JAXA's Student Dispatch Program "Join Us at IAF" and its Consequences

Paper number

IAC-05-E1.3.06

Author

Ms. Eiko Ito, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Year

2005

Abstract

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), providing many outreach programs to the public, has been dispatching Japanese students to the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) every year since 1999. This program is to provide the opportunity to the next generation students to understand and learn more about space activities through IAC, one of the biggest astronautical congress once a year. The students who joined this program have had a chance to meet experts and learn the latest space trend and vision. Every year the program was modified for the better program and nearly 100 students joined this program. 

This program started as an international program offered by International Relations Department, agreed the idea of encouraging student’s participation to IAC in cooperation with International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and European Space Agency (ESA). Thanks to Education Office of ESA, well developed and coordinated program sending hundreds of students every year, there are many things that both Japanese students and JAXA’s staff to learn. The awareness of space education grew more since establishment of JAXA in October 2003, when it was consolidated to one agency dedicated to the Japanese aerospace activities. Since then, Education Group of Public Relations Department has taken part in this program to develop and coordinate with other educational outreach programs within JAXA. 

The students who have joined this program gathered from all over Japan started to communicate and create wide and strong student’s space society in Japan further more than before. This movement leads the meeting with students and Executive Directors of JAXA to exchange their opinions freely for the future space activities. After 6 years’ small but keep-on works done by International Relations Department and Public Relations Department of JAXA, the students’ network is now leading the student’s activities at IAC in Fukuoka, Japan. 

Regarding the cooperation with ESA’s student participation programme, JAXA intend to cooperate as one of the international space education activator and as a host country this year. The JAXA staff has received the chance to study at International Space University (ISU)/Master of Space Management (MSM) 04/05 under the theme of “Space Education,” and joins Education Office of ESA as an internship to prepare the student’s programme at IAC this year.

Through the continuous work done related to JAXA’s student dispatch program “Join us at IAF” and the consequence of its activities, this paper describes what JAXA gained and can provide for the future educational outreach activities. 

Abstract document

IAC-05-E1.3.06.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-E1.3.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.