What is the impact of these practical considerations on a real-world situation? In this section we discuss space activities in Asia as a sample case study.

The status of space technology and its application in Asia is rapidly changing. The earlier space race between the USA and Soviet Union had great influence upon the development of space technology of Asian countries, especially China, India and Japan. These three countries now have many space programs including space science and technology research. In addition, a number of Asian countries have the potential to participate in space activities or have different uses of space technology that are aimed to support their country's development. However, their contribution of space technologies may differ considerably. The contribution to the strategy depends on each country's level of space activity. This section describes how countries in Asia can contribute to the Step-by-step strategy and how they benefit from space activities.

The countries of Asia can be divided into three groups based on their level of space development and participation. The first group includes China, India, and Japan which, as stated above, have space agencies and space-related technologies. China's space program seeks to develop its capability in space technology, especially satellite applications, focusing on national economic and social development. China has promoted the transfer of space research and technology to other areas of science and technology, and has plans to launch its first human space flight. China's launching capability can be a cost-effective contribution to the international community as shown in Figure 3-2.

The Indian program was organized in 1972 under the government's Department of Space and aimed at the self-reliant development of space technology and its applications for the rapid economic improvement of the country. India has high quality remote sensing capabilities and therefore could participate in remote sensing activities on the Moon and Mars. Additionally, contributions can come from the three types of launchers that have been developed by India for space missions. These are the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, and the Geo-synchronous Launch Vehicle.

Japan has the most comprehensive national space program in Asia, including activities that range from space science to preparation for human spaceflights. Therefore, Japan has the potential to play a leadership role in the preparation for human spaceflight with not only NASA or ESA, but also Asian countries. This preparation will generate great benefits for other Asian countries. Furthermore, Japan is the only country in Asia that participates in the International Space Station program, and has plans to conduct sample return missions from a Near Earth Asteroid. These three countries can contribute to our international strategy by utilizing these technologies.

The second group includes countries that have a potential to develop space activities and can contribute to the strategy. These are Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Philippines, and South Korea. Countries in the second group do not yet have the capability to launch satellites, but nevertheless mostly enjoy good relationships with the first group and can participate in collaborative space activities. For example, space activities in Malaysia in the past revolved around the use of satellite technology for communications and meteorological purposes. Currently, these activities have expanded to include satellite remote sensing, global positioning systems, and astronomy. Pakistan's activities in space science include atmospheric research and tropospheric/stratospheric studies using satellites, rockets, and balloons. Current space activities in the Philippines lean toward the use of satellite meteorology, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Space technology applications in Singapore are focused on satellite communications, satellite meteorology, and remote sensing. Space activity plans in Thailand over the next ten years include the promotion of scientific research, the study of satellite and rocketry technology, and the formation of a strong foundation for the use of space technology.

Almost all Asian countries have plans for space activities that include remote sensing, satellite meteorology, and satellite communication. Asian countries have many ground receiving stations near the equator, and they have the capability to operate them. Furthermore, these countries have capabilities to produce very inexpensive computer hardware or software, compared with the other countries of the world. This is because they have large spaces for building factories and many people, providing cheap manpower. These capabilities can contribute to our strategy.

The third group includes the other Asian countries that have no ground receiving stations but use satellite data for remote sensing. Satellite data are used for making maps, studying vegetation, weather forecasting, and so on. These countries can contribute to the strategy because they have the ability to process satellite data. They can participate in our international strategy by processing data from other planets. Additional details of how these countries may participate in space activities can be found in the United Nations report, SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, published in 1994.

Many Asian countries benefit greatly from space activities in the areas of international cooperation, policy and technology. These areas are described below.

International Cooperation

Until recently, the Asian and Pacific regions were surging ahead towards a new era of technological expansion and economic development. With its phenomenal economic growth and vast market potential, it had become the focus of attention of the world and was on its way to becoming a new center of gravity for technology and trade. Several countries of the region registered phenomenal economic growth rates. Based on ESCAP's Economic and Social survey of Asia and the Pacific 1993, the developing countries of the region achieved an average economic growth rate of 6.7 per cent in 1992 and 1993, compared with only 0.7 and 1.0 percent in a corresponding period for the entire global economy. This economic growth was associated with the establishment of high technology industries in sectors such as computer microelectronics, telecommunication, and information technology.

