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 I believe that space development ought to be pursued through international collaboration.
The International Space Station is a good example. It will take another few years to complete its construction, but it is expected to be a great laboratory. We must continue to collaborate with other countries on launches, supply missions and crewing. I also think it important for each participating country to suggest and pursue new research on board the ISS.
During the Cold War, competition between the United States and the former Soviet Union accelerated space development. Today it is time for the world to think about space development together, as one. The United States and Russia are collaborating on the International Space Station, with Japan and Europe also involved. I hope these relationships among countries will be further reinforced in the future.
The Earth Observation Summit is an example of the trend toward international collaboration. Leaders from around the world gather to discuss how we can repair Earth's environment, which has been damaged by humans. There are many ways space can be used for this, and we believe Japan's space technology can contribute a great deal to the goals agreed on at the summit, as well as to the International Space Station program.
Meanwhile, more and more Asian nations have been showing an interest in space. As a leading Asian country in the field, Japan must encourage these countries to collaborate rather than competing for hegemony.
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The question of manned space development needs to be addressed not just by JAXA but by the Japanese government. Two years ago, the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office made a decision not to pursue manned space development for the time being. Last September, however, they reconsidered, and decided that Japan should conduct research towards this goal after all. The speed of this development will depend on the money allocated to it. Based on the scale of JAXA's current budget it will be impossible.
China's success in manned space flight in October 2003 is a result of ten years of great effort. I do not know their exact budget, but I am sure that a great amount was invested. With JAXA's current budget, it is very unlikely that we will be able to send a person to space. If Japan wishes to accomplish a manned space flight someday, the government will have to decide to invest a certain amount of funds.
Meanwhile, there is widespread belief that China's successful manned space flight has greatly increased the effectiveness and reliability of its entire space program. The work involved in executing something of this magnitude can potentially improve every aspect of a country's space development. This is another argument in favor of Japan's pursuit of manned space fight.
At my age space travel would be difficult, but it would be a wonderful experience for future generations. I hope it will be possible someday, since dreams of going to space - or traveling to a new world - are infinite. In the 20th century, humanity's dream of flying came true, and manned rockets were sent into space. Such progress was made incredibly quickly. If we can continue this pace of scientific discovery, the day may not be so far off when ordinary people will travel to space. |
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