Space Shuttle Retirement and Space Development

Published in Mainichi
(Japan) on 28 July 2011
by Osaki Satoshi (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Ryan Whiting. Edited by Jennifer Pietropaoli.
Learning from Russia and Giving Up My One-Sided Devotion to America

On July 21 the U.S. space shuttle finished its last flight. It is the beginning of a new era, with Russia holding the monopoly on man’s place in space. In Japan there is growing concern over dependence on Russia. Problems are beginning to crop up, as shown by the continued call for higher boarding costs for NASA astronauts from Russia’s space agency. I am concerned because Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) hasn’t built any connections with Russia.

Soyuz as the Only Means for Manned Space Travel

JAXA’s weak relationship with Russia’s Space Agency can be illustrated by their joint experiment on protein. It highlights Japan’s one-sided and continuous dependence on the U.S. ever since WWII. Now, the only means of transporting people to the International Space Station (ISS) is the Soyuz spacecraft. If Japan is serious about manned space development, it will have to learn from Russia, which has over a half-century of experience.

It has been three years since I began working in the Moscow branch, collecting data on the Soyuz construction. During that time, I have noticed very little effort by JAXA to strengthen its ties with Russia.

For example, in June, astronaut Satoshi Furukawa (47) launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Central Asia in Kazakhstan. At that time, I overheard statements from people in JAXA to the effect that, “our colleagues from NASA can’t feel too bad for not being brought to such a far-flung place.” While we anxiously wait for the development of the space shuttle’s successor, our desire is weakening for a quick end to dependence on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. This is clear from the decision a few years ago that Japanese astronauts would fly in the Soyuz. That prompted JAXA to begin putting together a Technology and Coordination Office.

From day one, Japan made a pact with the U.S. that it would send astronauts to the ISS through them. Therefore, the U.S. negotiated with Russia to allow Furukawa to fly, and before his launch it was NASA’s management that answered the reporters and directed the Japanese officials. Notably, the press meeting before the launch was limited to English and Russian. There were many times that Japan’s views and wishes were not conveyed because Furukawa was prohibited from answering in Japanese. Nevertheless, JAZA director Kuniaki Shiraaki responded to Japan’s relationship with Russia by saying, “As before, we will continue to work through NASA.” It looks like JAXA is not going to change its mind.

It is dangerous for Japan to rely completely on the U.S. for space development. A former TBS reporter and the only Japanese civilian to have flown into space, Toyohiro Akiyama (69), once reported in Mainichi that “the U.S. will not turn over its hegemony over space travel and the life sciences.” He warns that if Japan does not work with other countries it will be in danger of limiting its technological growth. But it appears that Japan feels comfortable under the patronage of “big brother” NASA.

If JAXA deepens its relationship with Russia’s space agency, it will not just temporarily gain some knowledge or technology. Over the last 40 years, Russia has not lost one person in its flights. The U.S. has been able to fly many missions, but has experienced many safety problems with its space shuttles. It is for this reason that the U.S. has decided to develop a space shuttle like the Soyuz, which is only used once and then retired. While the Soyuz might not be the latest technology, Japan can learn much from Russia’s emphasis on flight-safety and safe returns.

From an Experienced Astronaut Stationed in Moscow

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi (46) pointed out on his return flight to earth last June that before his flight he gained more than just technical knowledge. He said, “It was interesting to exchange stories about our experiences of flying in the Soyuz with our fellow Japanese astronauts and colleagues. My flight means a lot for the direction of manned-flight development for Japan.”

There are many hardworking employees at JAXA. They explained how hard it is to build relationships with Russia “when as soon as we think we have done well, the people in charge change. We haven’t been able to build any connections.” I have lived in Russia for close to four years, and things have not gone very well. It is a difficult country.

On the other hand, there are cases where Russia shows that it is willing to merge with foreigners and accept them. Foreign astronauts like Noguchi who have trained in Russia and have ridden in the Soyuz have received praise and admiration from Russian space personnel. I have seen that our astronauts have not only gained a rich knowledge, but are able to make better decisions. For our astronauts to build on these good experiences, even after the space shuttle retirement, I believe that JAXA should endeavor to build deeper ties with Russia by stationing former astronauts in Moscow.


記者の目:スペースシャトル退役と宇宙開発(上)=大前仁
 ◇米一辺倒脱し露からも学ぼう

 米スペースシャトルが21日、最後の飛行を終え、ロシアが「宇宙の足」を独占する時代が始まった。日本ではロシアへの依存を警戒する声も広がる。確かに、ロシア宇宙庁が米航空宇宙局(NASA)に対し、年間乗船料の値上げを相次いで要請するなど問題も生じている。だが、私は日本の宇宙航空研究開発機構(JAXA)がロシアとのパイプを築けていない現状の方が不安に思える。
 ◇宇宙への人輸送 ソユーズだけに

