In December last year, the government adopted a proposal to work toward participating in the international manned exploration of the moon. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of mankind first setting foot on the moon in 1969, under the United States' Apollo program. The most recent manned exploration of the moon was in 1972 -- so why is the prospect of launching another manned mission to the moon gaining steam now? What is the significance of Japan's participation in such an international effort? We asked the opinions of three experts in the field.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2018)
A foothold to reaching Mars, other planets
Takao Doi / Astronaut, Professor at Kyoto University
Seen through the window of the Space Shuttle Columbia as it left Earth on Nov. 20, 1997, the rounded horizon of our planet gave off soft blue light against the blackness of space. Below was an expanse of white clouds and blue ocean.
It was a moving sight, far more beautiful than what I had seen in photos. It was also an incredible experience to be the first Japanese person to engage in extravehicular activity in space.
As one of the people who has directly touched the splendor of space, I am delighted that Japan has decided to participate in the U.S.-led plan for manned exploration of the moon. If a path to the moon is opened for a Japanese astronaut, that would be greatly inspiring for young people. Even I would be eager to take on the challenge if I had the chance.
Japan has cultivated a variety of technologies related to manned space exploration through projects such as space shuttle-based extravehicular activities and participation in the International Space Station.
We have also made significant contributions to the ISS project, including performing scientific experiments in space and developing the transportation technology for the Kounotori unmanned cargo transporter launched by an H-2B rocket, and earned the trust of other nations. Another such operation was the construction of Kibo, Japan's module for experimentation on the ISS.
The extension of the ISS mission to 2024 has been confirmed, but whether it will continue after that has yet to be decided. However, with the technology that has been accumulated thus far, I believe human beings will soon be ready to move forward to the next stage of space exploration. This will involve people traveling further away from the space near Earth to bodies such as the moon and Mars. Our arrival at the moon and other planets in our solar system will herald the beginning of a new age of space exploration that will open up a new world for mankind.
After serving as an astronaut, I joined Kyoto University as a professor, where I founded a new field called "human spaceology." The goal of these studies is to systematically research what is required for mankind to expand its activities into space and create sustainable communities there in the future.
Mankind faces many challenges that must be overcome for human beings to explore other planets and live in space. For example, in order to reach other planets, astronauts would need to stay in space for several years at a time, much longer than they currently stay on the space shuttle and the ISS. The effects that space radiation and weightlessness could have on astronauts over several years are still unknown.
Supplies such as food are regularly transported from Earth to the ISS, which orbits Earth at an altitude of 400 kilometers. However, necessary goods cannot easily be transported to a spacecraft headed for the moon or another planet. It is essential that we have the means to secure the necessities of life, such as food, water and fuel, while in space. Through my research, I also want to make a contribution to the manned exploration of the moon and mankind's ability to reach other planets.
Although the manned exploration of the moon as a whole will be led by the United States, there must also be a part that is led by Japan. Japanese technology will surely be of use. In this way, Japan can further its contribution to the interests of mankind and the world.
It is essential for our government to work toward a concrete vision of future manned space activities through participation in this U.S.-led initiative. We should immediately begin nurturing the next generation of personnel needed for an era of manned space exploration.
-- Selected in 1985, along with Mamoru Mori and Chiaki Mukai, as one of Japan's first astronauts under the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). Participated in spaceflight missions in 1997 and 2008. He is 63.
(This interview was conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Yoshiaki Takeuchi.)
Not joining mission would be disadvantageous
Ichiro Fujisaki / Former Ambassador to the United States
Although Japan does possess the technology for space exploration, the prospect of this nation engaging in a manned mission by itself is not financially realistic. Japan's participation would require a framework in which various nations cooperate with one another in the field of space exploration, as they do on the International Space Station (ISS).
During the administration of President Barack Obama, the United States expressed its intention to work toward launching a manned mission to Mars on its own. Emerging nations such as China and India are also developing their own rockets and have begun to work toward engaging in manned space exploration. In recent years, the framework of international cooperation in the field of space exploration had become less clear.
The situation changed last spring, however, after the Trump administration came to power, when the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced a plan to create a "Deep Space Gateway" (see below), a manned space station in orbit around the moon. Russia announced its plan to cooperate in September, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence declared immediately afterward that the United States would once again send astronauts to the moon.
At a Japan-U.S. summit in November last year, the two nations agreed to work to advance space exploration. A panel of experts assembled by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry on space exploration, chaired by myself, agreed on the importance of proceeding in this direction and released a summary report stating that Japan should consider the manned exploration of the moon via participation in such efforts.
Scientific research is not the only goal of manned exploration of the moon. From examining the effects of life on the moon on the human body to searching for resources for fuel there, the moon is the first step for mankind toward the exploration of the more distant areas of space. It does not make sense to work toward manned explorations of other planets and celestial bodies without first tackling the moon. Because of this, even as the leadership of the United States changes in the future, it is unlikely to change this element of its strategy again.
