Benefits of Support to University Space Projects - UNISEC Challenges
- Paper number
IAC-07-E3.1.05
- Author
Ms. Rei Kawashima, UNISEC, Japan
- Coauthor
Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Year
2007
- Abstract
University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC) is a non profit organization established for the purpose of facilitating and promoting student space projects at university level. It has dedicated to supporting student space projects in Japan such as nano-satellites and hybrid rockets. UNISEC currently has 32 university members with more than 400 students. Outputs of the activities have been remarkable. Five nano-satellites made by students were successfully launched into the orbit since 2003, and two nano-satellites are to be launched using Indian Rocket in 2007. It is possible to say that effectiveness of hands-on training in space engineering education has been proved. From educational point of view, it is no doubt that UNISEC activities are useful, but how they are useful for society has not been examined yet. This paper examines socio-economic benefits of support to university space projects and discusses how it could be applied to developing countries. In order to uncover how UNISEC activities influence societies, firstly brief history of UNISEC activities will be introduced. Secondly, recent changes related to UNISEC activities, which include emerging small private space companies in Japan, will be analyzed. Thirdly, what these changes mean will be discussed from socio-economic point of view. Although the situations in developing countries are not the same, our experiences and essences of support to university space projects might be helpful when they decide to facilitate student real space projects. UNISEC respects raison d'etre of each university and each area’s own cultural background and language. Our purpose is to facilitate and motivate students to challenge and pursue real space projects. In Japan, it can be said that our attempt was successful because the number of students and universities involved in the real space projects dramatically increased in a few years. Next challenge would be to support others who have same intention in other areas on this planet as well as continuing our efforts in Japan. In this paper, UNISEC activities will be introduced and socio-economic influence will be examined, followed by discussion of possibility and validity to apply UNISEC activities to developing countries.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E3.1.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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