The Japanese and US governments have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at harmonizing safety standards and review procedures for commercial rockets and spacecraft launches. They seek to advance coordination on reviews between the two countries, expand the space business and strengthen the competitiveness of launch sites.
On 31 August, the Japanese and US governments signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at harmonizing vehicle safety standards and review procedures so that commercial rockets and spacecraft can be launched from each other’s launch sites. With a view to realizing passenger transportation businesses that travel through space, the two countries will seek to attract US companies to Japanese launch sites and promote launches by Japanese companies in the United States to strengthen competitiveness.
Ryuzaki Koji (龍崎孝嗣), secretary-general of the Cabinet Office’s National Space Policy Secretariat, visited the FAA, which oversees regulation in the United States, on the same day and signed the memorandum. Ryuzaki said that harmonizing Japanese and US regulations was important as the space industry expands.
In the United States, spaceflight businesses using privately operated rockets and spacecraft have already begun. In the future, passenger transportation involving high-speed intercontinental flights through space is expected to become a reality. Japan is considering developing regulations for suborbital flights, and steps are also being taken toward opening spaceports in Hokkaido and Oita Prefecture.
Based on the Japan-US memorandum of cooperation, the Japanese government plans to establish a framework to streamline procedures, including accepting review results approved in the United States. The framework is expected to allow launches by US companies in Japan and promote launches by Japanese companies in the United States, strengthening competitiveness.