News

On February 8th 2018, The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), in co-operation with the Oman National Steering Committee began AMADEE-18, the OeWF’s 12th Mars simulation in the Dhofar desert in Oman. Under Austrian leadership, the AMADEE-18 field-crew will conduct experiments in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics/geology and life …

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sultanate of Oman on 11-12 February, 2018, where he was hosted by H.M. Sultan Qaboos. Both leaders oversaw the signing of a landmark space cooperation agreement between Oman and India during the visit. The Memorandum of Understand (MoU) was signed on behalf of …

India’s space programme continues to broaden its appeal into Latin America, becoming a truly global competitor in the launch market and beyond. Several countries in the region have made outreach toward working with India in the coming months. As reported in Indian Defence News this week, Colombia plans to put …

Emirati and Indian officials have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in space exploration and satellite projects following the first meeting of the UAE-Indian Joint Working Group on space in December 2017. Details of that meeting were revealed by senior Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials during a visit to the …

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, and Edouard Philippe, Prime Minister of France, attended on 11 February, 2018, the signing of a joint declaration between the UAE Space Agency and France’s Centre national d’etudes spatiales – the National Centre for …

Singapore moved forward last week in its quest to become the first nation to implement a space-based very-high frequency (VHF) communications system. This system would include mounting VHF communications equipment onto a constellation of small, low-earth-orbit satellites to allow clear, real-time communications between pilots and air traffic controllers over oceanic …

The head of the Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN – Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional) announced in Singapore that his country intends to build and launch two Earth observation microsatellites by 2020, and that Indonesia still has ambitions to develop its own space launch capability. Prof. Dr. …

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has announced a programme that will use Earth observation satellites and imagery data to assist members states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) deal with public health threats such as Dengue Fever, and environmental and resource management problems such as monitoring forest …

By Andrew Jones China’s pioneering Chang’e-4 lunar mission set to launch later this year will carry an optical camera provided by Saudi Arabia as part of international involvement in the mission. The Chang’e-4 mission, which will use the backup to the 2013 Chang’e-3 Moon lander and rover, plans to make …

NBN Co. and Speedcast International, Ltd, partners in delivering Australian communications networks, have selected Israeli company Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd. to provide the satellite platform to serve nationwide business clients in regional and rural Australia. Gilat will deliver, operate, and support its Business and Enterprise Satellite Service (BESS) for businesses …