防卫大臣小泉进次郎周五表示，防卫省将启动一项关于快速响应空间运输能力的研究，以确保自卫队能够稳定使用卫星。
The Defense Ministry will launch a research study on rapid-response space transportation capabilities to secure the Self-Defense Forces’ stable use of satellites, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Friday.
此举正值包括中国、俄罗斯以及日本盟友美国在内的更多国家持续加强其太空军事能力之际。
The move comes as more countries, including China, Russia and Japan’s ally, the United States, continue to bolster their military capabilities in space.
小泉在一次例行新闻发布会上表示：“目前，防卫省和自卫队正在努力加强其在太空领域的能力。然而，随着这些工作的推进，一旦我们使用的部分卫星——包括紧急情况下所需的卫星——遭到损失，如何迅速恢复其功能，仍然是一个关键的国家安全问题。”他提到美国能够在接到通知后24小时内进行按需太空发射。
“Currently, the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces are working to strengthen their capabilities in the space domain,” Koizumi told a regular news conference. “However, as we move forward with these efforts, it remains a critical national security issue to be able to rapidly restore functionality in the event that some of the satellites we use — including those required during emergencies — are lost.”Koizumi pointed to the U.S., which is able to conduct on-demand space launches within 24 hours of notification.
小泉表示，“快速进入太空的重要性日益凸显”，但他同时指出，要实现这一目标所需的发射能力“并非仅靠防卫省就能解决”。他提到，通过这项研究，防卫省正借助私营部门的专业技术，广泛征集有关空间运输能力的“多样化创意”。
“The importance of rapid access to space is growing,” Koizumi said, but noted that the launch capabilities required to achieve a similar goal “cannot be resolved by the Defense Ministry alone.”With the study, he said, the ministry is soliciting a “broad range of ideas” about space transport capabilities by drawing on the technical expertise of the private sector.
这位防卫部门负责人还表示，该研究的一个目标是推动日本自主研发、具有国际竞争力的新系统诞生。
The defense chief also said that one aim of the study is to serve as a catalyst for the emergence of new, Japanese-made internationally competitive systems.
日本的增长战略已将太空和火箭发射场视为推动国家经济扩张的关键动力。
Japan’s growth strategy has noted space and rocket launch sites as a crucial driver for expanding the country’s economy.
但政府也承认，在提高发射频率、提升国内火箭制造能力以及开发发射场和相关基础设施方面，构建日本自身的太空能力仍是一项重大挑战。
But the government has acknowledged that building out Japan’s space capabilities represents a significant challenge as it looks to boost the frequency of launches, improve domestic rocket manufacturing capabilities and develop launch sites and related infrastructure.
“这项研究旨在明确防卫省和自卫队所需快速响应空间运输能力的具体要求，”小泉表示。“通过明确这一需求，我们相信这将鼓励私营运营商进行投资并推动商业化，同时有助于加强日本的航天产业基础设施，包括火箭和发射场。”
“This study aims to clarify the specific requirements for the rapid-response space transportation capabilities needed by the Defense Ministry and the SDF,” Koizumi said. “By demonstrating this demand, we believe it will encourage investment and commercialization by private-sector operators and contribute to strengthening Japan’s space industry infrastructure, including rockets and launch sites.”