Space Development Forum Executive Committee

The Space Development Forum Executive Committee is a student organisation in Japan. It brings people from arts and science backgrounds together to talk about space development. It plans and runs the Space Development Forum, a symposium for people from many fields.

The group was set up in November 2002. At first, space development was mostly about research, rockets and satellites. The group believes the future also needs views from law and business. It says mixing arts and science thinking matters more as the field moves fast. Its members work from a student point of view.

Members also run study sessions and fieldwork to deepen their understanding of space. Projects follow members' own interests. They include a space law study group and projects called dot. and USE. The group also holds other study groups. People who are curious can watch its activities at any time of year.

The 2026 forum took place on 28, 29 and 30 August. It was free to attend with registration. It was backed by Japan's Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, JAXA, the Japan Space Forum and SPACETIDE.

Companies also support the group's work. Sponsors of the 2026 forum include IHI, RX Japan, B-SAT, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, NEC, SKY Perfect JSAT, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and PASCO.

The group works with the wider space community. It has acted as an event partner for SPACETIDE career events and backed the SPEXA space business expo. It also exhibited at the 2024 International Aerospace Exhibition. It announced a 20th anniversary event in 2023 and has hosted a talk with a NASA astronaut. A space law and policy networking event was announced in October 2026.

Members come from many universities in Japan, including the University of Tokyo, Keio, Waseda, Chuo, Rikkyo and Hosei. Students from Brown University, the University of Hawaii and Georgetown University also take part.

Services

• Space Development Forum symposium
• Space law study group
• Study sessions
• Fieldwork
• Student space projects
• Networking events