Statement by the Japanese Delegation on Agenda item 6 “General exchange of views” at the 61st session of COPUOS
2018/6/22
Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
On behalf of Japan, I am honored to address this commemorative session, the 61st session of the COPUOS. As the Chairperson of the 54th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, I am content that the UNISPACE+50 High-level segment and the Symposium were a great success. I praise the OOSA, the members of the bureau of the COPUOS, its subsidiary bodies “G-15” and Steering Committee of the UNISPACE+50 for the continued effort up till today.
Japan is of the view that the COPUOS and the OOSA have played an important role in fostering international cooperation in outer space. Together with COPUOS and OOSA, Japan has been actively engaged in the capacity building of emerging and diversified spacefaring actors. Lead by the emerging actors, the types of activities are increased. To support and further enhance both new and existing activities, Japan believes a rule of law in outer space is integral for safe, stable and sustainable space activities. The new business ideas are emerging, including actions on the space debris. We support the “Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities” and encourage all Member States to play a constructive role towards its swift finalization next week.
Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates,
For the furtherance of the space capacity, Japan believes in the power of the international cooperation. Let me introduce some examples of our international cooperation.
The International Space Exploration Forum, the ISEF, is the first ministerial-level forum to discuss the vision of future space exploration programs and it coordinates global space exploration effort. The United States hosted the first ISEF in 2014 and the European Commission and the European Space Agency initiated a dialogue, which was held in Italy in 2011. On 3rd of March in this year, Japan hosted the ISEF2 in Tokyo. We welcomed the ministers and the head of agencies from 45 countries and organizations. We have three outcome documents, which were “Principles for International Space Exploration,” “ISEF2 Joint Statement” and “ISEF Terms of Reference.” Japan would like to express appreciation to supports for this forum from many countries and organizations.
At the regional level, Japan supports the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, APRSAF, which is the largest space-related conference started in 1993. APRSAF enhances space activities and supports the furtherance of the socio-economic benefits derived from space. The APRSAF-24 was successfully held from last November 14 to 17 in Bengaluru. The discussions during the four day meeting covered possibilities of future cooperation in the region, contribution of space technology to the SDGs, space policy in each country, and benefits of space exploration to the region, which were summarized in the “Joint Statement.” In the Bengaluru, I was also a moderator of Heads of Agency Session. Moreover, we were lucky enough to have the Director of OOSA, Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo, joining the session “Space Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region.” This year, the APRSAF-25 will be held in Singapore from November 6 to 9. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there.
Here comes another gentle reminder. For those who have a spare time in this evening, please join us at the side event hosted by APRSAF and European Space Policy Institute, ESPI, from 6:30. This event invites space policy experts in the Asia-Pacific and Europe as panelists to explore what actions should be taken to make use of space for socioeconomic development.
Last but not least, the KiboCUBE. KiboCUBE offers an educational or research institution from an emerging UN members the opportunity to deploy a cube satellite, a CubeSat, of which the institution develops and manufactures, from the International Space Station, ISS, Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo. The program started in September 2015 as a dedicated collaboration between the UNOOSA and JAXA, utilizing the ISS for the world. Kenya won the first opportunity in and the first Kenyan satellite has been successfully deployed. On May 11th this year, Ms. Amina Mohamed, the Cabinet Secretary for Education in Kenya, witnessed the deployment in Tsukuba Space Center in Japan. She stated that the satellite will contribute to the socio-economic development of Kenya including the disaster mitigation. Japan is also convinced that this experience benefits the space capacity of Kenya, while positively evolving the society as a whole. Dr. Norishige Kanai, the Japanese astronaut who recently completed the 168-day mission in the ISS, was in charge of the deployment of the Kenyan satellite. Dr. Kanai carried out numerous missions mainly related to medical research by exploiting his background as a doctor. The research contributes to understanding and treating age-related symptoms.
Furthermore, I would like to congratulate the Republic of Mauritius for winning the wonderful opportunity, which was announced on the first day of the UNISPACE+50 Symposium along with the extension of the JAXA-OOSA MOU for the KiboCUBE.
Let me introduce the recent space activities of Japan. Japan launched H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.35, 36, 37, 38, 39, the third Epsilon Launch Vehicle and SS-520 No. 5 in the past year. In the coming week, the second asteroid probe “Hayabusa 2” is on the way to arrive at an asteroid “Ryugu,” of which “Hayabusa 2” detected in February. Up till today, four satellites of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, QZSS, have been launched and the operation of the constellation starts in this year. The QZSS is a Japanese navigation satellite system, which improves an area and time of the GPS coverage. Japan hosted the 12th meeting of International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, ICG, in Kyoto in December last year.
Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,
Space exploration and utilization have yielded tremendous scientific, economic and societal benefits. We shall continue our effort for the better society. Now, what could be our next step towards the better future? One thing for sure is the deepened and strengthened international cooperation. Japan recognizes the COPUOS has been the driver of the international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. I encourage all the members and observers to be the part of the movement.
