Space Business Will Become Everyone's ~The Potential Brought by the Evolution of Space Tech~ (Part 2)

• Space Business for Everyone: The Possibilities Brought by the Evolution of Space Tech (Part 1)

Space tech—the development of space-related technologies aiming to bring new value to daily life and business. We interviewed Mr. Toshihiro Katayama, Business Producer at Dentsu Inc. and Co-Founder and Director of the Spaceport Japan Association, to explore the changes emerging from this evolution of space tech. In Part 1, we explored how space business—once perceived as distant from our lives on Earth—may surprisingly have a strong impact on "Earth's economy," using examples like the construction of "spaceports," facilities for spacecraft takeoff and landing. In Part 2, we delve deeper into the influence space business has on soft content and its broader future prospects.

The expansion of space business will change everyone's lives

Q. I understand the potential spaceports offer. However, as you mentioned, spaceports are ultimately "ground infrastructure." So, it seems space itself becoming truly accessible to us might be further off. What are your thoughts?

Katayama: Today, almost no one lives without interacting with the internet, right? Yet just a short time ago, the internet didn't exist, or was used only by a very limited few. Since its full-scale commercial adoption in the 1990s, more and more people likely find a day without the internet unimaginable. I believe exactly the same thing will happen with space business.

In the first part, I mentioned that "artificial satellites will only increase from here on out." But what exactly are we trying to achieve by launching so many satellites? There are various objectives, one of which is "using satellites to build an internet network in space." By exchanging radio waves via space, we can cover an area vastly larger than what's possible with terrestrial communications or broadcasting. Once space communication becomes feasible, it truly means "communication possible anywhere." Communication would be possible anywhere with a receiver—whether on the summit of Mount Everest or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This would significantly reduce the risk of accidents in even the most remote locations. Furthermore, achieving autonomous driving requires highly precise positioning technologies like GPS, and space-based communications would play a key role in this. The establishment of a space communications network would drive the evolution of various services on Earth.

Another key purpose is "global monitoring and sensing using satellites." This will advance "smart agriculture and fisheries" leveraging robotics and information and communication technologies. Vast farms can be monitored from space to apply fertilizer or begin harvesting at optimal times. Or, by checking the ocean, we can pinpoint fish schools to streamline fishing. Monitoring weather data and seawater helps prepare for disasters. Search for natural resources. Viewing the Earth from space will increase productivity and disaster prevention capabilities in various ways. Business, manufacturing, peaceful use—we are entering an era in which our relationship with space will be indispensable.

On the other hand, because space development is extremely expensive, there is a global trend toward utilizing private sector capabilities. In May 2020, SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, led by Elon Musk, became the first private company to transport two astronauts to the International Space Station. This marked the first time in nine years that the United States had its own manned spacecraft since the retirement of the space shuttle. Travel to and from the International Space Station is supported by huge government spending on private companies, but this technology has also led to the emergence of private businesses offering "space tourism" for the wealthy. These circumstances are one of the reasons behind the recent emergence of various space tourism services.

The evolution of space tech fosters new philosophies and soft content

Q.In the first part, you discussed the potential of "spaceports" and how advancing space development could transform our lives. Could the evolution of space-related technology also drive the evolution of soft content?

Katayama: A clear example is the "KIBO Space Broadcasting Station" connecting the International Space Station to Earth. It captures and broadcasts images like "the first sunrise in space" and Earth's orbit. There's now a movement to sell these as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), essentially unique digital assets . This kind of thinking is, in a way, less likely to emerge from space engineers or rocket developers. In other words, the question, "Now that we can go to space, what kind of business or projects can we use it for?" is often better considered by people who aren't completely immersed in space.

Last year, Russia already sent a film director and actress to the International Space Station to shoot a movie there. There are also plans to dock a film studio onto the ISS by 2024.

Personally, I found an astrology app offered by an American startup fascinating. It combines millennia-old astrology with actual celestial data to send users their "current fortune." The idea of astrology intertwined with cutting-edge celestial data is intriguing, isn't it?

Related to this, there's also an initiative by Kyoto's Daigoji Temple called "Launching a Temple Using an Artificial Satellite." They say this follows the teachings of their founder, Kukai. Kukai was also a researcher of the universe.

Mandala paintings and five-story pagodas are said to have emerged from the Buddhist cosmology of that era. So, the renowned monks of old could also be considered cosmic researchers. It's fascinating how mystical elements become intertwined precisely when technology advances enough to actually reach space. I believe future content will emerge from the fusion of science and mystery.

Q. The idea that "new content will emerge from the fusion of science and mystery" is very intriguing. Indeed, when "new technologies or worlds" are born, I feel there is often a sense of the mysterious, or something philosophical arises.

