Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent
WASHINGTON -- With the goal of enabling Japanese and U.S. space companies to launch rockets and other spacecraft from each other's launch sites, the governments of both countries on Monday signed a memorandum of cooperation to standardize safety criteria and review procedures.
The Japanese government aims to stimulate the space-based passenger transportation business and boost the nation's competitiveness by attracting U.S. companies to Japanese launch sites and facilitating launches by Japanese companies in the United States.
A senior official from the Japanese Cabinet Office's National Space Policy Secretariat, which serves as the central coordinating body for the nation's space development, signed the memorandum with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
Space-based passenger transport envisioned
In the United States, spaceflight businesses using rockets and other spacecraft developed by space startups have already been launched. While the most common route currently involves staying at the International Space Station before returning to Earth, there are expectations that passenger transport services involving high-speed intercontinental flights via outer space will become a reality.
To stimulate this future space business, Japan and the United States agreed to collaborate on standardizing safety-related criteria and review processes.
In particular, startups and other entities in both countries are developing spacecraft dedicated to "suborbital flights," which travel at high velocities and generally reach an altitude in the region of 100 kilometers. The United States has already established regulations for suborbital flights, and commercial use within the country is taking off.
While Japan's regulatory framework is not yet in place, initiatives to establish spaceports in locations such as Hokkaido and Oita Prefecture are emerging. Being an island nation makes it relatively easy for Japan to ensure safety on the ground, and it has suitable locations for launch sites. Some U.S. companies reportedly have expressed interest in conducting launches in Japan.
Going forward, Japan will establish a framework to streamline the review process, such as by having flight test data and other information be in alignment with U.S. standards and review procedures. To realize suborbital flights between the two countries, Japan will also accelerate consideration of the development of regulations modeled after those in the United States.
"This (memorandum) will serve as the first step toward deepening cooperation between Japanese and U.S. regulatory authorities," said a Japanese government official.
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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.
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