At a meeting last week of the strategic space planning panel of Japan’s Space Activities Commission a large number of participants highlighted the growing need for Japan to look at its space development program from a security perspective.
In Japan, the word “security” has been taboo in discussing space development, which has been confined to peaceful purposes. Failed H-2 rocket testing has forced SAC to take into account possible failures in mapping out Japan’s space program. SAC is beginning to remove another drag on the space program.
The panel, composed of four SAC members and 22 space experts, will compile a 30-year strategy before year’s end. Last week’s discussion focused on purposes and goals of space development.
The discussion proceeded based on such factors as;
- obtaining knowledge of space;
- utilizing the space program for improving national livelihood and ensuring greater safety; and
- improving economic competitiveness and the level of science and technology.
At one point, Masakazu Iguchi, a SAC member, raised the issue, arguing, “If we do not touch on security, our discussion will end up only as high-sounding talk.”
Some argued that such a viewpoint is included in “national safety.” However, no one raised any objections to the idea of clearly mentioning security in the body of the council report.
Fearing being accused of using weapons for space development by other countries, the word “security” has never been clearly mentioned in Japan’s space programs.
However, a barrier has virtually been removed as the Government decided to launch intelligence satellites in fiscal 2002 for Japan’s defense and security reasons.
One member argued that increasing economic competitiveness was one form of security and that letting the people know such a point would help deepen national understanding of space development.
There is disgruntlement among space experts about the fact that information satellites costing 250 billion yen will be covered by the regular space budget.
The expectations that emerged to some extent in the panel session was that mentioning security would help obtain an additional budgetary framework.