Just as nations such as Portugal and Spain searched for new, unknown continents during the Age of Exploration, the current trend of nations working toward the exploration of space cannot be stopped. Nations that miss the boat on this won't be able to participate in the making of the rules as a new framework is created, and it will be extremely difficult for them to join later. Japan might be excluded from having a say in important space-related issues, and China could take its place.
There are also times when speed is important to diplomacy. We cannot allow a regrettable situation to occur in which Japan is left behind because it failed to join the efforts in time. However, careful discussion is essential regarding large amounts of funds. Japan's annual budget for ISS-related activities is approximately 40 billion yen. A reasonable first step would be to keep expenditures within that range.
The leaders of other nations see their relationships with Japan in terms of efforts to deal with individual issues, such as security and the economy, and in terms of joint collaboration plans. International cooperation in space presents great advantages on the diplomatic front.
The International Space Exploration Forum, to be held in Tokyo this March, will feature discussions of fundamental issues such as future space exploration-related activities and resource utilization in various nations. There will also be events for students and young people who are interested in space. It is my hope that as the host country, Japan will take a strong leading role in defining the future of international space exploration.
-- President of the America-Japan Society. Joined the Foreign Ministry in 1969 and served as ambassador to the United States from May 2008 to November 2012. Serves as chair of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry's committee on international space exploration. He is 70.
(This interview was conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Sho Funakoshi.)
-- Deep Space Gateway
A plan to build a base, equipped with facilities such as living space for astronauts and robot arms, in orbit around the moon by the late 2020s. It is intended to serve as a base for exploration of the moon's surface and a relay point for a future manned exploration of Mars. Japan is scheduled to continue its participation in the ISS project until 2024, and its participation in the Deep Space Gateway is scheduled to become the mainstay of Japan's manned exploration efforts from 2025.
Space has power to bring hearts together
Hiroto Kawabata / Author
In our everyday lives, we usually think only about what's happening within a radius of a few meters of ourselves. In the near future, however, we may look at the moon and think, "There are Japanese people up there." Isn't that exciting? That's the feeling of the range of our thoughts suddenly leaving Earth and spreading toward new horizons. The moon can be seen every day with the naked eye, and I believe it's very easy to grasp as humankind's first step toward exploring the larger universe.
We think of Japan as a leading nation in space, but that's not necessarily the case. Just 10 years ago, some experts were saying that China's technology was unstable and couldn't compare to that of Japan, but in the blink of an eye, Japan was surpassed. Now, with a wide variety of nations beginning to take part, such as India and the United Arab Emirates, what is not done by Japan will ultimately be done by others. Japan, currently still playing a leading role, doesn't have the option of refraining from playing a part.
A large movement toward space exploration will certainly result in the birth of a generation influenced by it. In Japan, the children who were captivated as elementary or junior high school students by the return to Earth of the Hayabusa asteroid probe have gone to university and are joining the workforce. There is no doubt young pioneers will arrive to advance the field of space exploration.
There are surely others who have been enthralled by the activities of astronauts such as Mamoru Mori and Takao Doi as well. Manned exploration of the moon is a way to send a positive message directly to the children of the next generation.
Space has the power to bring hearts together regardless of nationality. Even if our religions and values differ, we can still look up into space together. A person from Guatemala whom I interviewed said: "I don't like the United States, but the Apollo program is incredible. It will be written in the history of mankind even 1,000 years from now." Japan's participation is also meaningful as a part of human history.
In the field of space exploration, manned missions carry a symbolic meaning, and they are also essential for maintaining people's interest in space-related development. However, we must carefully analyze whether such a large investment will generate an appropriate return.
There are various possible benefits, from the educational effects on children and students to the amount of resources that can be excavated from the moon and the economic ripple effects on the space industry, but they must all be represented with data and discussed.
I believe reaching out toward unknown frontiers such as space is a part of human nature and cannot be stopped. However, when human activity spreads to Mars and becomes self-sustaining there, the evolution of humans and other organisms there may begin to follow a different path from that on Earth. I believe such possibilities should be explored from a bioethical point of view as well.
I've written stories about the near future, including space and rockets, and I feel that reality is slowly beginning to catch up with novels. It's a hope of mine to visit the moon someday and write the first "non-science fiction moon novel."
-- A former reporter for Nippon TV, responsible for covering subjects including the former Science and Technology Agency and the Meteorological Agency. Author of many space-related novels and nonfiction works, including "Natsu no Rocket" (Rocket in summer) and "Aoi Umi no Uchuko" (Space port in the blue sea). He is 53.
(This interview was conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Sho Funakoshi.)
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