宇宙戦略本部

(Sep. 1, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt vision on space must be clear, concise
宇宙戦略本部　司令塔として責任を果たせ（9月1日付・読売社説）

The basic law on space came into effect late last month, finally providing a system that allows the nation's political leaders to promote Japan's space policy.
日本の宇宙政策を政治主導で進める体制がようやく整った。その司令塔になるのが、政府の宇宙開発戦略本部だ。

The government's policy command center on space is called the headquarters for space development strategy. We hope the headquarters will provide a clear vision on how to best utilize space and proactively promote space development as part of a national strategy.
宇宙利用の将来展望を明確に示し、国家戦略としての宇宙開発を積極的に進めてもらいたい。

The basic space law was enacted in the previous ordinary Diet session, and the headquarters that was set up in late August is headed by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and all other Cabinet ministers participate in it.
先の通常国会で成立した宇宙基本法が施行された。宇宙開発戦略本部は、福田首相が本部長を務め、全閣僚が参加する。

By spring, the headquarters will compile a basic space development plan that will include an outline of the government's position on space development and utilization, as well as the policy measures it believes should be implemented.
同本部は、来春をめどに、宇宙開発・利用の基本方針や、実施すべき政策などを盛り込んだ宇宙基本計画を作る。

It also will establish a "space bureau" within the Cabinet Office that will collectively manage the nation's space administration.
宇宙行政を一元化するため、内閣府に「宇宙局」を設置する。

The two major pillars of the basic space law are the lifting of a ban on the military use of space and industrial promotion related to space development.
宇宙基本法は、宇宙の軍事利用解禁と産業振興が大きな柱だ。

Japan's use of space has previously been limited to nonmilitary fields, but the new law allows space to be used for defense purposes.
これまで非軍事分野に限定してきた宇宙利用について、防衛目的での利用を容認した。

It is natural that space should be put to effective use for the nation's security. The government should study how the Self-Defense Forces could best utilize space, such as the introduction of reconnaissance satellites, which have a far more advanced monitoring ability than the intelligence-gathering satellites currently employed.
日本の安全保障に、宇宙を有効活用するのは当然のことだ。現在保有する情報収集衛星よりも高い監視能力を持つ偵察衛星の導入など、自衛隊による宇宙利用のあり方を幅広く検討すべきだ。

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Unity on space policy a must

Hierarchical division among administrative bodies have adversely impacted on many government projects, including those tied to space administration.
縦割りの弊害は、宇宙行政でも顕著だった。

The development of an excellent rocket engine, for example, was not enough to ensure it was put to use, because the related development project had been advanced without coordination of related ministries and agencies.
優れたロケットエンジンなどを開発しても、実用化に結びつけられず、省庁間の連携を欠いたまま、事業が進められてきた。

As for the basic policy on space to be formulated, a comprehensive viewpoint will prove indispensable to ensure that cutting-edge technical research revitalizes space-related industries and enhances the nation's international competitiveness, in addition to its utilization in the security field
基本計画の策定では、最先端の技術研究を、安全保障分野にとどまらず、宇宙産業の活性化や国際競争力の強化につなげていく総合的な視点が不可欠だ。

A member of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry was appointed to the post of the secretary general of the headquarters, not someone from the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, a move that showed Fukuda gave extra weight to the promotion of industry.
戦略本部の事務局長に、文部科学省ではなく経済産業省の出身者を充てたのも、産業振興の観点を重視したためだろう。

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Goals must be clarified

Space development involves huge fiscal outlays and considerable risks. It is important, therefore, that concrete goals and schedules are clarified in the basic program.
宇宙開発には、巨額の資金とリスクが伴う。基本計画では、具体的な達成目標や時期を明示することが大切だ。

If the government cannot clearly explain the program, including its planned investments, private companies will hesitate to participate in it.
国が投資額を含めた全体像を示さなければ、民間企業も、参入をためらってしまう。

Of course, since a huge amount of taxpayers' money will be invested, the government bears a great responsibility for strictly calculating project costs versus benefits and disclosing this information to the public.
もちろん、多額の税金を投入する以上、プロジェクトの費用対効果を厳しく見積もり、国民に情報を公開する責任がある。

In addition, if a project does not proceed as planned, it is important the government make a decision on whether to withdraw from it as soon as possible.
計画通りに事業が進まない場合は、早期に撤退する判断も大切だ。

In addition to the United States, Russia and European nations, newly emerging economies such as China and India have started to seriously considering how they wish to utilize space.
欧米やロシアだけでなく、新興国の中国やインドも、宇宙利用に本腰を入れている。

International competition for orders from developing nations, such as African states, to launch satellites is becoming increasingly fierce.
アフリカなど途上国からの衛星打ち上げの受注をめぐって、国際競争も激しくなるばかりだ。

Meanwhile, in recent years international cooperation on space projects also has been strengthening, including the creation of a disaster-monitoring network that utilizes weather satellites and telecommunications networks across Asia.
一方で、近年、アジア地域で、気象衛星や情報通信を活用して災害監視のネットワークを作るなど国際的な協力も進んでいる。

Regardless of how the nation's space programs proceed, policies that ensure close cooperation between the government and private sector on future space programs must be put in place.
いずれも、日本として、官民一体の取り組みが必要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2008)
（2008年9月1日01時47分 読売新聞）