Launch of Joint Demonstration of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO
“The First Sunrise from Space
〜THE SPACE SUNRISE LIVE 2021〜”
November 24, 2020 (JST)
Bascule Inc.
National Research & Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Bascule Inc. (Representative Director: Masayoshi Boku, hereinafter “Bascule”) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (President: Hiroshi Yamakawa, hereinafter “JAXA”) will commence a joint demonstration of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO*1 that has been established at the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” in the International Space Station (ISS) to connect space and the Earth interactively, as a project of the JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation (J-SPARC)*2. The second live streaming will be conducted between December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021.
In August 2020, the first technical demonstration of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO was conducted successfully using a distinctive interactive live streaming system between the ISS and the Earth. The second live streaming will be implemented as a J-SPARC joint demonstration with the aim of gaining and enhancing recognition of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO. The theme of the second live streaming is “The First Sunrise from Space ~THE SPACE SUNRISE LIVE 2021~.” Through having a shared experience to spend New Year in space, this joint demonstration aims to create opportunities for people to gain and enhance knowledge about space by obtaining data on people’s interests in and reactions to space.
Key visual of the second live streaming of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO © The Space
Frontier Studio KIBO
Activities and visions for operationalization of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO
[Feature of J-SPARC Joint Demonstration]
The joint demonstration features collaboratively demonstrating new technology and contents as space media business by Bascule and JAXA in cooperation with three Bascule’s demonstration partners such as Twitter Japan (Representative Director and President: Yu Sasamoto), Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Ltd. (President: Jorge Garduno), Pokémon Company (President and CEO: Tsunekazu Ishihara). Feasibility as business model and diversification of business development (entry from new business fields) will be verified.
(1) Real-time Intercommunication with Astronaut Noguchi
A display that connects space and the Earth interactively sends tweets to Astronaut Soichi Noguchi based in the ISS and provides opportunities for people to communicate in real-time while checking their facial expressions each other. At the moment of countdown to and the first sunrise of the new year, people from both space and the Earth can share their hopes for the new year. (Joint demonstration partner: Twitter Japan)
Image of real-time intercommunication with Astronaut Soichi Noguchi
© The Space Frontier Studio KIBO
(2) New Year Countdown Live from Space
At the moment that ends the historic year and starts the new year, a new space experience will be provided to spend New Year while connecting space through live video streaming of a festive countdown from space. (Joint demonstration partner: Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Ltd.)
Image of countdown live streaming from space © The Space Frontier Studio KIBO
(3) Real-time AR content in space
Collaboration with live earth imagery from the ISS and Pokemon. We take on challenges for a new type of entertainment that delivers from outer space.
(Joint demonstration partner: Pokémon Company)
Bascule and the above three companies share a common goal and implement this joint demonstration to evolve “The First Sunrise from Space ~THE SPACE SUNRISE LIVE 2021~,” whose content is provided by the Space Frontier Studio KIBO, to a universal space event that is enjoyable for everyone not just in Japan but on the globe.
With an eye toward sustainable development of low Earth orbit (near-Earth outer space) including “Kibo,” JAXA addresses the expansion of private sector activities at “Kibo.” In collaboration with Bascule, which takes on the challenges of (1) to (3) above, JAXA will improve communications network that contributes to video quality, technically assist future space broadcasting business, and promote the realization of business visions of motivated companies with J-SPARC and “Kibo” utilization through safety assessment for project implementation and the installation and operation of on-orbit devices.
The Space Frontier Studio KIBO has a plan to develop content business for people across the globe with the aim of creating programs that entertain people with the Earth imagery without borders as well as connect and bring smiles to people of different nationalities, languages, generations, and genders, in collaboration with creators and companies which support this project. For details, please refer to the following website (https://kibo.space/).
