Japan bolsters space export

The government is set to bolster Japan's export of space technology to emerging economies through closer coordination with the private sector, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported. The commercial market for the global space industry was estimated at 160 billion dollars in 2010. However, the US and European countries nearly monopolize the market. Japan has set its sights on emerging economies in Southeast Asia and Latin America who plan to have their own telecommunications and earth observation satellites. A new emergency information system is expected to utilize the quasi-zenith satellite developed by Japan. The system will allow people to check the whereabouts of their family and friends by mobile phone. With a 95-percent success rate for its H2A rocket, Japan also hopes to win contracts to sell and launch domestically-made commercial satellites.