TOKYO - The age of space development has shifted from a state-led era to one in which private companies play a leading role.The government has compiled the Basic Plan for Space Policy as a guideline for future space policy. Currently, the Japanese space industry is an about ¥1 trillion market, but the government plans to double that figure by the early 2030s.
This marked a major turning point in reviewing the roles of the government and the private sector, and utilising the vitality of the private sector for space development more than before. Through its involvement in the operation of the ISS, Japan has sent Japanese astronauts into space and acquired know-how.
China is stepping up its efforts be a"space power." It has embarked on the construction of a space station and exploration of the moon. Space has become the stage for a supremacy race between the United States and China.