 JAXAとロシア宇宙庁はたんぱく質の実験で協力している程度で、関係は薄い。これは、常に米国に頼ってきた戦後日本の一面を映していると言えるだろう。だが、ソユーズ宇宙船が国際宇宙ステーション(ISS)へ人を運ぶ唯一の手段となった今、日本が本気で有人宇宙開発を進めるならば、半世紀の経験を持つロシアから学ぶ要素もあるはずだ。

 私は3年近くモスクワ支局でソユーズの打ち上げを取材してきたが、JAXA幹部からロシアとの関係を深めようという意欲を感じることは少なかった。

 例えば、宇宙飛行士の古川聡さん(47)が中央アジア・カザフスタンの草原地帯の中にあるバイコヌール宇宙基地から飛び立った6月。あるJAXA幹部が「NASAの連中はこんな辺鄙(へんぴ)な所に連れて来られて悔しくないのだろうか」と発言するのを聞いた。米国がシャトル後継機を開発するのに期待し、ロシアのソユーズ宇宙船に頼る現状を早く終えたいという思いがにじんでいた。また日本人飛行士のソユーズ乗り組みが数年前から決まっていながら、JAXAがモスクワに「技術調整事務所」を開設したのは今年4月になってからだった。

 そもそも日本は、ISSへの人員輸送は米国を通じて実施する協定を結んでいる。だから米国がロシアと交渉して日本人のソユーズ乗船を決めるし、古川さんの打ち上げ時もNASAの担当者が記者など日本の関係者を引率した。このため打ち上げ前の会見は英語とロシア語に限定され、古川さんが日本語での応答を禁じられるなど、日本の要望が通らないことも多い。それでもJAXAの白木邦明理事は、対露関係について「今後もNASAを通じて接していく」という考えを変えようとしない。

 日本が宇宙開発で全面的に米国に依存することは危険でもある。日本人で唯一、民間人として宇宙飛行した秋山豊寛さん(69)=元TBS記者=は、かつて毎日新聞の取材で「米国は航空宇宙分野や生命科学分野での覇権を譲らないだろう」と語り、日本が他国とも協力していかないと技術面の制約を受ける恐れがあると警告していた。それでもJAXAはNASAという「巨大な兄」の庇護(ひご)下にいる方が心地よいようだ。

 もちろん、JAXAがロシア宇宙庁との関係を深めるといっても、短期的に技術や知識を得られるわけではない。だがロシアは過去40年間、宇宙飛行で死者を出していない。米国は何度も航行できるが安全上の問題があったスペースシャトルの経験を踏まえ、後継機ではソユーズのように1回の飛行で乗り捨てるタイプの開発を決めている。ロシアがソユーズで使う技術は最新鋭ではないが、安全な帰還を重要視する姿勢から学べるものがあるはずだ。
 ◇飛行士経験者のモスクワ常駐も

 昨年6月にソユーズ宇宙船で地球に戻った飛行士の野口聡一さん(46)は、乗り組み前に得た知識だけでない体験が多かったと指摘。「日本人の飛行士同士で(ソユーズ乗船の経験を)伝え合えば面白いし、(自分の飛行は)日本の有人技術蓄積へ向けて大きな意味があった」と語っていた。

 JAXAには現場で奮闘する職員もいる。彼らは「一度うまくいったと思っても、すぐに担当者が代わってしまい、なかなか人間関係が築けない」と、ロシアとのつきあい方の難しさを打ち明ける。私自身もロシアに4年近く滞在するが、物事が順調に進まない「難しい国」である。

 一方で、ロシアという国には外国人が溶け込む姿勢を見せれば受け入れる側面もある。野口さんのようにロシアで訓練を受けてソユーズ宇宙船に乗った外国人飛行士は、ロシアの宇宙関係者から尊敬と親しみをもって迎えられている。私は彼ら飛行士が、豊富な経験や知識だけでなく、優れた判断能力も持ち合わせている姿を見てきた。日本人飛行士の経験を引退後も生かすために、例えばJAXAは将来的に飛行士OBをモスクワに常駐させるなど、ロシアとの関係深化に努めるべきだと思う。(モスクワ支局)
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Austria: Trump, the Bulldozer of NATO

     

Canada: Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs Hurt Canadians

Canada: Canada Must Match the Tax Incentives in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Austria: Trump Is Only Part of the Problem

Topics

Poland: Jędrzej Bielecki: Trump’s Pyrrhic Victory*

Austria: Trump Is Only Part of the Problem

Canada: Canada Must Match the Tax Incentives in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Germany: Big Tech Wants a Say in EU Law: More Might for the Mighty

Germany: Trump’s Disappointment Will Have No Adverse Consequences for Putin*

             

Spain: Global Aid without the US

Spain: Not a Good Time for Solidarity

Related Articles

India: Trump’s Tariffs Have Hit South Korea and Japan: India Has Been Wise in Charting a Cautious Path

Japan: Iran Ceasefire Agreement: The Danger of Peace by Force

Japan: Trump’s 100 Days: A Future with No Visible Change So Far

Japan: US Administration Losing Credibility 3 Months into Policy of Threats

Japan: US-Japan Defense Minister Summit: US-Japan Defense Chief Talks Strengthen Concerns about Single-Minded Focus on Strength