On November 8th, the National Diet of Japan adopted a resolution to discuss the necessary steps to support the space resource industry. Japan will now join the United States and Luxembourg in developing the space resource industry.
“In The Hague, Netherlands, 17 countries and 29 organizations have already begun formulating international rules for space resource development, and our company has been the only representative from Japan,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and CEO of ispace, inc. “This resolution is Japan’s first official announcement to the international community that it has a national interest in space resource development.”
Based in Tokyo, Japan, ispace inc. is working to develop a lunar mining business to cultivate the space resource market. The space industry is estimated to reach a value of 90 billion US dollars in 2030 (Cislunar Space Economy – United Launch Alliance), and the resource market is predicted to be at its core.
The company currently manages the front running Google Lunar XPRIZE team, HAKUTO. Next year the company will send a rover to the Moon to demonstrate its micro-robotic technology for lunar exploration. In the next decade ispace plans to establish a high-frequency transportation service to the Moon and map potential resources. In the long term, the company plans to deliver extracted and processed resources to customers on and around the Moon.
ispace welcomes this timely announcement by the Japanese government, as this resolution strongly supports the company’s lunar exploration and resource development initiative.
“We hope the Japanese government will not only take the lead in the formulation of international rules, but also take any necessary political measures for the development of the space resources industry.”
Excerpt from the Resolution:
“The Supplementary Resolution attached to the Bills concerning launch and control of satellites, and ensuring adequate handling of satellite remote sensing data”
With regards to the law enforcement related to satellite launch and management as well as appropriate handling of remote sensing data, the government should cautiously consider the following:
Following the examples in the United States, the government should secure necessary personnel and strengthen the enforcement system to promote new entries. At the same time, the government should pay attention to the situation surrounding domestic and international enterprises.
The government should monitor the international movement surrounding the space resource industry, as well as discuss necessary steps to support related industries
About ispace, Inc.
ispace is a space robotics company focused on developing miniaturized technology to discover, map, and utilize resources in space. ispace designs, manufactures, and manages robotics for Team Hakuto, a front running Google Lunar XPRIZE team. ispace and Team Hakuto are sending the first privately developed micro-rover to the Moon in 2017 in an attempt to win the $20M XPRIZE and conduct preliminary prospecting activities.
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Shuhei Akimoto
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