Specifics of Space Cooperation Potential Between Japan and India (IAC-16-E3.1.9)

Space activities in the Asia Pacific region have been increasingly developing and diversifying. Many nations have sought to acquire indigenous space capabilities for a wide variety of reasons. Active commercial and security space activities can also be seen in this region. Asian nations also dream to explore the unknown in outer space by promoting space science and exploration. International space cooperation has also been considered as a key element in developing space activities in this region. In this context, the University of Tokyo (UoT) and National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) have conducted a joint research on regional space policy and programs, especially focusing on policy analysis on space policies in Japan and India as a first step. A recent study by UoT and NIAS has explored lot of commonalities and uniqueness in space policies of the two nations. These commonalities and uniqueness in space policies offer potential opportunities for future space collaboration between the two. As leading spacefaring nations, Japan and India have been playing a key role in developing space activities in the Asia Pacific region. By cooperating together, Japan and India will be able to identify and advance regional common interests in space activities in the region. In particular, recent space policies in Japan and India have placed emphasis on space applications for societal needs such as communication, remote sensing, positioning, and so on. Japan-Indian cooperation in this area will contribute to social development in the Asia Pacific region by complementing and supplementing regional space capabilities. On the other hand, Japan and India have also had substantial experiences in space science and exploration. In this regard, Japan-India joint space mission will also be a potential item for future cooperation and will be a great boost to space science and exploration activities at a regional and global level. A third pillar of collaboration is for industry-to-industry tie-ups and development of commons in space industry in the two nations. Space industrial capabilities in both nations can jointly be involved to develop and offer unique space services in applications of earth observation, satellite communications, disaster management, and security, and undertake joint manufacturing activities. Based on the analysis of the commonalities and uniqueness in space program of Japan and India, this paper examines and explores in detail potential ”mission" opportunities for space cooperation between the two nations. Hopefully, these identifications will help Japan-India space cooperation in the future

Policy Analysis: Space Programmes of Japan And India

Today, increasing number of counties in the Asia Pacific region is using outer space with various purposes. Many countries are also aspiring to acquire indigenous capability for space activities. Moreover, increasing private/commercial activities are seen in this region, which is creating competition in the market for technology, applications and services. Security needs are also major drivers of space activity in many countries. Under the umbrella of Space Policy and LawNetwork in Asia Pacific (SPLANAP), University of Tokyo (Japan) and National Institute of Advanced Studies (India) have taken up a joint study to research and prepare a report on space policies of the Asia Pacific region, especially including Japan, India and many other space faring nations in this region. As the first step of this joint project, the team has undertaken a comparative analysis of space policies in Japan and India. Japan and India are leading space faring countries in this region. In Japan, promoting advanced technology inn ovation and scientific research has been the major policy objective. In addition, space utilization, as well as industrialization of spaceare also primary drivers for the space policy objectives since the enactment of Basic Space Law in 2008. In this rega rd, Japan has faced policy challenges regarding how to promote space utilization and industrialization and how to coordinate policies and goals of various stakeholders. There is a compelling need for a new thinking for space strategy based on the recent changes in Japan’s space policy. On the other hand, India has long history in “space for national development” and has actively used space systems like communication satellite and remote sensing satellite to meet various social needs, which include disaster monitoring, natural resources management, tele-education, tele-medicine, national communication, navigation services and so on. India has also developed some mechanism for policy coordinating between space agency and user organization. In recent years, India has also actively pursued space exploration program, including ambition for human space flight. In a recent study by NIAS, a clear need for a comprehensive national space policy in India has been established. In this context, this paper presents the results of the comparison of space policies and governances in Japan and India and examine commonalities/differences, characteristic, relative strengths/challenges. This comparative analysis contributes to clearly identifying policy challenges faced by the both nations and getting clue to resolving those challenge

Assessment of Space Programs and Policies for Regional Cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region

International space cooperation in the Asia Pacific region have entered a new stage. Today a lot of nations in this region have actively developed space capabilities, and have come to use them for a variety of purposes. In addition to the long-experienced spacefaring nations such as Japan, India, and China, many emerging nations like Malaysia, Philippine, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, etc., have made active efforts to develop space technology and applications and to undertake their space programs. Such space applications as earth observation, satellite communication, and positioning emerged in this region have tremendous potentials as a driving force for peaceful development and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region in many facets: disaster management, climate change study, national and regional security, environment management, agriculture, urban planning, geospatial program, land management, as well as the advancement of science and technology. Against this backdrop, many nations also seek to establish national space policy with an aim to set out the vision and goals of nation’s space programs. The University of Tokyo and National Institute of Advanced Studies have created a research network, Space Policy and Law Network in Asia Pacific (SPLANAP), among researchers and experts in the Asia Pacific region and started a research project to examine space policy and program directions in the region. In particular, as the first step of this research project, a comparative analysis of space programs and policy perspectives in Japan and India has been taken up to examine commonalities and uniqueness in space policies of both nations and to identify potential opportunities for the future cooperation between the two nations. Based on the previous work in this research project, this study aims to move to the next phase of the research and to extend the scope of the analysis by including several other nations, such as Malaysia, Philippine, and Singapore. While updating information on the recent developments in space programs and policy in Japan and India, as well as adding new analyses from the perspectives of the above mentioned three nations, this study will examine common interests and potential opportunities for regional space cooperation from a wider point of view