The Australian government has announced inaugural seed funding of AUS$26 million over four years to establish an Australian Space Agency, as part of a larger AUS$41 million investment in space-related funding. Although this funding is less than the predicted AUS$50 million due to an overall reduction in government spending on science and research, it ends Australia's status as one of the only OECD countries without a space agency, and it is predicted to boost the Australian space sector.
Read More »Ugandan Rural Connectivity To Be Provided By Intelsat and Israel’s Gilat
The world's largest satellite communications provider, Intelsat, will partner with Israel's Gilat in a pilot program to provide a communications infrastructure for Uganda's rural populations as part of the effort to enhance that country's economic and social development.
Read More »Hong Kong’s AsiaSat Announces New Board Promotions in Technical Services and Engineering
As part of its reorganization and reassignment of its most senior executives since the appointment of Dr. Roger Tong as its Chief Executive Officer in April 2018, Hong Kong’s Asiasat has announced two new corporate promotions to important technical positions on the board.
Read More »Thailand’s Thaicom Wins We Are IT Philippines IPSTAR Satellite Broadband Contract
Thaicom, Thailand’s biggest commercial satellite communications provider, and We Are IT Philippines Incorporated (WIT), announced in Manila on 3 May 2018 that WIT will lease the entire capacity on Thaicom’s IPSTAR satellite to provide broadband Internet coverage across the Philippines.
Read More »UAE-France Reaffirm Space Cooperation, Model for Modern Collaboration
The working relationship between the UAE and France is a model of space cooperation in the 21st century, and their collaboration is now expanding to include space medicine research for UAE's astronaut programme, as well as ongoing partnership on projects relating to climate change and Mars exploration.
Read More »UAE’s Dubai Proposes Multi-Mode Super Port for Air, Space, and Hyperloop Travel
Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) has proposed the creation of a Multi-Mode Super Port at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport to provide a single hub for all sub- and supersonic air travel, space access, and hyperloop transportation in the UAE and the Middle East region.
Read More »Australia Sets AUS$50 Million Seed Funding and Will Name Head for New Space Agency
The Australian federal government is set to announce on 8 May 2018 a AUS$50 million seed funding for the new national space agency, and is expected to name Dr. Megan Clark as the agencies first head. While the date of commencement of Australian Space Agency activities has not yet been announced, the allocation of AUS$50 million seed funding and the expected appointment of Dr. Clark as its director indicates that the agency will start operations soon.
Read More »Australia and France to Cooperate on Hyperspectral Imaging for Environmental Monitoring
Australia and France are set to cooperate in hyperspectral remote sensing for monitoring the environment and global warming, as part of France's quest to become a leading power in the use of space systems in the battle against climate change.
Read More »China Creates Belt and Road Disaster Monitoring Mechanism With Fengyun Satellites
The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has created a disaster response, mitigation, and monitoring mechanism for countries along its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) using its Fengyun Earth observation meteorological satellites.
Read More »Japan Joins Race for Reusable Space Launch Vehicles
Japan's space agency, JAXA, intends to enter the reusable space launch race to catch up with U.S. efforts. It has announced plans to develop a reusable rocket that can carry payloads into orbit on two consecutive days, aiming to cut the costs of space transportation, according to a report in Nikkei Asian Review.
Read More »