Katayama: Many astronauts say that after finally reaching the space they'd longed for, their greatest discovery was the preciousness of Earth. This phenomenon, where an unimaginable experience brings about a major shift in consciousness, is called the "Overview Effect." The view of Earth from space is extraordinary, of course, but the wind and the scent of soil felt upon returning to Earth are also profoundly moving. While the connection isn't certain, many astronauts choose careers like "priest" or "farmer" in their second careers. Experiencing space seems to lead them back to the world of faith or to productive activities on Earth. You can sense a major shift occurring within the individual astronaut.

Considering relocation means reevaluating Earth's environment. Environmental awareness nurtured by space business

Q. So, experiences related to space change people's consciousness. What other effects do you think space business will have?

Katayama: Currently, space development is seeing renewed activity in exploration of the Moon and Mars. There are plans to develop the Moon into a future refueling base in space, and there are plans to colonize Mars. Elon Musk advocates a Mars colonization plan, aiming for the first manned landing on Mars around 2029.

Leaving aside the question of whether this is technically feasible for now, let's say humans are able to go to Mars and successfully start building cities there. But what if there are some kind of "indigenous people" living there? Is it acceptable to eliminate their lives for the sake of humanity? Furthermore, humans cannot live in the current environment on Mars, so the environment must be changed to make it suitable for humans. From Mars' perspective, this could be considered "environmental destruction." Humans have engaged in large-scale economic activities on Earth, resulting in environmental destruction that is making it increasingly difficult to live comfortably here. We then choose Mars as a new home and plan to settle there by again causing large-scale environmental destruction. Is this truly ethically correct?

This is what "space ethics" contemplates. It's a new academic field that uses diverse knowledge and insights from various disciplines, regardless of whether they are humanities or sciences, to consider ethical standards regarding the impacts arising from humanity's expansion into space. It's truly still in its infancy; we don't even know if the things being discussed now are correct. It might evolve into a completely different field of study in just a few years. In this way, the liberation of the world of space—the realm above 100 km altitude—allows the human spiritual world to merge with it, creating opportunities for new ideas and philosophies to emerge.

Introducing the perspective of "space ethics" also raises the fundamental question: "Is Mars colonization even necessary?" While Mars offers a higher potential for human settlement compared to other planets, its environment remains extremely harsh for human habitation. Average temperatures hover around -60°C (approximately -76°F), creating an arctic cold. Although it has an atmosphere, it is extremely thin and consists mostly of carbon dioxide. To make Mars habitable for humans, various plans utilizing advanced technology have been devised. However, if such technology were developed, couldn't we use it to repair and evolve Earth's environment for the better without risking anything by going to Mars? Might that approach be more efficient than altering Mars' environment? Such discussions are also emerging.

To draw an analogy, it might be similar to the perspective behind F1 development. Even though F1 supercars are ultra-high-performance machines, they never reach the market. However, the advanced technologies cultivated during their development are eventually applied to commercial vehicle development. In other words, the challenge of "creating a new ecosystem on Mars" actually serves as the ultimate R&D (Research and Development) for "restoring Earth's environment."

Q. Finally, could you share your aspirations for future space business?

Katayama: As I mentioned in the first part, I wasn't deeply involved in space from the start. On the other hand, many people involved in space today have been truly focused on space for a long time, often saying things like, "I dreamed of becoming an astronaut since childhood," or "I've always wanted to see Earth from space someday." In that context, perhaps someone like me, in a sense, is better suited to step back and communicate the "value and meaning of space development" more broadly, or to create new businesses in collaboration with non-space companies.

Space tech and the space business emerging from it hold tremendous potential for everyone. If Japan falls behind in this race, it could become an irreversible loss. Holding onto this hope and sense of urgency, I intend to continue communicating the possibilities of the space business to everyone in the clearest way possible.

Just as the expansion of the internet profoundly changed our lives, the evolution of space tech and the accompanying growth of various new space businesses will significantly transform our lives. Simultaneously, technological advancement may also give rise to new philosophies, ideas, content, and cultures. If so, the "space industry" may not remain confined to a single industrial category but could become an industry that builds the very foundation of human life going forward. At first glance, "space" and "farmland" seem worlds apart, yet they are actually converging through "smart agriculture." In this way, the evolution of space tech holds great potential to enhance our businesses and lifestyles. Especially for Japan, which must increasingly confront the major challenges of a declining birthrate and aging population, promoting and utilizing the space industry may hold the key to future growth.

Mr. Katayama has published a book titled "Understanding Space Business at Lightning Speed!" (Subaru-sha). This book explains the past and future of space business in a very clear and accessible way, including topics that couldn't be fully covered in the interview. If you're interested, I highly recommend giving it a read.