Opportunities and Challenges of University Ventures in Space
- Paper number
IAC-08.E6.1.10
- Author
Dr. Yuya Nakamura, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Coauthor
Ms. Rei Kawashima, UNISEC, Japan
- Coauthor
Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Naoki Miyashita, The University of Tokyo, Japan
- Coauthor
Mr. Takashi Eishima, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Year
2008
- Abstract
In June 2003, two Japanese palm-sized satellites were put into space. They, with mass of only 1 kg, are called "CubeSat." They worked perfectly on orbit, and surprisingly have been functioning even up to now. It was students at the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Institute of Technology that elaborated the first successful CubeSats.
This epoch-making event triggered a boom of nano-satellite projects at universities all over the world. Now over 100 universities are involved in their own CubeSat projects. In addition, several private companies started such nano-satellite projects, not only as a training tool of new employees but seeking for a new business chance.
In these surroundings, we, a very first developer of CubeSat in the world, are planning to establish an entrepreneurial venture in this nano-satellites field, taking advantage of five-year experience of development.
In this paper, we will examine the opportunities and challenges that our venture company would face in the near future. One of the biggest challenge is "market" of nano-satellite because it has just begun to emerge, but we see opportunities in market of education and entertainment. Nano-satellites are maturing as educational resources for engineers. We are going to provide components and services associated with nano-satellite development for more entry-level students and engineers to learn space engineering. In parallel, we are pursuing a new usage of nano-satellites to make them more practical and beneficial to general public.
Lack of financial resources is also a big challenge. It is true that the Japanese government started to recognize the significance of financial and institutional support for university ventures. In fact, the number of university ventures in Japan is increasing rapidly and exceeded 1500 last year. The breakdown of that data, however, indicates that over 80% of them are IT-related or bio-related ventures. The reason is simple. IT-related ventures need only their brains and several computers, thus initial cost can be very small. Bio-related ventures need a single innovative finding and a patent based on it. How about space, particularly nano-satellites in turn? We can easily imagine many difficulties, such as large initial cost, limited launch opportunities at reasonable cost, failure risk, allocation of frequencies, and so on.
Although there seem to be lots of challenges and difficulties, we would like to see "opportunities," and to transform "our imaginagion to reality." Nano-satellites may not be as capable as larger satellites at this moment, but its small cost is competitive. By putting many nano-satellites into orbit, we can realize a seamless earth observation platform with lower cost than ever before. In addition, if technological breakthrough happened, analogy of downsizing in computer would be applicable to satellite.
At any rate, we would create market and would open a door to the new space business world. Entrepreneur’s contribution to space field is to create something new with "never-give-up" spirit. We understand and recognize possibilities of nano-satellites better than anyone else, and believe the opportunities to bring them to new heights.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E6.1.10.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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