- HOME
- Activities
- Forum List
- Forum Details
July.1.2023 KIP Forum "The Artemis Program: Plans to Return to the Moon"
Mr. Garvey McIntosh
Profile: Mr. McIntosh is currently the NASA Attaché based at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. He is responsible for the coordination of NASA’s programs with Japan and other countries in the Asia Pacific Region. Since joining NASA in the Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) over 15 years ago, he has supported international cooperation on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station, high-energy physics and astronomy, and collaboration with India on the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. He also played a major role in the formation and work of the 26-member nation International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR). Garvey has served as the OIIR Europe Team lead and lead for India, France, and the U.K. He also served as the Executive Officer to the former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver.
【Speech and Q&A】
We had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Garvey McIntosh, NASA Asia representative. He provided for us insights about NASA’s symbolic missions and the grand international space industry such as 'The Artemis Program'. He also emphasized that they will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. During the Q&A session, we had the opportunity to ask Japan's role, the challenges within it, and how the current international situation may influence it. Through his speech, we were able to feel this vast and dreamlike world of space exploration.
【Group discussion and Ground discussion】
We engaged in a debate regarding the pros and cons of investing a huge amount of money to find a place to live outside the Earth. If humanity's current pattern of destructive activities persists, we will face the limitation for finite resources in our planet. It was suggested that preparing for such cases and advancing the necessary technological developments would be beneficial for humanity in the long run. Moreover, inspired by Mr. Garvey McIntosh's lecture, we also explored the implications of Japan's involvement in those missions from the standpoint of evolving international relations. The discussion served as a catalyst, prompting us to reflect on our nation's role and its relations with other countries in this context.
【Personal Opinion】
As a person with a background in science, I naturally tend to focus on the technical aspects when discussing the space industry. However, Mr. Garvey McIntosh's portrayal of NASA's space development industry was quite inspiring for me, presenting a broad view that includes not only technical and business issues, but also international relations and political considerations. Space industry missions can sometimes be influenced by international issues and may face significant constraints. Nevertheless, the established track record, trust, and purpose that NASA has built over the years encourages companies, governments, and organizations worldwide to cooperate and work together. This enables them to unite and take on such ambitious missions, regardless of nationality or gender. In his lecture, he also elaborated on Japan's contribution to the mission. It was indeed an honor to be part of such valuable discussions.
Rina Tanaka, Aoyama Gakuin University, Physics, Master 2nd year