Advisory Interview~ vol.3 Hideshi Kozawa~
Hope that Utilizing the Space Would be More Popular, Personal Use Level
Mr. Kozawa, who used to work at JAXA for managing the ISS project, worked on the corporate planning, international cooperation, industrial cooperation as director. After resigned, he published consultant firm, “Office K” in 2014.
He is the person who literally knows everything about space.
He joined our team as an advisory. He says, “I was raised by space. I want to make the space useful for everyone.”
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Hideshi Kozawa
Ex-director of JAXA. He worked on development of tracking-managing system of satellites and operating system of ISS in NASDA (predecessor organization of JAXA) since 1971. He’d directed the Space Station Program as a director of Promoter of Utilization the Space Environment since 2000.
Along with the NASDA turned to JAXA in October 2003, he was inaugurated as the first manager of corporate planning department. Then, he became the executive officer and the director. He was in charge of corporate planning, international cooperation, industrial cooperation.
He published the space consultant firm, “Office K” after he resigned JAXA in 2014. Since 2017, he’s represented the CEO of GPAS, (Global Positioning Augmentation Service Corporation).
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――
『Star Trek』Inspired Me to Get Interested in Space
─Apollo 11 achieved the First Moon Landing in 1969. This event made Japanese pay attention not as fiction, but with reality. But just after few years, you’ve started the development of tracking system of satellite, operation system of Space Station in 1971. I simply found it great.
Kozawa： NASDA(National Space Development Agency of Japan) was founded in 1969, that’s when the Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Then, Japan succeeded the launch of first satellite “Osumi” in the next year. In 1971, when I joined NASDA was just after the Big Bang of space development in Japan.
─What Inspired You to Work in Space Industry？
Kozawa： When I was at fourth grade in Kyoto University, I was assigned a Lab. In those days, I’d learn electrical engineering because of my dad’s influence. But I wanted to study something using radio. Just then, I was into the american Sci-Fi drama, 『Star Trek』, and that interested me.
─Is『Star Trek』the Reason!?
Kozawa： Yes it is lol. Radio and『Star Trek』somehow connected, and that led me to my research. My theme was tracking the satellites by antenna which is similar to TV’s one.
─Then, You entered the NASDA after graduation in 1971.
Kozawa： We didn’t develop any satellites as NASDA. I was assigned to the orbit managing department, which handles like “Osumi” launched by Tokyo University. We launched the NASDA’s first satellite “Kiku Ⅰ” in 1975. The satellite Japan used to develop was not that big compared to US, means that what we did was not so challenging. But the goal we had then was “Acquire technology to develop satellites in-house”.
─It’s time that private sectors launch the rockets even in Japan.
Kozawa： Last 40 years since I’ve started involved in space, the thing ism “How can we launch the satellites safely?”, it was a long way to go.
But now, the trend is shifting to “How we utilize the space for mankind”.
─Did you think that it’d take Japan much longer time to reach this point?
Kozawa： In 1971, I’d never imagined that space development would spin-put to the private sector. It was just national project. I worked in Washington as an expat in 1996, that’s when I found that “private-led paradigm would come in the near future”. Because commercialization already had happened in US. Then in 2003, NASDA was integrated to JAXA. Besides, Aerospace Basic Act was established in 2008 and they’ve started to pay attention to the space utilization. At that time, mainstream was the remote sensing business captured by satellites, but afterwards, various companies such as rocket manufacture, moon exploration, and so forth. I feel the speed of change is remarkable last decade.
Warpspace is Simple, and I liked them.
─After resigned the JAXA, you published the company “Office K”. What do you do there?
Kozawa： The space development is coming to the paradigm shift. Previously as you know, it was public sector-led, but private companies have just started leading the industry. It’s the time that brand-new space development will be active I suppose. To my own experience, I was in charge of the industrial cooperation in JAXA, I did consultation for private companies. That’s why I’ve started consulting company.My client are from oldie companies to small to medium enterprises and venture companies.
─Small to medium enterprises?
Kozawa： In the past, organizations which work on the space development are only large enterprises. But today, if they have suitable technologies, they can try new business regardless of the company scale. I connect those small companies with large ones sometimes.
─You’re such a expert of space, but could you tell us why you joined Warpspace?
Kozawa： In 2016, symposium was held in Tsukuba, 4 people were invited, from JAXA, rocket specialist, and me. I met the chairman, Mr. Kameda there for the first time. Perhaps, before he published the Warpspace.
