The recent visit to Tehran by China’s defence minister, Chang Wanquan, is the latest indicator of increasing defence and intelligence cooperation between Iran and China, as each country’s strategic, economic, and geopolitical goals align in Eurasia as well as the Middle East. Iran is thought to be interested in acquiring …
Read More »Schools Go Online in the Unconnected World
A child born in America or Europe can expect to live in a household making the equivalent of at least US$31,000 a year. For a child born in Mexico or Peru, the figure is less than US$6,000. In Africa south of the Sahara, the average income per person equaled only …
Read More »Op’ed: Space in Europe: we are living in exciting times!
Europe is about to make key decisions that will affect its place in space for the coming years. Through its flagship projects, both current and future, it will strive to ensure that it remains a strong and influential player. Vera Pinto Gomes, Policy Analyst at the EU Satellite Navigation Programme, gives her …
Read More »UK Space: Commercial and scientific excellence under political uncertainty
The UK space sector has made great strides over the past several years, and has established a strong network of partnerships throughout the Middle East. Yet the British decision to exit the European Union poses many challenges for the UK space and satellite industry. SpaceWatch Middle East contributing editor Helen Jameson examines …
Read More »UAE National Space Policy: An initial assessment
As part of the new partnership between SpaceWatch Middle East and The Précis, a quarterly space law and policy report produced by Space Law & Policy Solutions, run by the prominent space lawyer and friend of SpaceWatch Middle East, Michael J. Listner. Reproduced here is Michael’s commentary on the recently completed UAE National …
Read More »Satellite Serves a Thirstier World
Water. We are literally made of the stuff. That’s why we can survive for weeks without food but only days without water. We drink it, cook with it, bathe in it, grow food with it, clean with it, swim in it, and use it in almost every kind of industry. After the …
Read More »Challenges and Opportunities for a Kuwaiti Space Programme, Part II
Several weeks ago SpaceWatch Middle East contributor Ghanim Alotaibi, a Kuwaiti engineer and Space Generation Advisory Council member, wrote of the need for a Kuwaiti space programme, but that such an endeavor faces several challenges, starting with the challenge of ‘Kuwaitisation’. This week, Ghanim address the other three challenges Kuwaiti leaders will …
Read More »When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut too…why Iran and NASA will not be cooperating anytime soon
Recent press reports quote the head of the Iranian Space Agency, Mohsen Bahrami, as saying that he would like to see Iran cooperate with the American space agency, NASA. ThorGroup’s Chairman and President, Dr. John B. Sheldon, argues that while Mr. Bahrami’s sentiments are noble, political realities mean space cooperation …
Read More »Innovation in outer space, it’s not rocket science – Part 2: The case for Australian space
Australia’s space industry needs to catch up with the rest of the world. Andrea Boyd, Flight Operations Engineer for the International Space Station in Germany, explained why at the recent GAP Summit in Part Two of her case for a more proactive Australian space policy and programme. Part One can be …
Read More »Innovation in outer space, it’s not rocket science – Part 1
SpaceWatch Middle East is privileged to republish this article by Andrea Boyd. The geopolitical impact of the topic also has a huge value in the Middle East region. Australia is the only OECD country without a national space agency. Andrea Boyd, an International Space Station Flight Operations Engineer at the …
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