Statement by the Head of Japanese Delegation on Agenda item 4 “General exchange of views” at the 55th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS
2018/1/29
Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Japanese delegation, I am pleased to address the 55th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS. First of all, I would like to congratulate Ms. Maruping for assuming the chair of this Subcommittee. I would also like to warmly welcome Bahrain, Denmark and Norway as new members of the Committee.
Madam Chair,
Japan is of the view that the Committee provides a unique and important platform to enhance global governance and promote international cooperation in the space field. This is especially true this year as we prepare to celebrate UNISPACE+50 where we will have the opportunity to review the Committee’s current status and chart its future role. Japan is looking forward to making positive contributions towards the preparatory work and expected outcomes of the conference. In order to ensure the success of UNISPACE+50, it is important to provide tangible inputs and highlight all the accomplishments made in the Committee. From this viewpoint, we should try to finalize the guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities in this session as scheduled in the current work plan. We believe that the finalized guidelines would represent an outstanding accomplishment to mark the 50th anniversary of the Conference. Japan is ready to make constructive contributions to this end before this symbolic event takes place.
Madam Chair,
I would like to take this opportunity to report on Japan’s recent space activities.
Japan has conducted six satellite launches using five H-IIA Launch Vehicles and a third Epsilon Launch Vehicle. Three of these satellites are named “MICHIBIKI”, which constitute a Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The QZSS is a Japanese navigation satellite system that enables us to expand positioning availability areas and extend available time by sharing the same signals as GPS. Japan established a constellation of 4 satellites and will begin its formal operation this year.
In the area of human space flight, Japanese astronaut, Norishige Kanai started a long-duration mission on the International Space Station last December. Through his medical background as a doctor, Dr. Kanai’s expedition will address the unique issue of health longevity that modern society faces. During his stay until this June, he plans to conduct various experiments, some of which aim to elucidate the structure and mechanism of amyloid fibril, a known cause of Alzheimer’s disease, and protein crystal growth experiment. These missions will contribute to research for understanding and treating symptoms related to aging.
Madam Chair,
I would now like to touch upon some frameworks of international cooperation. The first is the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF), which is an open and flexible cooperative framework in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance space activities and gain socio-economic benefits from space technologies and their applications. Last November from 14th to 17th, the 24th session of APRSAF was successfully held in Bengaluru, India under the overall theme of “Space Technology for Enhanced Governance and Development”. APRSAF-24 was attended by over 530 participants from 31 countries and regions including nine heads and deputy heads of space agencies in the Asia-Pacific region. The attendees shared common issues and interests in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed their high expectations of the Forum toward building a cooperative framework to solve social issues, as summarized in the "Joint Statement”. Discussions during the four-day meeting covered the possibility of future cooperation in the region, contribution of space technology to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, space policy in each country, and benefits of space exploration to the region.
Japan highly appreciates the efforts of the co-organizers, the Department of Space of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation, and will continue to contribute to the promotion of such regional collaborations. This year, we are planning to hold APRSAF-25 in Singapore in November.
As another framework of global cooperation, I would also like to highlight the International Space Exploration Forum, or ISEF. We truly appreciate the initiative of the United States for hosting the ISEF meetings in 2014 as well as the meeting that took place prior to that in Italy in 2011 as a follow up to the dialogue initiated by the European Commission and the European Space Agency. ISEF was characterized as a first ministerial-level forum to discuss the vision of our future space exploration programs. Japan believes that this forum could be a mechanism for coordinating global space exploration efforts and hopes to contribute to the development of this unique forum by hosting the 2nd meeting of ISEF on 3 March in Tokyo. In conjunction with ISEF2, side events will also be held for industry (I-ISEF) and young professionals (Y-ISEF). I-ISEF aims to promote discussion about space-related business opportunities and space exploration among both space-related and non-space related industries, and Y-ISEF provides opportunity for open discussions and networking to students and young professionals internationally.
In preparation for ISEF2, Japan decided its policy for international cooperation in the field of space exploration last year, and decided to proceed with the study of international program including technology aspects and international frameworks, taking into account the participation to the cis-lunar station program planned by the US and exploration on the Moon under international cooperation. We are looking forward to active discussions on future space exploration.
Madam Chair,
I will end my statement by reiterating that Japan will continue to cooperate for the peaceful exploration and use of outer space in close cooperation with COPUOS.