─That’s how you got to know.
Kozawa： Few days later, I was asked to support his business from Mr. Kameda, I denied at the time. But while talking with him, he said, “we have also financial challenge”, so I said, “Then, I could offer financial support.”
─I see.
Kozawa： But I couldn’t give them advise. My thing was only financial support. It is not interesting, is it? Besides I found that my experience could be helpful for them, then I suggested Mr. Kameda to be an advisory.
─What changed your mind?
Kozawa： It’s just because Mr. Kameda was simple person. lol
─Meaning?
Kozawa： I sometimes had opportunity to discuss with venture companies that try to advance the space industry. Most of them were showy and getting attention was purpose I felt. But what Warpspace told me is, “build the small satellites with low cost ($5,000-ish) to spread them as infrastructure”.
If the vision could come true, it would be interesting because my own career started from development of small tracking system of satellites so I could understand how it’s like. And more than anything, I liked Mr. Kameda’s simple personality.
─You liked simplicity.
Kozawa： Yes, that’s right. What they did at the time was like an extension of study. They’d just work on how to build the technology. At the beginning, they ecxplained their business plan but I said, “It doesn’t make sense at all”.
─It didn’t work in the view of Professional.
Kozawa： That said, I didn’t expect in business success at all. I’ve wanted them to grow slowly, because I decided to see them in long terms.
It’s the Time to Consider How to utilize the Space.
─What do you think of the space venture companies?
Kozawa： I used to think that venture companies are just technology based previously. But I feel that their business have started connecting the society.
Let’s take SpaceX. Their high speed internet constellation plan, “Starlink” is about to establish, and even in Japan, there’s a venture company which works on eliminating the space debris.
Also, utilization of space in the National Security will make progress. It’ll bring the opportunities to venture companies and amount of investment would increase.
─What do you think about the future of Warpspace?
Kozawa： I think their strategy, building the telecommunication system for LEO satellite operators makes sense. This project stands out among startups.
The thing is, how to create the demands. I mean, in the beginning of space industry, they were like, “We’ve developed this product, so please use it!”, and it worked. But lately, they have to think their clients through.
─In fact, business never runs as long as someone needs.
Kozawa： If the private company could offer the infrastructure which used to rely on Government finance, there would be more demands and the business will run. I believe that their technology will helpful and useful for the people in the world. That said, there are some players that have been competing in this industry for a long time. If possible, Warpspace should collaborate with them and bring the synergy together, and gradually, they need to sophisticate their business competitive enough in the global market.
In order to build meaningful infra for real society, they need to struct the entire architecture including the ground system, just to launch 1 or 2 satellites is not enough. And of course they are responsible for sustaining them in long term. So that they need to develop and sustain the systems which are feasible and stable enough. Fortunately, they have technical capability to cover the whole system from ground to space, and it makes me comfortable. But in order to succeed as business, the mindset to get entire life cycle is necessary, from building the system, maintain it, and update it, in my view.
─It seems your advise will be reliable support for them.
Kozawa： I’ve been working in this field for over 40 years. I’d love to play a role to contribute the society through space development, as a pay back to space industry. I’m not sure I could be a support for them though. lol
I hope that space utilization will be common things for everyone, not just like broadcasting satellites or GPS. Related to it, let me talk about my company, GPAS in terms of “Michibiki Project ” led by Government.
─What do you do as GPAS？
Kozawa： Let’s take example, I think GPS navigation is equipped with your cars. But the system says “We’ve reached around the destination. ”, when you reach near from destination, and stops navigating. It’s caused by the error in position of cars(at most 10 m). So we need to minimize the error to reach just front of house. GPAS is the company which offers error-corrected information.
Our service tales you to the destination precisely.
─Sounds great!
Kozawa： We’ll be launching the service in 2020. At first, we assume to use our system in self-driving car, Construction machinery, or drones. It’s also possible to apply the buses, taxis, and ride-share service, etc.
In the future, we’d love to expand personal service, like man-navigation using smart devise, or nursing care service. We take market survey, and estimate how much profit we are likely to earn in GPAS. Otherwise, the investors never supports us. In this point, Warpspace is still easy, honestly. lol
All they do is just telling their dreams. They face hard things from now on. lol
In the future, I believe that we can collaborate. You can do it!
