Middle East

Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) President Jean-Yves Le Gall was at the 4th Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) symposium that is taking place in Herzliya, Israel, from Monday 4 to Friday 8 November 2019 on the theme of “Small Satellites for Sustainable Science and Development."

The UAE, represented by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has launched the UAE Sirius Mission, in partnership with the Roscosmos Space Agency’s Scientific International Research In a Unique terrestrial Station (SIRIUS) analog at Russia’s IBMP Ground-based Experimental Complex, NEK, in Moscow.

David Pollack, the long-serving Chief Executive Officer of Israeli satellite communications company Spacecom, is to step down after 24 years with the company.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) launched the fourth edition of the Young Professionals in Space (YPS) Conference, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Russian state space corporation, Roscosmos, and the Turkish Space Agency are reported to be in advanced discussions over a formal bilateral space cooperation agreement, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

Kazakhstan has proposed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with Turkey in order to collaborate on space launch out of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, according to an official from the Aerospace Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Defence and Aerospace Industry.

In its new survey titled, “Satellite-Based Earth Observation Market Prospects to 2028”, Euroconsult forecasts that the market for data and services derived from Earth observation (EO) satellites is expected to grow by 9.4 percent each year for the next ten years for a total upside market value of $12.1 billion by 2028.

The head of the Iran Space Agency, Morteza Barari, told Iranian media that Iran plans to develop and build a high-resolution Earth observation satellite capable of taking images of one-metre resolution.

Processing is now underway with the TIBA-1 satellite passenger for Arianespace’s next dual-payload Ariane 5 mission, which is scheduled for a November liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) announced on 2 November 2019 that it has commenced work on the Smart Map of Natural Capital of the UAE.