Japan’s Three Aerospace Organizations To Be Integrated

On August 21, Ms. Toyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science
and Technology, announced that three aerospace organizations, namely the
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, National Space Development
Agency and Aerospace Laboratory of Japan, will be integrated.

The purpose of integration this time is to facilitate efficient and
effective implementation of space activities by concentrating the efforts
of all three organizations responsible for space development in Japan. It
is based on full recognition that space development is an important area
that contributes to the mankind’s intellectual property, the social
economy, and the vitalization of space industry.

As for organizational functions after integration, further discussions
and examinations will be conducted in the preparatory committee for the
integration of space agencies presided over by Senior Vice-Minister
Aoyama.

We, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, intend to continue
to assume our responsibility as a core promoter of space science in Japan
and to express our opinions on future space development and the way the
related organizations should be.

At this occasion, we would like to ask for further support and cooperation
by all people for the advancement of space science and development.