THE ROLES OF GOVERNMENTS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE PROMOTION OF SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

摘要

As one surveys the Asia-Pacific landscape, and measures the success of its space-fairing nations, particularly in the very competitive global space-launch market, it is apparent that the region is a vibrant contributing member of the global space community. Asia's activities in space have come of age at a time when global attention is focused on pursuing a space enterprise instead of a space race, and when most Asian countries are anxious to make a meaningful contribution. This paper addresses the justifications by a number of the participating countries in the region for embarking on the space enterprise, their contributions in the process and the ingredients each of these countries has employed in pursuit of its space venture. In this new millennium, economy of scale and the advantage of working together and sharing knowledge to solve common problems dictate that integrated and unified efforts in the space frontier should become the norm rather than the exception. Asia's continuing investment in knowledge, skills and infrastructure development and its accumulated experience in the space arena have equipped the countries of the region with the capabilities they can successfully employ in co-operative space ventures. A working partnership between government, the private sector and academia, with the support of international organisations, is crucial to the attainment of envisioned national and regional space objectives in the region. The paper concludes with suggestions on the mechanisms the Asian region could employ to evolve a unified regional approach as it marches towards the future in the ever-expanding space frontier.