Space race continues

It is a common misconception amongst Japanese people that the research and development conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is uneconomical for Japan. A similar sentiment exists in the United States where some American’s think that the budget for NASA is excessive. In actual fact, the budget for NASA accounts for just 1% of American national budget where as the budget for JAXA is just 0.05% of Japanese national budget.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has been created by the European Union as the smaller European countries could not sustain a space industry on a national level. ESA has a budget of about 480 billion yen where as JAXA has a budget of approximately 230 billion yen (2.3 billion US dollars). In terms of space exploration as a national focus, Japan showing strong potential

Even though the budget for JAXA is comparatively small JAXA received the 2008 “Jack Swigert” Award for Space Exploration on April 7 in Colorado Springs USA. This award is for recognition to the association or individual who made the greatest contribution to space development. JAXA is the first non American space association to receive this award. This honor could be attributed to the efforts of JAXA staff. In order to make the aerospace industry Japan's key industry, we must develop human resources.

It’s estimated that at least 30 billion yen will be necessary to reduce the decline in human resources. But realistically, that figure won't be enough to create private-sector competition in the manufacturing of launch vehicles or satellites.
The United States and Russia can sustain their aerospace industry as some manned flights of are for the purpose in commerce. The United States is actually the only country in the world that is making a profit from the space industry. This is largely due to the involvement of their defense industry. Japan ought to establish our industry for the purposes of peaceful exploitation only.

Any reduction in budget will impact negatively for the research and development of JAXA. We must not judge the space industry in term of its current financial position but in terms of our national future.