Autumn is in full swing, the perfect season for astronomical observation. However, in recent years, many artificial satellites are also seen among the celestial bodies. This is because rockets are now launched from the Earth at a rate of more than once every two days, and a large number of artificial satellites are orbiting in satellite orbit. Nowadays, outer space, such as the Earth's sky and the surface of the moon, is not only used for space science research, but also for communication and other space development-related businesses. Professor Kawakita* has been pursuing his own unique path in education and research, using spectroscopic technology to analyze the faint light from celestial bodies by "splitting them into rainbows" to advance research into the true nature of comets and stellar explosions that wander the solar system, and has been developing observation equipment and operating an astronomical observatory for this purpose. We interviewed Professor Kawakita* about his current research, the future of space business, and the human resource development required for it.
*Professor Kawakita studied astronomy on his own and became an astronomer. In 2004, he received three awards: the Zel'dovich Prize, given to young and promising astronomers, the Japan Planetary Science Society's 04 Best Researcher Award, and the Japan Astronomy Research Encouragement Award. In 2015, he was awarded the first Nishida Prize for Promotion of Earth and Planetary Sciences for his research into the origins of life through spectroscopic observations of comets, involving students and amateur astronomers.
This spring, the "Space Industry Course"* will begin, with the aim of cultivating talent who can play an active role in the space industry.
As the voice of "3, 200, XNUMX. Launch!" rang out on the ground, a small model rocket using solid fuel was launched into the sky with a burning sound - this was a scene from the "Space Engineering Basics" class (for third-year students) of the "Space Industry Course" established in the Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kyoto Sangyo University. The "common sense of space" required for the future space business, such as manufacturing equipment that operates in outer space, where common sense on Earth does not apply, and constructing a space station or a lunar base, cannot be obtained from our everyday (ground) experiences. Physics, the rules of this world, helps us, who are accustomed to the ground, to understand common sense in outer space and on the moon. For example, there is no air in outer space or on the moon, and there is a temperature difference of more than XNUMX degrees between places where the sun shines and places in the shade, and objects made of metal become distorted due to the difference in thermal expansion. In addition, plastic and glass deteriorate when a large amount of high-energy particles called cosmic rays and solar wind rain down on us. This kind of "common sense about space" will be essential for today's young people who will be working in space as a business.
In an era where various businesses are being developed in space, Kyoto Sangyo University wants to nurture science and engineering talent who can advance various types of "manufacturing," so it has established a "Space Industry Course" in the Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, where students specialize in various fields of physics.
*The Department of Physical Sciences will open a "Semiconductor Industry Course" in addition to the "Space Industry Course" in 2024.
We want to expand our research into space and explore new possibilities for space business.
Nowadays, there are more than 1 artificial satellites flying above our heads, and not a day goes by without hearing about space-related developments and businesses, such as the rocket and satellite development races and lunar exploration by various countries. A full-scale space industry revolution is taking place, and we can say that a new era has dawned.
As symbolized by the development and launch of rockets, the space business has been rapidly shifting to the private sector in recent years. The development of observation equipment to be mounted on rockets with small budgets is the main battlefield, with the keyword being miniaturization to reduce costs. To achieve this, clarification of the observation purpose, high performance, and lightweight design are required, and the world is currently competing to develop such technology.
I have been exploring the mysteries of the universe by collecting and analyzing infrared light from celestial bodies with terrestrial telescopes. We have developed the high-performance analytical equipment required for this in collaboration with companies, and are competing with other companies around the world for results*. Meanwhile, in light of the fact that artificial satellites are now so easily available, we have begun development to miniaturize an infrared spectroscopic analyzer and mount it on an ultra-small satellite, with a view to conducting observations not only from the ground but also from space [Photo below: full-scale model of the spectrometer].
In the future, I think that in addition to observing comets and novae, which are the subject of my research, as a "space telescope" from a satellite orbiting the Earth, I will also be able to aim for business applications, such as observing the Earth's atmosphere and constantly checking areas where large amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are being emitted. In recent years, I have also been actively involved in the comet exploration project (Comet Interceptor) being carried out by Japan's JAXA and the European Space Agency (ESA), and I hope to launch my own ultra-small satellite someday.
*Kyoto Sangyo University signed a comprehensive agreement with Kyocera Corporation and Photocross Inc. in August of this year, and the three parties are working together to promote space business.
Space is truly a treasure trove of new businesses - will all of the businesses currently conducted on Earth be required there?
In addition to academic scientific research, the space business is attracting attention for its various space applications and resource exploration, but at the same time, there are already concerns about a shortage of human resources in various fields.
