Asia Pacific

UK-based Effective Space is set to launch its first Space Drone spacecraft in 2020 which will introduce life extension services to satellite operators. The company has received very encouraging feedback on its plans and other potential lines of business such as accommodating new constellations in LEO.

Space Systems Loral (SSL), a Maxar Technologies company and a leading satellite manufacturer, has announced that the Merah Putih communications satellite built for Telkom Indonesia, Indonesia's largest telecom operator, is performing post launch maneuvers according to plan following its successful launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Space Launch Vehicle on 7 August 2018.

Uniwise Offshore Limited, a leading offshore support vessel (OSV) operator in the Asia-Pacific, has awarded Thaicom to provide NavaTM, the new high-speed broadband service for the maritime sector.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus Defence and Space that allows both parties to cooperate on space and satellite areas of interest, according to a report published in SpaceTechAsia.com.

The Secure World Foundation (SWF), the influential think-tank that focuses on the secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of space, has announced the appointment of Dr. Peter Martinez as its new Executive Director effective 1 October 2018.

Inmarsat has partnered with Indonesian low-cost airline Citilink to provide in-flight connectivity on board all 50 of its Airbus A320 fleet.

A Japanese government white paper submitted to the Japanese cabinet on 3 August 2018 claims that Japanese companies that invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies that develop employee skills, and result in labour-saving innovations, stand to out-compete their non-AI competitors by up to 20 per-cent in terms of productivity.

China is seeking to enhance its soft power and global scientific reputation by inviting international participation and cooperation in space science experiments on its planned space station.

Unit 42, the cyber security research arm of U.S.-based cyber security company Palo Alto Networks, has identified a Pakistani hacking group they call the Gorgon Group that is engaged in both criminal and nation-state cyber activities.

The UK space sector is truly on the up. Years of hard work preparing the ground are finally paying off. With recent announcements promising long awaited spaceports, and the rapid growth and leadership of the UK in the smallsat industry, iconic Goonhilly Teleport is looking forward to a glittering future.