Thank you for your kind attention.
On behalf of Japan, I am honored to address this commemorative session, the 61st session of the COPUOS. As the Chairperson of the 54th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, I am content that the UNISPACE+50 High-level segment and the Symposium were a great success. I praise the OOSA, the members of the bureau of the COPUOS, its subsidiary bodies “G-15” and Steering Committee of the UNISPACE+50 for the continued effort up till today.
Japan is of the view that the COPUOS and the OOSA have played an important role in fostering international cooperation in outer space. Together with COPUOS and OOSA, Japan has been actively engaged in the capacity building of emerging and diversified spacefaring actors. Lead by the emerging actors, the types of activities are increased. To support and further enhance both new and existing activities, Japan believes a rule of law in outer space is integral for safe, stable and sustainable space activities. The new business ideas are emerging, including actions on the space debris. We support the “Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities” and encourage all Member States to play a constructive role towards its swift finalization next week.
Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates,
For the furtherance of the space capacity, Japan believes in the power of the international cooperation. Let me introduce some examples of our international cooperation.
The International Space Exploration Forum, the ISEF, is the first ministerial-level forum to discuss the vision of future space exploration programs and it coordinates global space exploration effort. The United States hosted the first ISEF in 2014 and the European Commission and the European Space Agency initiated a dialogue, which was held in Italy in 2011. On 3rd of March in this year, Japan hosted the ISEF2 in Tokyo. We welcomed the ministers and the head of agencies from 45 countries and organizations. We have three outcome documents, which were “Principles for International Space Exploration,” “ISEF2 Joint Statement” and “ISEF Terms of Reference.” Japan would like to express appreciation to supports for this forum from many countries and organizations.
At the regional level, Japan supports the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, APRSAF, which is the largest space-related conference started in 1993. APRSAF enhances space activities and supports the furtherance of the socio-economic benefits derived from space. The APRSAF-24 was successfully held from last November 14 to 17 in Bengaluru. The discussions during the four day meeting covered possibilities of future cooperation in the region, contribution of space technology to the SDGs, space policy in each country, and benefits of space exploration to the region, which were summarized in the “Joint Statement.” In the Bengaluru, I was also a moderator of Heads of Agency Session. Moreover, we were lucky enough to have the Director of OOSA, Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo, joining the session “Space Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region.” This year, the APRSAF-25 will be held in Singapore from November 6 to 9. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there.
Here comes another gentle reminder. For those who have a spare time in this evening, please join us at the side event hosted by APRSAF and European Space Policy Institute, ESPI, from 6:30. This event invites space policy experts in the Asia-Pacific and Europe as panelists to explore what actions should be taken to make use of space for socioeconomic development.
Last but not least, the KiboCUBE. KiboCUBE offers an educational or research institution from an emerging UN members the opportunity to deploy a cube satellite, a CubeSat, of which the institution develops and manufactures, from the International Space Station, ISS, Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo. The program started in September 2015 as a dedicated collaboration between the UNOOSA and JAXA, utilizing the ISS for the world. Kenya won the first opportunity in and the first Kenyan satellite has been successfully deployed. On May 11th this year, Ms. Amina Mohamed, the Cabinet Secretary for Education in Kenya, witnessed the deployment in Tsukuba Space Center in Japan. She stated that the satellite will contribute to the socio-economic development of Kenya including the disaster mitigation. Japan is also convinced that this experience benefits the space capacity of Kenya, while positively evolving the society as a whole. Dr. Norishige Kanai, the Japanese astronaut who recently completed the 168-day mission in the ISS, was in charge of the deployment of the Kenyan satellite. Dr. Kanai carried out numerous missions mainly related to medical research by exploiting his background as a doctor. The research contributes to understanding and treating age-related symptoms.
Furthermore, I would like to congratulate the Republic of Mauritius for winning the wonderful opportunity, which was announced on the first day of the UNISPACE+50 Symposium along with the extension of the JAXA-OOSA MOU for the KiboCUBE.
Let me introduce the recent space activities of Japan. Japan launched H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.35, 36, 37, 38, 39, the third Epsilon Launch Vehicle and SS-520 No. 5 in the past year. In the coming week, the second asteroid probe “Hayabusa 2” is on the way to arrive at an asteroid “Ryugu,” of which “Hayabusa 2” detected in February. Up till today, four satellites of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, QZSS, have been launched and the operation of the constellation starts in this year. The QZSS is a Japanese navigation satellite system, which improves an area and time of the GPS coverage. Japan hosted the 12th meeting of International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, ICG, in Kyoto in December last year.
Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,
Space exploration and utilization have yielded tremendous scientific, economic and societal benefits. We shall continue our effort for the better society. Now, what could be our next step towards the better future? One thing for sure is the deepened and strengthened international cooperation. Japan recognizes the COPUOS has been the driver of the international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. I encourage all the members and observers to be the part of the movement.
Thank you for your kind attention.