the privatisation of the postal service, JAXA was born in 2004 when an organisation similar to the National Space Development Agency of Japan was integrated. Looking back, Prof. Kimura feels that Japan did not have a consistent and strong national policy. Perhaps because of that, compared to other countries, we, the general public, have a long-standing impression that "space" is a world of science fiction fans, or that it is not a serious industry.

The role of Japan and its importance
During this time, even in the United States, there were disasters of Challenger in the 1990s and Columbia in the 2000s. For the last 10 years, US relied on Russian rockets to send astronauts to the ISS. On the other hand, the development in space such as communication and GPS has become an indispensable part of our lives. Given the various problems such as the debris problem floating in satellite orbit and the impact of the new high-tech hegemony battle between US and China, how we should position the development of the space industry as a national policy? Also, how can Japan develop its industry and take initiatives in it?
　In 2008, the Basic Space Law came into effect. Until then, each ministry and agency has been working on it separately, but the command tower has been put together in the Cabinet Office, the Space Strategy Development Headquarters has been set up there. The Space Basic Plan has been formulated, and it has been reviewed every year. There, the purpose of working as a nation is raised, such as security, disaster countermeasures, science and technology, and innovation for economic growth. Looking at this, it can be said that the space industry is one that the nation must put effort into promoting.

Prof. Kimura thinks that technically, there are sufficient fields in which Japan can take initiative and expected roles. As with the debris problem that he is working on, he thinks that Japanese companies can play an active role in technology related to staying and living. There are companies working on water and air normalisation technology, living units that block radioactivity and secure a comfortable space, technology for spending comfortably in a narrow space, and foods are grown on the moon or in outer space. These technologies will not only be useful in space development but will also be useful on the ground with environmental problems.
In this study session, we discussed that it is necessary to have a consistent policy so that Japanese companies can obtain the right path at the right time, enter into these developments, work on them, and then succeed in commercialization including utilization on the ground. That is what Prof, Kimura strongly appealed to.

(to be continue)