Unfortunately, the economic crisis that occurred in 1997 greatly affected the science and technology activities in the region. Investments in technology related to telecommunication and space activities were delayed as was research and development in small satellite programs.

Nevertheless, many countries in the region have begun to realize the consequences of ill-informed development planning and are increasingly recognizing the value of space technology and its applications to social and economic development. Countries are beginning to take advantage of modern, sophisticated technology such as satellite remote sensing and GIS for natural resources accounting and natural environment monitoring. Consequently, there has been a rapid increase in space application activities in recent years.

The countries in Asia are aware that by pooling their resources and collaborating in the uses of space technology, the benefits could be more cost-effective and accessible to all. Because of development in the Asia-Pacific region, there are many opportunities and scope for transfer of knowledge and technology within the region. Such situations, therefore, require the formulation of strategies and mechanisms to facilitate cooperation for space technology applications among the countries of the region and to ensure good coordination and harmonization of these activities.

To promote regional cooperation in space it is therefore important to be aware of the issues relating to space technology and its applications. Cooperation and coordination among the various technology developer and user sectors, human resource development, capacity building (adoption and adaptation of technologies), and private-sector involvement, among other things, are important factors to be considered at the national level. At the regional level, the issues to be considered include: the recognition of current initiatives, the sustained promotion of cooperation and coordination among countries, restriction on the transfer of technology, and human resource development and standardization. The design and implementation of a strategy for regional cooperation in the space world therefore has to consider these issues, while taking into account the individual capacities and capabilities of the countries involved.

The Political Benefits from Cooperation Between Asian Countries

A number of countries are already operating their own national communications systems (Insat, Palapa, and Thaicom) and remote sensing (JERS, MOS and IRS) satellites. China, India and Japan have very advanced space programs. Several countries conduct experiments with a variety of sounding rockets, small satellites, and balloons. Other countries, however, will need assistance to begin space applications work or to expand their existing space application program.

China has cooperated on a number of projects with other countries in the region. China has implemented a project with Malaysia to apply remote sensing and GIS to monitor soil erosion. China has investigated the use of remote sensing with Mongolia. With Bangladesh, China conducted a study on the use of remote sensing and GIS for flood monitoring.

Through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan has provided financial assistance to help establish a laboratory for agriculture and soil research at the Philippines Bureau of Soils and Water Management. Here, facilities for remote sensing and GIS have been set up. Since the late 1970s, the Science and Technology Agency has conducted an annual group-training course in remote sensing technology.

Technological Benefits (Utilization of Space Technology)

Several organizations are also promoting and enhancing regional cooperation in space applications. Under the auspices of the Asian Association of Remote Sensing and GIS many initiatives have been implemented. Activities such as regional conferences, thematic seminars, and meetings have also been organized to foster closer interactions between member countries. Satellite owners may contemplate providing data and products at special rates to benefit the region.

In the field of satellite communication, Japan introduced the PARTNERS program whereby ETS-V is used for experimental transmission of Earth observation data for an area covering Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Cambodia. In the field of space science, Japan has individual cooperative projects with six experiments and rocket launches, as well as an ambitious multi-country project (DANA-Dynamics Adopted Network for Atmosphere). To study global meteorological phenomena and the effect of atmospheric processes on the ionosphere, Japan has also assisted Mongolia in developing and improving the country's satellite communication facilities.

Asian countries have rapidly accumulated experience in implementing major space application projects such as telecommunications, Earth observation satellites, and satellite meteorology, among others, through technology transfer projects. Indonesia and Thailand are good examples of the countries in this category. These countries, based on their comparative advantages and capacity though long-term policies and future strategies, have broadened the exciting use and applications of space technology. In addition, they have increased the pool of high technology personnel, implemented a sustained technology research and development program, and established a national space application program with support infrastructure.

Educational Benefits

Ideally, research and development should be conducted in industry with appropriate investment and in close coordination with academic institutions and universities. Unfortunately, for the developing countries in the region, research and development is conducted mostly in the government and public sectors, and very little is really absorbed by industry for actual production. Universities rely mostly on government funding, with very little sponsorship by industry. With the severe financial constraints facing these developing nations, most of their universities are not equipped with the latest instruments and infrastructure, and recent technical journals on space research and technology are unavailable. Limited funding, a lack of sponsors, and the requirement for lengthy preparations are some of the problems facing universities in introducing space technology-related studies and projects.