Thank you for your attention.
On behalf of the Japanese delegation, I am pleased to address the 55th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS. First of all, I would like to congratulate Ms. Maruping for assuming the chair of this Subcommittee. I would also like to warmly welcome Bahrain, Denmark and Norway as new members of the Committee.
Madam Chair,
Japan is of the view that the Committee provides a unique and important platform to enhance global governance and promote international cooperation in the space field. This is especially true this year as we prepare to celebrate UNISPACE+50 where we will have the opportunity to review the Committee’s current status and chart its future role. Japan is looking forward to making positive contributions towards the preparatory work and expected outcomes of the conference. In order to ensure the success of UNISPACE+50, it is important to provide tangible inputs and highlight all the accomplishments made in the Committee. From this viewpoint, we should try to finalize the guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities in this session as scheduled in the current work plan. We believe that the finalized guidelines would represent an outstanding accomplishment to mark the 50th anniversary of the Conference. Japan is ready to make constructive contributions to this end before this symbolic event takes place.
Madam Chair,
I would like to take this opportunity to report on Japan’s recent space activities.
Japan has conducted six satellite launches using five H-IIA Launch Vehicles and a third Epsilon Launch Vehicle. Three of these satellites are named “MICHIBIKI”, which constitute a Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The QZSS is a Japanese navigation satellite system that enables us to expand positioning availability areas and extend available time by sharing the same signals as GPS. Japan established a constellation of 4 satellites and will begin its formal operation this year.
In the area of human space flight, Japanese astronaut, Norishige Kanai started a long-duration mission on the International Space Station last December. Through his medical background as a doctor, Dr. Kanai’s expedition will address the unique issue of health longevity that modern society faces. During his stay until this June, he plans to conduct various experiments, some of which aim to elucidate the structure and mechanism of amyloid fibril, a known cause of Alzheimer’s disease, and protein crystal growth experiment. These missions will contribute to research for understanding and treating symptoms related to aging.
Madam Chair,
I would now like to touch upon some frameworks of international cooperation. The first is the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF), which is an open and flexible cooperative framework in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance space activities and gain socio-economic benefits from space technologies and their applications. Last November from 14th to 17th, the 24th session of APRSAF was successfully held in Bengaluru, India under the overall theme of “Space Technology for Enhanced Governance and Development”. APRSAF-24 was attended by over 530 participants from 31 countries and regions including nine heads and deputy heads of space agencies in the Asia-Pacific region. The attendees shared common issues and interests in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed their high expectations of the Forum toward building a cooperative framework to solve social issues, as summarized in the "Joint Statement”. Discussions during the four-day meeting covered the possibility of future cooperation in the region, contribution of space technology to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, space policy in each country, and benefits of space exploration to the region.
Japan highly appreciates the efforts of the co-organizers, the Department of Space of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation, and will continue to contribute to the promotion of such regional collaborations. This year, we are planning to hold APRSAF-25 in Singapore in November.
As another framework of global cooperation, I would also like to highlight the International Space Exploration Forum, or ISEF. We truly appreciate the initiative of the United States for hosting the ISEF meetings in 2014 as well as the meeting that took place prior to that in Italy in 2011 as a follow up to the dialogue initiated by the European Commission and the European Space Agency. ISEF was characterized as a first ministerial-level forum to discuss the vision of our future space exploration programs. Japan believes that this forum could be a mechanism for coordinating global space exploration efforts and hopes to contribute to the development of this unique forum by hosting the 2nd meeting of ISEF on 3 March in Tokyo. In conjunction with ISEF2, side events will also be held for industry (I-ISEF) and young professionals (Y-ISEF). I-ISEF aims to promote discussion about space-related business opportunities and space exploration among both space-related and non-space related industries, and Y-ISEF provides opportunity for open discussions and networking to students and young professionals internationally.
In preparation for ISEF2, Japan decided its policy for international cooperation in the field of space exploration last year, and decided to proceed with the study of international program including technology aspects and international frameworks, taking into account the participation to the cis-lunar station program planned by the US and exploration on the Moon under international cooperation. We are looking forward to active discussions on future space exploration.
Madam Chair,
I will end my statement by reiterating that Japan will continue to cooperate for the peaceful exploration and use of outer space in close cooperation with COPUOS.
Thank you for your attention.