TIM FURNISS / LONDON
Asia entered the space age in April 1970 with the launch of the first Chinese satellite. Since then, China has become a major force in space, launching its first astronaut in October last year, while India and Japan have developed indigenous satellite manufacturing and launch capabilities. Now North and South Korea are developing satellite launchers, Japan is involved in the International Space Station (ISS) and both China and India have ambitions beyond Earth orbit.
Chinese "taikonaut" Lt Col Yang Lewei's 21h 24min flight aboard Shenzhou 5 on 15-16 October is likely to be followed in late 2004 or early 2005 with Shenzhou 6, crewed by two astronauts. China aims to join two Shenzhou craft in space to form a mini-laboratory and, eventually, plans a manned space station.
China has also launched communications satellites for several commercial operators but business tailed off following the spectacular 1996 failure of the first Long March 3B booster with the loss of an Intelsat satellite. The decline in commercial launches was exacerbated by restrictions on US satellite launches, although a commercial launch of the French-built, Asian-owned Apstar 6 is planned for 2006.
China's designs on the Moon include the launch of the Chang'e lunar orbiter, planned for 2005, to be followed by a lander and a sample-return mission, with an unmanned Chinese Moon base mooted for 2010.
Japan entered the space age in February 1971 with the launch of the Tansei satellite but has yet to launch a satellite commercially. The country's ambitions were set back by last year's failure of its H2A booster with the loss of two intelligence satellites. Developed as a lower-cost follow-on to the unsuccessful H2, the H2A is capable of launching 2,000kg (4,400lb) satellites into geostationary transfer orbit with plans for uprated versions capable of carrying 4,000kg payloads.
As one of the original partners in the ISS, Japan plans to launch a large laboratory, the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), with pressurised and unpressurised space for experiments and a remote manipulator system. The first JEM segments were to have been attached to the ISS by 2000 but may now be delayed until 2006.
Government launches of communications, science and Earth- observation satellites will continue once the H2A returns to service but the loss of Japan's Mars probe, Nozomi, has dampened enthusiasm for further missions beyond Earth orbit, including the already delayed Lunar A orbiter. Research continues, however, into reusable spaceplane technology with plans for a small shuttle-type vehicle.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) aims to make South Korea one of the world's top 10 aerospace powers by 2015. In November 2002, KARI test-fired a three-stage liquid-propellant rocket, the 6t KSR III, from Anheung and plans its first indigenous satellite launch next year.
North Korea is developing a satellite launch capability, although Japan and the USA claim it is a cover for development of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). A 1998 test-firing of a Taepo Dong 1 satellite launcher failed, possibly due to an upper-stage fault, but another is planned. The 33.4t rocket is based on the No Dong intermediate-range missile and a small solid-propellant upper stage.
The Asia-Pacific Space Co-Operation Organisation (APSCO) - including China but not North Korea - has been established to co-ordinate environmental protection, disaster monitoring and Earth resource exploration. APSCO will also promote the development of space technologies across the region and its formation could mark the beginning of a new phase in the Asian space industry.
Source: Flight International