Research and development activities conducted by government agencies are not in any better position. These activities are also limited by funding with no assurance of continuity. Only a few countries, particularly those with institutionalized space programs such as China, India, North Korea and Thailand, undertake research and development activities with considerable support from the government.

An example of educational benefits in Thailand is the small satellite for education (TMSAT), which is the first Thai micro-satellite. It was constructed by Thai engineers and now operates in Low-Earth Orbit.

Major Space Applications	Specific Contribution	Res- pon- sible	Benefiting
Satellite Remote Sensing. Regional land use patterns, distribution of geological structure soil types, vegetation classes, water resources, transportation networks, monitoring flood risks, land use changes.	- Promoting sustainable human settlement development. - Promoting sustainable land use and human settlement planning and management in disaster prone areas - Promoting the integrated provision of environment infrastructure.	Japan India China	Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore South Korea
Protection of the Atmosphere. Address uncertainties: improving scientific basis for decision making (study of atmospheric change and effects on natural processes and development)	- Use of meteorological and remote sensing satellite data for monitoring changes in vegetation. - Appropriate sensors for monitoring stratospheric ozone layer, atmospheric, smoke dust, pollutants.	Japan	Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. Agricultural policy review; planning an integrated program covering the many aspects of agriculture (monitoring and management of agricultural production, rangelands, forest and wildlife)	- Determination of the extent and location of cultivated land; yield estimation; for tracking and predicting plant parasite infestation. - Monitoring of qualitative crop forecasting. - Integration of remotely sensed data and data from other sources using GIS can provide essential information for policy formulation and planning purposes. - For location of potential areas for groundwater development; for flood control schemes, forest management and erosion control, and transportation system development in remote areas.	Japan India China	Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore
Protection of the Oceans. Including seas, enclosed and semi-enclosed areas; the coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources; integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, including exclusive economic zones, marine environment protection, sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources, addressing critical uncertainties for the management of the marine environment and climate change.	- For marine resource monitoring and management. -Sea surface temperature measurements in support of fishing activities and monitoring marine resource stocks. - Coastal dynamics in relation to erosion and sediment deposition, shoreline changes, changes in tidal wetlands and coastal zone vegetation, discharge and transport of effluents. - For survey of potential aquaculture sites. - For mapping and monitoring oil slicks and discharges from ships, large-scale pollution. - Observation of sea-state of surface winds and ice cover to assist in shipping operations and navigation. - For detecting development and tracking of severe storms and cyclones. - For cyclone warning and flood warning.	Japan India China	Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore
Protection of the Quality and Supply of Freshwater. Application of integrated approaches to the development, management, and use of water resources. Integrated water resource development. Protection of water resources, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. Impacts of climate changes	- For rainfall prediction and estimation. - For mapping the distribution of surface water and its changes, for water resource assessment, flood and drought forecasting. - Archived information from satellite systems used for modeling the hydrologic behavior of watersheds, for flood control planning, and flood relief programs. - For studying and monitoring climate change and its effects on water resources.	Japan India China	Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore

Conclusions

Every Asian country can contribution to and benefit from the strategy. The countries in the first tier can contribute to the strategy with the utilization of their technologies. The countries in the second group have the capability to operate ground-receiving stations and to produce inexpensive computers. They have the potential to participate in both space activities and international collaboration. Therefore, they could play an important role in our international strategy. The countries in the third group have the ability to process satellite data, and for this and other reasons, can also contribute to our international strategy.

In the near future, Asian countries should organize an Asian Space Agency (ASA) to contribute to our international strategy and to get benefits from the strategy. This year at ISU, the ISU Asian Alumni Association (IAAA) was formed. The IAAA could provide the initial inspiration and creativity that may be required to form the International Asian Space Agency. This agency will facilitate the future space activities in Asian countries. For example, Asian countries can collaborate to create a regional launch system that could more effectively compete in the world market than current Asian systems. Furthermore, an Asian Space Agency could provide opportunities for many countries to fly astronauts who might not otherwise be able. This agency should play an important role in Asian space activities, especially for future missions of human exploration away from Earth. Such an agency should, of course, participate in the international coordination organizations discussed in section 3.4.

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