[Glossary]
*1: The Space Frontier Studio KIBO project is a space media project under Space Media Business Partnerships*3 that Bascule proactively promotes two-way live streaming from “Kibo” (Phase 1) and AR image streaming (part of Phase 2). It enables us to simultaneously project the Earth imagery from the round window of “Kibo” and images on the display that are uplinked from the ground studio in real time. By utilizing the Space Frontier Studio KIBO, which can downlink images in real time, the two-way live streaming between the ISS and the ground is possible as well. On Wednesday, August 12, 2020, the world first’s technical demonstration of this system was implemented as an open experiment program, “Opening Special Program ~WE ARE KIBO CREW~,” with the participation of public audience and companies. In this program, technical demonstrations were successfully conducted to verify the interactive live streaming system between the ISS and the ground, the two-way live streaming system using unique protocols and apps in consideration of communication constraints and security, the mechanism to operate on-orbit devices (apps) installed in “Kibo” remotely from private studio outside JAXA, and the system to uplink data such as images, comments and tweets from audience over the world to the on-orbit devices by operating remotely from private studio.
KIBO Studio on the ISS (left) and the ground studio in Tokyo (right) during the first live streaming
(technical demonstration) on August 12, 2020 © Bascule / Sky Perfect JSAT
*2: JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation (J-SPARC) began with dialogues between JAXA and private enterprises seeking to launch space business. This is a new co-creation research and development program with the objective of creating space-related businesses based on new ideas with mutual commitment of both parties toward commercialization, joint consideration of business concepts, and technical development and demonstration with clear end results. The program has been implemented since May 2018 and approximately 20 projects are currently underway.
“Concept co-creation study,” based on business ideas and concepts, aims to formulate business plans targeted through activities such as market surveys and consideration of business concepts. “Joint demonstration of business,” based on business plans, targets commercialization based on pre-commercialization activities such as joint feasibility studies, joint technical development and demonstrations.
http://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/solution/j-sparc/ (Japanese Only)
*3: Space Media Business Partnerships is a project that Bascule and SKY Perfect JSAT (President & CEO: Eiichi Yonekura) promote the realization of media platform through establishing a studio in the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with JAXA as part of JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-Creation (J-SPARC), which aims to create space-related businesses through new ways of thinking.
https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2019/11/20191106a.html
<Comment from Masayoshi Boku, Representative Director, Bascule Inc.>
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“Co-creating a new value of space with talents who have not engaged in space activities” is one of the visions of the Space Frontier Studio KIBO. Amid difficult situations the world is facing now, I am extremely honored to take on a challenge to create space entertainments for everyone across the globe, with support from global companies such as Coca-Cola, Pokémon Company, and Twitter as well as Astronaut Soichi Noguchi from space. |
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<Comment from Jorge Garduno, President, Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Ltd.>
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The Purpose of the Coca-Cola Company is “Refresh the World. Make a Difference,” in other words, to hydrate the world and deliver refreshing feeling, and make a positive change. |
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<Comment from Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO, Pokémon Company>
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I am really delighted that Pokémon Company can participate in this project filled with dreams. Since space is an interesting and dreamful theme for all generations and some pokemon characters are relevant to space, I myself is thrilled with excitement about what is going to happen. While this is a very novel challenge for Pokémon Company, I believe that it can bring joys to everyone. It is my wish that all of you enjoy the beginning of 2021. |
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<Comment from Yu Sasamoto, Representative Director & President, Twitter Japan>
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It is our great pleasure that Twitter can cooperate with the JAXA-Bascule joint project, “The First Sunrise from Space ~THE SPACE SUNRISE LIVE 2021~.” While many people have enjoyed Twitter on the globe, it is very exciting that we can receive tweets from space. New Year’s celebration is the most tweeted moment of the year. I look forward to seeing Twitter is filled with tweets of Soichi Noguchi from space as well as a lot of hopes for the new year from the Earth. |
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<Comment from Yasuo Ishii, Vice President, JAXA>
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JAXA has been engaging in activities to co-create new businesses with private sector. We recognized again that new possibilities of utilization of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” have been expanding in cooperation with new partners. We hope that this initiative will forge a new path for space activities and make space utilization much more accessible for society. |
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