The
space
-age began with the Russian artificial
satellite
Sputnik in 1957 and developed
further
with a race to the moon between the united stated and Russian.
This
rivalry was characterized by advanced
technology
and huge budgets. In
this
process, there were spectacular successes, some failures, but
also
many spin-offs. With the advent of relatively low-cost, high-performance mini-
satellites
and launchers, acquiring indigenous
space
capabilities by smaller
nations
in
Asia
have become possible. Europe,
japan
,
china
, and India quickly join
this
space
club of the superpowers. How, in what manner and for what purpose will their capabilities be realized?
A
Rocket
technology
has progressed considerably since ‘fire arrows’ were
first
used in
China
around 500 BC. During the sung dynasty, to repel Mongol invaders at the battle of Kaifeng in AD 1232. Their ancient rockets stand in stark contrast to the present-day Chinese rocket launch vehicles, called the ‘long march’, intended to place a Chinese astronaut in
space
by 2005 and perhaps achieve a Chinese moon-landing by the end of the decade.
B
In the
last
decade, there has been a dramatic growth in
space
activities in
ASIA
, both in the utilization of
space
-based services and the production of
satellites
and launchers.
This
rapid expansion has led many commentators and analysts to predict that
Asia
will become a world
space
power. The
space
-age has had dramatic effects worldwide, with direct developments in
space
technology
influencing telecommunications, meteorological forecasting, resource and environmental monitoring, and disaster mitigation.
Asia
nations
have been remarkably eager to embrace their products.
C
New and innovative uses for
satellites
are constantly being explored with potential revolutionary effects,
such
as in the field of health and telemedicine, distance education, crime prevention(piracy on the high seas), food and agricultural planning and production by the competitive commercial
space
sector, the emergence of low-cost mini-
satellites
, and the globalization of industrial and financial markets. It is not evident how
Asian
space
will develop in the coming decades in the face of these trends. It is,
however
, essential to understand and assess the factors and forces that shape
Asian
space
activities and development in determining its possible consequences for the region.
D
At present, three
Asian
nations
,
Japan
,
China
, and India, have comprehensive end-to-end
space
capabilities and process a compete for
space
infrastructure:
space
technology
,
satellite
manufacturing, rockets, and spaceports. Already self-sufficient in terms of
satellite
design and manufacturing, South Korea is currently attempting to join their ranks with its plans to develop a launch site and impressive. ASEAN members, unlike
Japan
,
China
, and India, do not have their remote sensing
satellites
.
However
, most member
nations
have facilities to receive, process, and interpret
such
data from American and European
satellites
.
In particular
, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have world-class remote sensing processing facilities and research programmes. ASEAN has plans to develop ( and launch) its
satellites
and,
in particular
small sensing
satellites
.
Japan
is regarded as the dominant
space
power in
Asia
, and its record of successes and quality of technologies are equal to those of the west. Because of the technological challenges and high risks involved in
space
activities, a very long,
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expensive learning curve has been followed to achieve those successes.
Japan
’s
satellite
manufacturing is based on the old and traditional defence and military procurement methodologies practised in the US and Europe.
E/F
In recent years there have been fundamental changes in the way
satellites
are designed and built to reduce costs drastically. The emergence of ‘small
satellites
’ and their quick adoption by
Asian
countries to develop low-cost
satellite
technology
and rapidly establish a
space
capability has given these countries the possibility to shorten their learning curve by a decade or more. The global increase of
technology
transfer mechanisms and the use of readily available commercial
technology
to replace costly
space
and military-standard components may very well result in a highly competitive
Asian
satellite
manufacturing industry.
G
The laws of physics are the same in Tokyo as in Toulouse, and the principles of electronics and mechanics know no political or cultural boundaries.
However
, no
such
immutability applies to engineering practices and management; they are very much influenced by education, culture, and history. These factors, in turn, affect costs, lead times, product designs and, eventually, international sales. Many
Asian
nations
are sending their engineers to be trained in the west. Highly experienced, they return to work in the growing
Asia
space
industry.
This
acquisition of technical expertise, coupled perhaps with world-renowned Japanese manufacturing and management techniques, will be applied to build word-class
satellites
and reduce cost.