The Latest Space Basic Plan in Japan –Its Features and Implication

Paper number

IAC-15,E7,5,10,x29134

Author

Prof. Yasuaki Hashimoto, The National Institute for Defense Studies, Japan

Year

2015

Abstract

Japanese Government approved the third Space Basic Plan in January, 2015. Before this Space Basic Plan, the first Basic Plan was made for the first time in 2009 and the second one was made in 2013. Since Japan established its Space Basic Law in 2008 after almost 40 years’ space development, three Space Basic Plans were set during only 7 years.

Though the second Space Basic Plan in 2013 set a Japanese space plan for 5 years, this Space Plan was revised in only 2 years later by irregular timing. However when we see the phrase “The plan will be reviewed 5 years after its formulation. However, it should be reviewed as needed based on follow-ups," this latest Space Basic Plan was the result of this “follow-ups.”
Japan set a policy of the whole state about space development and utilization by Space Basic Law in 2008. Space Basic Plans are the documents which regulate more precisely the space activities in and by Japan.

One of the features of the latest 2015 Space Basic Plan is emphasis of security use of outer space. Japanese Government decided its National Security Strategy on December 2013. This National Strategy is strongly conscious of security in outer space, cyber space as well as ocean space as Global Commons. National Security Council was established also in December, 2013, and National Security Bureau which supports NSC was made in The Cabinet Secretariat in January, 2014. It would be possible to place the latest third Space Basic Plan in this security policy making.
The present Space Basic Plan emphasizes active security use in outer space, such as increasing Information Gathering Satellites, Quasi Zenith Satellite System which supports GPS of U.S. Military Forces, cooperation with US in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and also Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) which watches the ocean from space. Additionally it includes technical research for early warning satellite system. Moreover establishment of the industrial base for such space security use is also considered.

By this report the author will review the latest Japanese Space Basic Plan and introduce the main features as well as its implication.

Abstract document

IAC-15,E7,5,10,x29134.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,E7,5,10,x29134.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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