Objectives and Roles of Space Development for Social Challenges in the Post Cold War Era

Abstract

The space age was born at the height of the Cold War — a period of intense political, economic and military competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. In this charged atmosphere, government-supported civil space efforts were structured as one facet of this competition. Other objectives, such as the acquisition of scientific information or the development of practical applications of space technology were also important but, ultimately, secondary goals.

Conditions have changed dramatically within the past five years. The conclusion of the Cold War, worsening public sector budget deficits and closer scrutiny of the appropriate role of the public sector in national economic and social development are leading policymakers to reappraise the size, scope and objectives of space activities.

The future course of space programs can be expected to further emphasize the role of space activities in addressing societal challenges. As society enters the next millenium, we must find new ways to meet the food and energy requirements of our modern industrial age, while at the same time preserving the fragile environment which sustains us. Space technologies may help to address these challenges. However, a new set of objectives for civil space efforts(and public consensus) will be required.

This paper provides a forecast of the evolution of the political and societal underpinning of civil space efforts in the world as well as the influence of the global long-term social challenges to Japan in the post cold war era. The emphasis of the study is on the identification of appropropriate objectives for civil space efforts and the technological priorities for realizing them.