In recent years, research and development of commercial manned suborbital space transportation has been progressing in the private sector. A study group of experts with government and agency observers, the “Commercial Manned Suborbital Space Transportation Study Group (hereinafter referred as Study Group)”, was formed to examine the technical and legal discussion points and future trends of current domestic and international missions, systems, infrastructure and more.

The first meeting was held on November 28th, and the second on December 21st.
The study group is hosted by SPACE WALKER, Inc. and PD AeroSpace, Ltd. both developing a commercial manned suborbital vehicle, and is supported by the Small and Medium Ventures Space Business Study Group, with the Japan Space Forum acting as the secretariat. The study group will meet monthly, five times during the fiscal year.
The research topics are as follows:

(1) International Trends
Share trends in the development and commercialization of commercial manned space transport vehicles in various countries, as well as future plans.
(2) Japan’s manned space transport research and ground infrastructure facilities
Share the status of research on manned space transport technology conducted by domestic research institutions, as well as the status of plans for the necessary ground infrastructure facilities.
(3) Clarify Japan’s legal issues
Clarify the current state of domestic law and study responses to commercial space transport.
(4) Summary of future issues
Based on the results of the above discussions, clarify technical issues and legal issues for the realization of commercial manned space transport.
The study group will not be open to the public, but press releases will be issued as appropriate.

For questions about the press release, please contact us through the inquiry form on the Japan Space Forum website (http://www.jsforum.or.jp/inquiry.html).
Please write “To the Commercial Manned Suborbital Space Transportation Study Group” at the beginning of your inquiry.
We will respond after receiving approval from the Study Group. Thank you for your cooperation.