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
