COPUOS科技小委第60会期：議題3「一般発言」ステートメント（日本代表団長）
令和5年2月7日
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Scientific and Technical Subcommittee 60th Session
Japan, Agenda Item 3– “General Exchange of Views”
Mr. Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
The Japanese delegation is confident that we will have a highly successful session under your leadership, and looks forward to working with you during this important subcommittee. We also appreciate Acting Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, Mr. Niklas Hedman, and his excellent team for their exceptional work, which has made this session possible. We would also like to welcome the new members of COPUOS, Guatemala and Uzbekistan.
At the outset, Japan expresses its sincere sympathy and condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria, who were severely affected by yesterday’s earthquake. Our thoughts are with the people and families who have lost the loved ones. The Japanese government has already sent a rescue team to Türkiye and the first team has begun its operation.
Like others, Japan strongly condemns Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, which infringes upon Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.
Japan strongly urges Russia to stop the aggression and withdraw its forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders immediately.
In recent years, the number of players in the space sector including space agencies, academia, and industry has been increasing, resulting in the diversification of space activities. In such an evolving environment, Japan recognizes the importance of creating and implementing effective norms to ensure the safety, security, sustainability, and stability of outer space and we look forward to playing an active role on this issue. In this respect, Japan recalls and appreciates the efforts made by the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) of Outer Space Activities to reach consensus on its terms of reference, methods of work and workplan which has enabled us to begin the important and substantial work ahead of us. To encourage a fruitful exchange, Japan shared its national practices for implementing the LTS Guidelines during the LTSWG meeting in November 2022. Japan is committed to the success of this Working Group and is looking forward to constructive discussions in the upcoming meetings.
Mr. Chair,
I would like to take this opportunity to report on recent developments in our space activities. Since the last subcommittee, Japan has conducted three launches. This month, Japan will launch the first H3 Launch Vehicle, the next-generation Japanese flagship rocket. In the area of human spaceflight, Japanese astronaut WAKATA Koichi began a long duration mission aboard the International Space Station from October of last year.
Regarding space exploration, Japan signed the Artemis Accords in October 2020, as a political commitment to establish an internationally shared framework on various principles for civil space exploration activities and the use of outer space by national space agencies. In December 2021, Japan updated its Implementation Plan of the Basic Plan on Space Policy, aiming to land a Japanese astronaut on the moon in the late 2020s.
In the field of lunar exploration, Japan is participating in the lunar “Gateway” as part of the Artemis Program by leveraging the knowledge and technology acquired from the ISS program and space science missions.
In November 2022, Japan signed an implementing arrangement in cooperation with NASA on the moon-orbiting space station, “Gateway”. According to agreed terms, Japan will provide equipment and supplies to the Gateway, while NASA provides Japan with the opportunity to send a Japanese crew to the Gateway.
Also, on the same day, Japan has announced to participate in extending operation of the ISS until 2030 in order to demonstrate and acquire technology necessary for the Artemis Program.
Beyond lunar exploration, Japan is conducting the development of Martian Moons eXploration (MMX), targeting its launch for Japanese fiscal year 2024. Through this mission, JAXA plans to explore the two Martian Moons and bring back a sample from one of the Moons called Phobos.
Mr. Chair,
Japan has also been promoting regional space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. In May 2021, Japan announced its new cooperation with UNOOSA on the “Space Law for New Space Actors” project to support capacity building in Asia-Pacific countries for drafting their national space legislation and policy and to raise awareness of existing normative frameworks. To support the initiative, Japan held some workshops in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand together with UNOOSA last year. Through its cooperation with the Office, Japan looks forward to supporting new space actors in the region in advancing the rule of law in outer space.
I will end my statement by reiterating that Japan will continue to promote the peaceful exploration and use of outer space in close cooperation with COPUOS.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Scientific and Technical Subcommittee 60th Session
Japan, Agenda Item 3– “General Exchange of Views”
Mr. Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
The Japanese delegation is confident that we will have a highly successful session under your leadership, and looks forward to working with you during this important subcommittee. We also appreciate Acting Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, Mr. Niklas Hedman, and his excellent team for their exceptional work, which has made this session possible. We would also like to welcome the new members of COPUOS, Guatemala and Uzbekistan.
At the outset, Japan expresses its sincere sympathy and condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria, who were severely affected by yesterday’s earthquake. Our thoughts are with the people and families who have lost the loved ones. The Japanese government has already sent a rescue team to Türkiye and the first team has begun its operation.
Like others, Japan strongly condemns Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, which infringes upon Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.
Japan strongly urges Russia to stop the aggression and withdraw its forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders immediately.
In recent years, the number of players in the space sector including space agencies, academia, and industry has been increasing, resulting in the diversification of space activities. In such an evolving environment, Japan recognizes the importance of creating and implementing effective norms to ensure the safety, security, sustainability, and stability of outer space and we look forward to playing an active role on this issue. In this respect, Japan recalls and appreciates the efforts made by the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) of Outer Space Activities to reach consensus on its terms of reference, methods of work and workplan which has enabled us to begin the important and substantial work ahead of us. To encourage a fruitful exchange, Japan shared its national practices for implementing the LTS Guidelines during the LTSWG meeting in November 2022. Japan is committed to the success of this Working Group and is looking forward to constructive discussions in the upcoming meetings.
Mr. Chair,
I would like to take this opportunity to report on recent developments in our space activities. Since the last subcommittee, Japan has conducted three launches. This month, Japan will launch the first H3 Launch Vehicle, the next-generation Japanese flagship rocket. In the area of human spaceflight, Japanese astronaut WAKATA Koichi began a long duration mission aboard the International Space Station from October of last year.
Regarding space exploration, Japan signed the Artemis Accords in October 2020, as a political commitment to establish an internationally shared framework on various principles for civil space exploration activities and the use of outer space by national space agencies. In December 2021, Japan updated its Implementation Plan of the Basic Plan on Space Policy, aiming to land a Japanese astronaut on the moon in the late 2020s.
In the field of lunar exploration, Japan is participating in the lunar “Gateway” as part of the Artemis Program by leveraging the knowledge and technology acquired from the ISS program and space science missions.
In November 2022, Japan signed an implementing arrangement in cooperation with NASA on the moon-orbiting space station, “Gateway”. According to agreed terms, Japan will provide equipment and supplies to the Gateway, while NASA provides Japan with the opportunity to send a Japanese crew to the Gateway.
Also, on the same day, Japan has announced to participate in extending operation of the ISS until 2030 in order to demonstrate and acquire technology necessary for the Artemis Program.
Beyond lunar exploration, Japan is conducting the development of Martian Moons eXploration (MMX), targeting its launch for Japanese fiscal year 2024. Through this mission, JAXA plans to explore the two Martian Moons and bring back a sample from one of the Moons called Phobos.
Mr. Chair,
Japan has also been promoting regional space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. In May 2021, Japan announced its new cooperation with UNOOSA on the “Space Law for New Space Actors” project to support capacity building in Asia-Pacific countries for drafting their national space legislation and policy and to raise awareness of existing normative frameworks. To support the initiative, Japan held some workshops in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand together with UNOOSA last year. Through its cooperation with the Office, Japan looks forward to supporting new space actors in the region in advancing the rule of law in outer space.
I will end my statement by reiterating that Japan will continue to promote the peaceful exploration and use of outer space in close cooperation with COPUOS.
Thank you for your kind attention.