Q. What is the role of space development in the industrial world?
Skills and technologies are advanced by the drive for higher reliability and performance. In that sense, space development holds great potential, as it is on the cutting edge of such a wide range of technologies. I also think that it is meaningful and attractive for young people to get involved in projects that contribute to our future.
In the world of manufacturing, we build systems by incorporating and linking together different technologies. The study of the design and efficiency of the whole system is called systems engineering. In Japan, this discipline has been established thanks to the space program, in particular rocket and satellite development. I think this is a remarkable contribution that the space program has made to our manufacturing sector.
Space is the leading industry of the 21st century, and has great impact on the entire economy. It is no longer just a research field; we have reached the stage of efficient space utilization and industrialization. As a first step, the privatization of the H-IIA launch vehicle began in 2007, and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and GX rocket are under development as a public-private partnership.
Space technologies for observation, monitoring, and positioning are becoming more and more essential to protect our citizens against terrorism or missile attacks, global environmental problems, and large-scale disasters. Given the importance of space development, we would like to contribute further to Japan's space industry.
Q. How do you think Japan should maximize the current budget to enhance its global competitiveness?
I think the key to strong global competitiveness lies in improving reliability and reducing costs by building many rockets and satellites. More precisely, Japan should improve the reliability of its satellites by sequentially extending models of the same satellite family, and expanding their applications. Also, it would be good to provide a lineup of small, medium, and large satellites to accommodate various user needs. When the H-IIA rocket was considered unproven technology, there was no demand for it in the global market. Now, however, its reliability has reached over 90 per cent, excluding causes beyond our control such as weather, thanks to a string of successful and punctual launches. To launch a rocket as scheduled, tens of thousands of rocket, satellite, and ground-facility components have to be perfect. It is quite a challenge, and it takes world-class technology. I think Japan needs to continue to enhance its satellite and rocket technologies, as well as its launch flexibility and independence. Also, as with the European Ariane rocket, public and private sector entities should work together on competitiveness and advancement of Japan's space industry.
Q. Recently, China and India have made a big commitment to space development. What does Japan need to do to provide leadership in the field in Asia?
I believe that Japan can play a significant leadership role. For example, at space conferences in the Asia region, there are always references to Japan's contribution of disaster data. Unfortunately, Japan is a country with the greatest frequency of natural disasters in the world, so we have accumulated a lot of data. One result of this is that the Earth observation satellite ALOS, for example, is able to contribute to global disaster monitoring. I hope that its imagery, combined with more advanced information, will be more widely available in the future. Also, if it becomes possible to provide software and systems customized for different countries, Japan will be able to make more international contributions as a leader in Asia. I think that Japan can take a greater leadership role in Asia by presenting ideas for data applications. Collaborative research and development, personnel exchange, and development of human resources are particularly important in the Asia region. JAXA is a core member of Sentinel Asia, which aims to share disaster data among Asian countries. Through such projects, I'd like to see Japanese technology and experience play a bigger role in international cooperation.
Q. JAXA has opened the Space Education Center to focus on educational activities. What do you think of these efforts?
I've heard that the center offers educational programs on space and support for schools and teachers across Japan. I think this is a great idea. It is often said that students increasingly dislike science, but in my opinion, it is important to create the right learning environment for children, rather than just trying to fill them with knowledge. In the right environment, children can become familiar with plants and living beings by running through the fields or mountains, or by playing in a stream, for example. This is the heart of science. I also believe that teaching science should be done by those who can provide such an environment, and enjoy such activities. It is very important to create environments for children to learn by getting their hands dirty, not just from textbooks.
I also think that space education materials provide young people with a chance to think about the importance of life and of our planet. To get a comprehensive picture of global warming, for instance, we need to make observations from space. I think that both global views from space and local views should be incorporated in education.
Q. Were you interested in space when you were a child?
When I was a child nobody talked about going to space. I knew from the news that Werner von Braun in Germany had created the V2 rocket, and that London had been attacked. The rocket was used not for going to space, but for military attack. As for flying to space, what I remember from my childhood is a story by the science fiction author Jules Verne, in which a rocket hits a target on the Moon. So, instead of dreaming of going to space, I aspired to go to Africa and become a professional big-game hunter, influenced by the novels of Juzo Unno and Minetaro Yamanaka. I grew up in such a time.
