A weekly series of UPI articles examining the aerospace industries of selected countries.
--
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Economic pressures in Japan and a surging space effort by China are combining to set the stage for a new space race tied to specific goals and new technologies. How each nation will direct its space activities over the next few years will shape not just the exploration of space, but also Asia's business and technology development for years to come.
For Japan, space activities have been divided between international cooperation and going it alone. The centerpiece of its space program has been the development of the heavy lift H-II rocket and partnership with the United States in the International Space Station.
Japan had divided its space program management between two major agencies: NASDA and ISAS. The National Space Development Agency took the largest engineering projects, while the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Sciences addressed scientific programs. A third entity, NAL, the National Aerospace Laboratory, developed propulsion systems and advanced aero vehicle designs.
Last month, in an effort to streamline and reinvigorate the overall space program, the Japanese government merged all three agencies into one: the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. JAEA would not only provide better management for space projects, but also craft greater partnerships with Japanese industries and universities.
Japanese space projects have included interplanetary missions such as the Nozomi Mars probe, headed for a rendezvous with the planet early next year; the ETS series, which is developing new communications satellite buses for future Earth orbiting spacecraft; the ASCA astronomy satellite, and the MUSES series. Also, SELENE is a moon-orbiting space probe project scheduled for launch in 2005.
The common thread of these projects has been advanced electronics and computer technology. The same approach has shaped participation in the space station. Japan will be providing a large research module for the station, including a series of external experiment units mounted outside. To prepare Japanese astronauts for their station duties, crews had been flying aboard the U.S. space shuttles to gain experience in working in weightless space.
Not all of Japan's space projects have been successful, however. The original H-II rocket was beset with technical failures and a high cost. The troubles led to a cancellation of the basic design and replacement with the new, lower-cost H-IIA series.
A project to build a mini-test version of a future winged shuttlecraft ended last summer when the 12-foot-long prototype, called HOPE X, crashed while cruising over Sweden. Plans to build ever larger versions have been placed on hold indefinitely. The NOZOMI Mars mission has developed fuel troubles that might result either in the craft slamming into the surface or missing the planet altogether. Also, Japan's sluggish economy has halted plans to increase space spending. For the next several years, Japanese space policy will focus on completing the space station with the Americans and refining the H-IIA booster rocket.
Japan also is hobbled by the location of its main space launch site. Agreements with the Japanese fishing industry sharply limit the number of months launches can take place from the island base on the Pacific Ocean. Japan's main directions in space -- advanced launchers, communications and robotics technologies and advanced planetary exploration missions -- are among the most ambitious of any nation in space outside of the United States and Russia.
Comparing Japan to China is difficult at best. Japan spends about 2.4-billion euros annually on its combined space programs. China, a Communist centralized economy, does not fully reveal its space budgets, much of which is part of the military. It is estimated, however, that China spends about $1.7 billion on its civil, non-military space programs.
Where Japan has focused on heavy lift launchers and technologies, China has developed a family of multi-purpose launch vehicles. To date, there are 14 versions of the Long March rocket available for a variety of space missions. China has a wide range of space projects, including telecommunications satellites, Earth observation satellites, recoverable space capsules and, with the Shenzhou program, manned spaceflight.
China's announced goals include development of a long-term Earth observation program, creating an independent satellite broadcasting system, and a new, all-China space navigation satellite program. Unlike Japan, China has operated several different launching sites for its space boosters, varying them by location and type of orbits desired, be they polar, geostationary, or low Earth orbit.
Japan has a national base of technologically advanced industry upon which to plan its future space activities. Its manned program will make use of the facilities aboard the space station. Until the economy improves, however, an independent, manned shuttle program is unlikely. Also, Japan has not invested in space capsule development.
China has a strong history of multi-purpose launch vehicles, a wide range of satellite programs all centered on applications and a manned spacecraft adapted from Russian designs. A successful manned program could lead to lunar bases or advanced missions beyond Earth orbit. By contrast, Japan is planning unmanned robotic probes to explore the solar system.
Although Japan is in a stronger position due to its industry, China is expanding rapidly. How each nation leverages its international partnerships -- Japan with Europe and the United States and China with Russia -- could help one of them to emerge as the stronger regional space power in the decades ahead.
--
Frank Sietzen covers aerospace issues for UPI Science News. E-mail [email protected]
