Asia Pacific

The UK space sector is on the cusp of entering a new and golden age. As a country, the UK already has a thriving space sector with leading companies that have pioneered the small satellite industry, for example.

Japan is considering building a constellation of microsatellites for maritime domain awareness (MDA) operations over the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Sea of Japan to monitor Chinese maritime and naval activities, especially around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands.

China's Hainan Earth observation satellite constellation that is designed to "reinforce national sovereignty" over the South China Sea and other disputed territories is set to start launching its first satellites in 2019, according to Chinese state media reports.

Pakistan has taken over control of its Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS)-1 and the PakTES-1A experimental satellite from Chinese operators just over a month after the two satellites were launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China.

Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi announced on 15 August 2018 – India's Independence Day - that India will launch its first manned space mission by 2022. The announcement was made by Modi in what is his last Independence Day speech ahead of the general election to be held in early 2019.

Singapore’s AddValue Technologies has signed an agreement with New Space Earth observation satellite company Open Cosmos for the provision of AddValue’s Inter-Satellite Data Relay System (IDRS™) that will link the Open Cosmos constellation in orbit in real time.

Japanese New Space satellite launch company Interstellar Technologies Inc. is developing the main engine for its Zero launch vehicle and expects to complete that development this year, with the aim of conducting the first engine test in early 2019.

Chinese New Space satellite launch company OneSpace Technology, China’s first private rocket producer, has raised a RMB300 million (U.S.$44 million) series B investment round that was led by CICC Jiatai Equity Funds, according to an official announcement made by the company.

Spire Global, the New Space company that provides meteorological, maritime, and aviation awareness data from low-Earth orbit, has selected Arianespace’s Vega launch vehicle to loft its LEMUR-2 Cubesats.

The South Korean defence ministry has announced that it is reorganizing its military cyber command in order restore public and politic trust following allegations that officers tried to interfere in the South Korean political process.