In Japan, the concentration of population in urban areas and the declining birthrate and aging population have led to the decline of rural areas. To solve this problem, I have planned and started to put into practice a space project to revitalize the region by turning my hometown, Komono Town, into ”space town.” First, we have initiated activities to introduce space education programs to schools in order to get parents and children living in Komono Town interested in private space travel and the private space business. Specifically, we visit the mayor of the municipality and the board of education, and hold lectures by private astronauts at elementary and junior high schools to implement the program to give children a dream. In addition to children, we also offer lectures on commercial space travel for elderly people living in Komono Town. Nearly half of the population of Komono Town is elderly. By having a goal of space travel, the elderly will find a purpose in life, which will enhance their vitality and revitalize the community. Furthermore, we will make effective use of vacant houses and land owned by the elderly by converting them into places to practice private space education. We will also attract tourists from other regions by offering space tours to simulate space travel with private astronauts using a private spacecraft education and training simulator, which was created by converting a camping trailer. In this paper, I report the results of my examination of the project to revitalize my hometown, Komono Town, as a rural area by turning it into ”space town,” as well as the issues involved in the implementation of the project.
国際宇宙航行連盟(IAF)が主催し、年に1度、開催される、宇宙業界では世界最大の国際会議です。 2022年は、9月18日から23日の5日間の会期でフランス国立宇宙研究センター(CNES)がホストを務め、フランスのパリで開催されました。「Space for @ll(全てのための宇宙)」というテーマのもと、会期中110カ国から9,300人以上が参加し、今回「責任あるイベント」の基準を見事に満たし、国際標準化機構(ISO)の認定を受けました。そして、3,000件以上の論文が発表されました。その他、たくさんのGNFセッションや特別セッション、プレナリーやハイライト講演、また250を越える出展者が参加しての展示会が行われました。
今年は、2023年10月2日から6日までアゼルバイジャンのバクーで、アゼルバイジャンの宇宙機関であるアゼルコスモス(Azercosmos)がホストを務め、「Global Challenges and Opportunities: Give Space a Chance(全世界的なチャレンジとチャンス: 宇宙は与えられたチャンス)」をテーマに、第74回国際宇宙会議(IAC 2023)が開催される予定です。