One example is the insurance sector. Since satellite launches are prone to failure, major insurance companies are all commercializing space insurance. Premiums and compensation amounts are calculated based on the probability of risk during launch, and also take into account whether the satellite will function properly after launch. What is needed here is people who can use their knowledge of physics to judge the success rate of a satellite from launch to operation in space. However, at present, it is said that there are only a handful of such people in the world.
There are also challenges in the legal field, such as who is responsible for cleaning up space debris. In other words, all of the systems and businesses that humanity has built up over the years are being required in a space version, so to speak, and we are now in need of people who can handle them. The current situation is that the supply of people who can deal with the various challenges that arise in proportion to the ever-increasing number of satellites is not keeping up.
The Urgent Need for Human Resource Development and What is Required of Universities
So what kind of human resource development do companies want from universities? One rocket parts manufacturer said that they can provide specialized technical education in-house, but they want universities to provide students with the basic skills they need to learn that. For example, if students learn the principles behind changing the attitude of a satellite, they will be able to more easily understand the innovations that go into making their products more powerful.
As science and technology advances, the amount of science knowledge and skills that students should learn continues to increase. On the other hand, the level of science that students reach upon graduating from high school has not changed much from the past. Therefore, if university faculties remain four-year programs, it is realistically difficult to comprehensively acquire everything from the basics to the latest technology in that time. In that case, universities and faculties have only two options: to have students learn applications that will be immediately useful in the real world, even if it means cutting down on basic education somewhat, or to provide solid basic education and introduce applications while leaving the full-scale education to companies.
In this environment, our faculty wants to maintain its tradition since its founding of being "responsible for the foundations of science and technology that support society." Incidentally, this year our university was certified as an "applied basic level" educational program by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Mathematics, Data Science, and AI Education Program Certification System." The Faculty of Science is unusual nationwide in that it has made data science-related subjects compulsory. This is because we believe that data science is an essential foundation for science students.
Kyoto Sangyo University was founded in 1965 with two faculties, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Economics*, and will celebrate its 2025th anniversary in 60. Its origins lie in promoting education and research with science, which is the foundation of modern science, technology, and industry, and economics/business as its two wheels. If we apply this to the era of the space business, the Faculty of Science can teach the fundamentals of physics necessary for the space business era, and can also give students the ability to link this to industry as a business. And, although this is purely my personal idea, I think that developing our own satellite and even launching it would be a project that truly symbolizes this.
* Founded by Dr. Toshima Araki, a well-known astrophysicist and astronomer, the school has the largest telescope among private schools in Japan. Nobel Prize winner Dr. Toshihide Maskawa also served as a faculty member in the School of Science.
Kamiyama Observatory will house the largest reflecting telescope in Japan among private universities.
Message to high school students
The important thing is to learn how to study and how to research. Those who want to study science should always ask why.
I believe that undergraduate and graduate school master's programs are a place to learn how to do research. I studied electrical engineering at a technical college, transferred to a university to study information engineering, and got a job at an electronics manufacturer. I never gave up on my childhood dream of space, and studied astronomy on my own to become an expert. I believe that I was able to achieve my dream by studying on my own because I learned the basics of research and how to do it at a technical college and university. If you delve into one field, that experience can be applied to other fields. This is especially true in the science field. Currently, technological innovations based on AI and machine learning are attracting society's attention, but if you have a basic knowledge of algebra to understand machine learning, you can keep up with it. And even if the next technological innovation occurs decades from now, or even sooner, you will not have to fear it if you have grasped the basics that are the basis of it and learned how to do research.
I want high school students, especially those aiming to study science, to "train" themselves to be conscious of asking "why" on a daily basis. This is because questions will not arise unless you are conscious of them. Whether it is something in the news or a description in a textbook, asking questions about it is the starting point of science research. Of course, you may not find the answer right away. However, starting from that "why", your range of interest will expand, asking yourself to what this principle can be applied to, or whether it can be used for something else. Learning at university is what lies beyond such interests. Please try to look for "why" on a daily basis.
Professor, Faculty of Science, Kyoto Sangyo University
Professor Hideyo Kawakita
After studying information engineering at Kyoto University, he got a job at an electronics manufacturer. At the age of 28, he became a staff member at Gunma Prefectural Astronomical Observatory. In 2005, he became a lecturer at Kyoto Sangyo University, and in 2010, he became a professor. He graduated from Osaka Prefectural College of Technology (now Osaka Municipal University College of Technology).