The first is an analysis of the current state of Japan's space program. One of the unique characteristics of the SDF is that we are attempting to do this using the social sciences-economics, business administration, law and so on.
Thirteen years have passed since people started to say that Japan's rapid economic growth had come to an end, and that the country had lost is sense of direction. This has very much affected Japan's space program.
The end of rapid economic growth has caused tax revenues to fall, and thus government expenditures have come under great scrutiny. Though Japan's space program has always been financed solely by government funds, we cannot afford to maintain this framework under the circumstances. It is essential that JAXA become more accountable to the general public for its expenditures, while looking for new sources of funding. Proper accountability requires more disclosure and appropriate evaluation procedures based on accurate information. We have been conducting research on JAXA's policies and action in this area.
In addition, Japan needs to establish ways to bring private investment into its space program. We have been researching potential markets for the "space equipment industry," which manufactures such things as rocket and satellite components, and for the "space utilization industry," which provides a variety of services using information collected by artificial satellites and other space equipment.
We are also studying concrete measures to increase funding, including: 1) providing JAXA's resources to other organizations, including privatization and spin-offs; 2) marketing JAXA's services, such as satellite missions and the use of the International Space Station by the public; 3) allowing organizations other than JAXA to participate in space development, including the manufacture, launch and servicing of small satellites, the sale of services made possible by large satellites, and the realization of space travel.
The loss of a sense of direction is a serious problem for Japan's space program today. Japan has strived to catch up with and overtake the United States in the field of space development. As Japan has successfully manufactured and launched its own satellites, it can be said that its space program has been successful to some extent. However, no clear aims or reasons for the continuation of space development have been presented to the general public. Also, it seems that the lack of a clear vision has led to the planning of a great many space projects. As a result, precious human and financial resources are dispersed in too many directions, resulting in the gradual disintegration of once-established technologies and in deteriorating staff morale.
This lack of any clear vision also means that evaluation criteria for space projects are ambiguous, which is one of the reasons it is not easy for the general public to recognize what space development is all about. We have been considering all aspects of Japan's space program to come up with a clear vision for its future.
