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| Bo Andersen (left) and Keiji Tachikawa signed the agreement on behalf of the Norwegian Space Centre and JAXA. Credits: NSC. |
Japan and Norway already cooperates well in several areas, especially within atmospheric studies.
- The framework agreement was signed because both countries wish to expand the work we do together, says Bo Andersen, Director General of the Norwegian Space Centre.
President of JAXA, Dr. Keiji Tachikawa, added that Japan is happy with the ongoing cooperation and puts particular emphasis on the advantage of having access to the SvalSat satellite station at Svalbard.
The agreement was signed 28 September 2010 in Prague and replaces the letter of intent from Tokyo in 2007.
Sounding rockets and the Aurora Borealis
Japanese scientists carry out extensive research on the Aurora Borealis. Sounding rockets from Andøya Rocket Range are effective in measuring the various active areas of the atmosphere.
Japan also participates in EISCAT. Large radar antennas at Svalbard and in other Northern Scandinavian areas are used to map changes in the ionosphere and in the Earth’s gravity field. Additionally, Japan runs a research station at Ny Ålesund in Svalbard.
- Cooperating with Japan, we would like to expand the use of space in polar research, Andersen says.
Data from the Japanese satellite Hinode has been downloaded to the SvalSat ground station for several years. The information is passed on to a data centre at the University of Oslo. In turn, the data centre distributes the data to scientists across the world.
Industrial possibilities
Andersen hopes the agreement will facilitate sale of Norwegian technology to Japanese space projects. He believes the agreement will make it easier to start new projects, including joint technology development.
- We look upon this agreement as part of the political desire to extend cooperation between Norway and Japan within research and technology, concludes Bo Andersen.
