Page 2 of 2 Japan's next chapter in space begins
By Peter J Brown
Later this week, Hatoyama will be closely watching JAXA's Tanegashima Space
Center. JAXA is scheduled to launch the the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) which
is designed to transport cargo to the ISS.
"JAXA may pay a political price if the HTV mission suffers a major setback.
JAXA needs to win the confidence of the new administration," said Suzuki.
The timing is critical because JAXA is well aware that the issue of the HTV
will probably come up when Hatoyama discusses future
plans for the ISS with Obama.
"In regard to Japan, President Obama needs to reassure [Hatoyama] that the US's
commitment to the ISS remains strong, and that the Japanese investment in HTV
therefore remains a wise one," said Mike Gold, director of Nevada-based Bigelow
Aerospace's Washington, DC office. "President Obama should also mention the new
focus on human commercial space transportation, and the opportunities that this
will open up for Japanese entities and industry."
Whatever happens to the HTV, JAXA is already facing some form of restructuring
because the BSL calls for it. The DPJ which has been critical of JAXA in the
past for concentrating too heavily on technical issues, also inserted the
specific provisions into the BSL which promote space commerce.
According to Aoki, since proponents of the BSL at that time are thought to now
be taking charge of space affairs in the Japanese government, more funding may
be in the pipeline to specifically target the development of Japan's space
industry. It is worth noting that in financial year 2009, for example, the
Japanese space budget increased by 10%.
"The DPJ is not expecting industry to absorb any of the cost of this activity,"
said Aoki.
Besides budgetary matters, a new Space Activities Law (SAL) will be submitted
to the Diet in January. The SAL addresses issues such as licensing of space
entities, third-party liability, and space insurance rules. Aoki describes the
SAL as similar to legislation enacted by several other Western countries such
as the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
Space law is important, but access to launch facilities are equally important.
The DPJ knows it must do something about the longstanding rules which restrict
Japanese rocket launches on Tanegashima Island in favor of the local fishing
industry. When fishing season is underway, launches are curtailed.
"This problem will not be solved easily. The Japanese space industry [seeks an
end to current rules], so the DPJ may try to address it," said Aoki, who notes
that the SAL contains no Tanegashima-related provisions.
Although Hatoyama's reputation for changing direction abruptly throughout his
political career cannot go unmentioned, the DPJ is not likely to make any big
waves when it comes to Japanese space policies. Aoki describes the new DPJ Diet
members as young, highly educated and coming from a variety of backgrounds.
"The SAL is not revolutionary, and any drastic changes in favor of
entrepreneurs will not be made," said Aoki. "However, theoretically, this does
not mean that the DPJ's planned measures with respect to space will be entirely
conservative."
In the end, with the BSL firmly in place, the DPJ will transform JAXA into an
agency, "which promotes the use of space as opposed to the development of
space," said Suzuki.
JAXA will either move entirely to a new Cabinet Office or be spun off as an
independent government agency. Another possibility is that JAXA will become
part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in order to quickly shift
Japan's commercial space initiative into high gear while broadening the
sector's industrial base.
Of course, the DPJ is feeling real budgetary heat which may cause the DPJ to
throttle back on space funding a bit, but would spell doom for several of
JAXA's pet projects which the DPJ consider too irrelevant and impractical,
according to Suzuki
JAXA's ongoing research into microwave-based solar power - so-called Space
Solar Power Systems (SSPS) - will be high on the new government's list. SSPS
involves a fleet of spacecraft flying in formation to capture and concentrate
energy from the sun, converting it into microwaves and beaming that energy down
to Earth.
"JAXA has researched SSPS for years, and strongly promotes this project. Under
the Basic Space Plan, JAXA and the Institute of Unmanned Space Experiment Free
Flyer - a research consortium consisting of 16 companies including Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, Ltd, IHI and Mitsubishi Electric Corp - are allowed to study
and develop some technical elements of SSPS, but they cannot develop (SSPS) as
a whole," said Suzuki.
"The top priority for DPJ is to review public projects, and cut costs by
eliminating less useful programs. SSPS falls into this category of less useful
programs."
On the other hand, JAXA will launch the first satellite in its Quasi-Zenith
Satellite System (QZSS) next year. This new regional satellite navigation
system includes the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a
partner. QZSS is compatible with the US Global Positioning System, and will
vastly improve satellite navigation in Japan and throughout the western Pacific
region.
The BSL ensures that Japan's private sector enterprises in space will become a
reality. As the gate opens, Japan is well aware that teams of innovative and
emboldened space entrepreneurs from all over the world are becoming more highly
energized. Everyone wants in, and the outcome may prove to be quite surprising.
Although unrealistic expectations have plagued many Asian space ventures in the
past, Hatoyama's engineering background and willingness to change direction if
he believes conditions warrant such a change may play an important role here.
With Hatoyama at the helm, the Japanese space sector knows that help is on the
way and the chances for success are much improved.
Peter J Brown is a satellite journalist from the US state of Maine.
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