[Report] On 28 December 2021, during a meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the plan to send Japanese astronauts to the Moon by the end of the 2020s and renewed the commitment of the Government of Japan’s to the US-led Artemis program, putting an emphasis on public-private cooperation. Based on this context, the Science, Technology and Innovation Governance (STIG) program of The University of Tokyo held an international symposium of the future of lunar and cislunar activities on 21 December 2022. This symposium was co-hosted by STIG and the Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI) as a part of the joint research project between IFI and the Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) on space and cyberspace risk governance. In this symposium, leading national and international experts shared Japan’s future lunar programs as a baseline for discussion, and then exchanged their views and perspectives under the themes on new governance challenges in the lunar and cislunar domains, lunar and cislunar security, and commercial contributions to future Japanese lunar missions.
[Overview] On 28 December 2021, during a meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the plan to send Japanese astronauts to the Moon by the end of the 2020s and renewed the commitment of the Government of Japan’s to the US-led Artemis program, putting an emphasis on public-private cooperation. Based on this context, the Science, Technology and Innovation Governance (STIG) program of The University of Tokyo will be holding an international symposium of the future of lunar and cislunar activities, including sessions on commercial, governance and security challenges, with leading national and international experts.
Date & Time
Monday 21 February 2022, 13:30 – 17:45 JST (venue opening at 13:00)
Venue
Online by Zoom webinar
Note: The symposium will be held in hybrid format at Ito International Research Center, Ito Hall (Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo). However, the event might be held totally online depending on the Covid-19 situation.
Language
English with Japanese interpretation
Co-Hosts
Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo
Science, Technology and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo.
Registration
Please apply from REGISTRATION FORM:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yfYDo1iTSLyO38dA-wyFzA
(If you cannot open the registration form, please email us at STIG@pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp, including your name and institution)
Program
General moderator: Dr. Quentin Verspieren, The University of Tokyo
[13:30-13:40] Opening remarks: Professor Hideaki Shiroyama, The University of Tokyo
[13:40-14:10] Opening keynote – Japan’s lunar ambitions: Mr. Hiroshi Sasaki, Vice President and Director General, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
[14:10-15:10] Theme 1: New governance challenges in the lunar and cislunar domains
Keynote – The Artemis Accords: *Mr. Garvey McIntosh, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States
Panel discussion: moderated by Dr. Quentin Verspieren
●*Mr. Garvey McIntosh, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States
●*Dr. Yuri Takaya, The University of Tokyo
●*Professor Alice Gorman, Flinders University
●*Mr. John C. Mankins, Moon Village Association
(20 min break)
[15:30-16:30] Theme 2: Lunar and cislunar security
Keynote: *Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Observer Research Foundation, India
Panel discussion: moderated by Dr. Quentin Verspieren
●*Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Observer Research Foundation
●Professor Kazuto Suzuki, The University of Tokyo
●*Ms. Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense
[16:30-17:30] Theme 3: Commercial contributions to future Japanese lunar missions
Panel discussion: moderated by Mr. Koichi Kikuchi, JAXA and The University of Tokyo
●Professor Ikkoh Funaki, Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center, JAXA
●Mr. Nobu Okada, CEO, Astroscale Holdings Inc.
●Mr. Takayoshi Fukuyo, CEO, ArkEdge Space Inc.
[17:30-17:45] Comments and closing remarks: Dr. Quentin Verspieren, The University of Tokyo
* indicates online participants
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Contact:
Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program
Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo
STIG@pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp