Space for Earth

By John B. Sheldon Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is expected to sign a US$1.2 billion arms deal with French President François Hollande when the leader of France visits Cairo on April 18, according to French newspaper La Tribune. Among the items in the deal is a military communications …

In recent weeks, the Russian Government has provided Algerian and Tunisian authorities with intelligence and military aid to strengthen counterterrorism efforts in the fight against Islamic State terrorists operating in the region. The counterterrorism aid package includes the supply of Russian high-resolution satellite imagery of key Algerian border crossings with …

A Russian press report dated March 16 suggests that Roscosmos, the Russian state corporation responsible for space activities, has offered launch services to Morocco’s Royal Centre for Remote Sensing, should the North African country seek to “resume” its remote sensing satellite programme. The Russians launched Morocco’s Maroc-TubSat from the Baikonur …

According to Iranian and Azerbaijani press reports, Iran and Turkey, along with other member states of the Chinese-based Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) agreed on March 11 to proceed with the design and construction of a remote sensing satellite. The decision follows the Fiscal Year 2015 APSCO Audit Commission meeting …