Space

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is teaming up with leading U.S. commercial satellite imagery company DigitalGlobe to launch the South Africa Earth Observation Challenge that will seek innovative satellite applications idas from South African startups.

The Turkish minister for Science, Industry, and Technology, Mustafa Varank, said on 7 August 2018 that the Turkish government will establish the Turkish Space Agency this year in order to coordinate the country's space activities and manage international cooperation and relations.

Rocket Lab, the U.S.-headquartered New Space satellite launch company that puts small satellites into orbit from New Zealand, has announced that it has signed an agreement with Dubai-based Circle Aerospace for ten Electron SLV launches starting at the end of 2019.

Pressurized and unpressurized hulls for the Science and Power Module (SPM) are currently undergoing service life tests, expected to be completed in February 2019. The module is planned to be added to the International Space Station (ISS).

A new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) argues that despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA - also known as the Iran nuclear deal) an opportunity exists to constrain Iranian ballistic missile capabilities through arms control in return for allowing Iran to maintain a space launch capability that is closely monitored.

Euroconsult, a leading satellite advisory and consulting firm, has released its latest Small Satellite report and predicts that over the next ten years up to 7,000 small satellites will be built and launched globally.

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.