Global Environment
Future Effort of Ministry of the Environment to Address Space Debris Issues (Interim Summary)
Thursday, October 15, 2020
1. Background to the review
The Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, pioneered the development of dedicated satellites for greenhouse gas observation. GOSAT-1 has now been utilized for observation for over 11 years since its 2009 launch. GOSAT-2 was launched in 2018, and work is currently underway on the development of GOSAT-GW, the third satellite in the GOSAT series, with the aim of launching it in the 2023 fiscal year.
Greenhouse gas observation utilizing the GOSAT series is considered an international public good that is necessary for monitoring progress towards Paris Agreement targets. The project has received international acclaim, and it is hoped that the project will continue. The ongoing growth in the volume of space debris, however, has become a significant issue in recent years, leading to concerns about the ongoing stable utilization of space.
As the GOSAT project leader, the Ministry of the Environment takes responsibility for the proper operation and disposal of the satellites and is committed to meeting this responsibility. On March 26, 2020, the Ministry of the Environment established an internal review team tasked with looking at how to prevent GOSAT-1, which has been in orbit for 11 years, from becoming space debris. The team, led by the Vice-Minister for Global Environment Affairs, has been conducting a review in coordination with the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and JAXA.
2. Key Points of the Interim Summary
a. There are no regulations regarding space debris mitigation for satellites like GOSAT-1 that were launched before the enforcement of the Space Activities Act in November 2018. The Ministry of the Environment has taken the initiative in formulating a direction for space debris mitigation efforts.
b. To reduce the risk of GOSAT-1 becoming space debris, it is preferable to terminate its operations once it is confirmed that the mission can be taken over by successor satellites, even if GOSAT-1 remains in a usable condition.
c. By sharing the conclusions of this review domestically and internationally, the global momentum for space debris mitigation measures can be boosted.
3. Future initiatives
Assessment of GOSAT-1’s soundness and consideration of disposal methods will continue. Once it is determined that operations can be taken over by GOSAT-2, discussions will be held with relevant domestic and international organizations to reach a consensus on commencing the decommissioning of GOSAT-1.
With GOSAT-1, the Ministry of the Environment is taking a proactive approach in implementing measures to avoid adding to the volume of space debris. The aim of such measures is to contribute, in collaboration with the Cabinet Office and related government ministries and agencies, to the advancement of both domestic and international space debris mitigation measures for existing satellites.
| The Ministry of the Environment has established an internal review team to examine issues relating to space debris. This team has been considering ways to prevent the GOSAT series of greenhouse gas observing satellites from turning into space debris, and has prepared a summary outlining the direction to be taken with these measures, which is now being published. |
1. Background to the review
The Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, pioneered the development of dedicated satellites for greenhouse gas observation. GOSAT-1 has now been utilized for observation for over 11 years since its 2009 launch. GOSAT-2 was launched in 2018, and work is currently underway on the development of GOSAT-GW, the third satellite in the GOSAT series, with the aim of launching it in the 2023 fiscal year.
Greenhouse gas observation utilizing the GOSAT series is considered an international public good that is necessary for monitoring progress towards Paris Agreement targets. The project has received international acclaim, and it is hoped that the project will continue. The ongoing growth in the volume of space debris, however, has become a significant issue in recent years, leading to concerns about the ongoing stable utilization of space.
As the GOSAT project leader, the Ministry of the Environment takes responsibility for the proper operation and disposal of the satellites and is committed to meeting this responsibility. On March 26, 2020, the Ministry of the Environment established an internal review team tasked with looking at how to prevent GOSAT-1, which has been in orbit for 11 years, from becoming space debris. The team, led by the Vice-Minister for Global Environment Affairs, has been conducting a review in coordination with the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and JAXA.
2. Key Points of the Interim Summary
a. There are no regulations regarding space debris mitigation for satellites like GOSAT-1 that were launched before the enforcement of the Space Activities Act in November 2018. The Ministry of the Environment has taken the initiative in formulating a direction for space debris mitigation efforts.
b. To reduce the risk of GOSAT-1 becoming space debris, it is preferable to terminate its operations once it is confirmed that the mission can be taken over by successor satellites, even if GOSAT-1 remains in a usable condition.
c. By sharing the conclusions of this review domestically and internationally, the global momentum for space debris mitigation measures can be boosted.
3. Future initiatives
Assessment of GOSAT-1’s soundness and consideration of disposal methods will continue. Once it is determined that operations can be taken over by GOSAT-2, discussions will be held with relevant domestic and international organizations to reach a consensus on commencing the decommissioning of GOSAT-1.
With GOSAT-1, the Ministry of the Environment is taking a proactive approach in implementing measures to avoid adding to the volume of space debris. The aim of such measures is to contribute, in collaboration with the Cabinet Office and related government ministries and agencies, to the advancement of both domestic and international space debris mitigation measures for existing satellites.
◆Reference information:
“Space debris” is a general term for manmade objects remaining in orbit after they are no longer required. More specifically, this includes defunct or malfunctioned manmade satellites, the upper stages of rockets, components released during missions, fragments resulting from explosions or collisions, and solid rocket motor slag (post-burn residue).
Attachment
(1)Interim Summary Report
(2)Overview of Interim Summary Report