Space Japan Review 8 - 9
No.48 August / September 2006
Thermal Vacuum Test using Structure and Thermal Test Model of SmartSat-1 | Contents
Executive Comments "However, to facilitate the growth and take the satellite community to the next level, we need to raise awareness among regulators in the Asia Pacific region, and get the region's regulators to work together on satellite liberalization, which has yet to be accomplished." President Koh of the APSCC, Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council, gives an executive comment for the Space Japan Review. In 2007, our AIAA JFSC will be co-organizing the 25th AIAA International Communications Satellite Systems Conference (ICSSC 2007) with the APSCC.
Interview with CEO
Report In cooperation with space-related organizations and private sector, The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has been promoting a timely and cost-effective on-orbit demonstration series using small satellites, called SmartSat. NICT and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) have been planning a unique small-satellite mission called SmartSat-1. SmartSat-1 consists of about 250kg weighted mini satellite, which can be launched in a piggyback manner. SmartSat-1 will be launched into a geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO). We plan to demonstrate basic technologies for satellite communications such as advanced satellite communications and high-performance on-board image processing technologies." The REPORT introduces the present status of the NICT's SmartSat project.
Space Japan Opinion Since the Bush government presented the new space exploration vision other nations will have to decide which position to take. The Shakespearian question of "to be or not to be" simply translates into participate or not. Is it really so simple? - one might wonder!
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