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Japan Launches Space Operations Unit in SDF

Science Tokyo Kanto
Japan Launches Space Operations Unit in SDF

Japan welcomes its newest Self-Defense Forces team, the Space Operations Squadron, as the first SDF unit specializing in the field of space. A ceremony to launch the squadron took place at the Defense Ministry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpmaFZdIVo&feature=youtu.be

Defense Minister Kono Taro urged members of the new group to make efforts to respond to public expectations. The unit in the Air Self-Defense Force is mainly responsible for monitoring outer space for threats. They include colliding space debris and attacks from suspicious artificial satellites. The 20-member unit is based at the ASDF‘s Fuchu base in western Tokyo.