As Kuwait considers its space future, SpaceWatch Middle East contributor Ghanim Alotaibi, a Kuwaiti engineer and Space Generation Advisory Council member, examines some of the challenges Kuwaiti leaders will have to address in the first of a series of articles that will be published in the coming weeks. Introduction Two years ago, a …
Read More »Israel’s Space IL hosts annual Google Lunar XPrize summit in Tel Aviv
SpaceIL, an Israeli nonprofit organization working to land the first Israeli spacecraft on the Moon, is pleased to announce that they will host the last annual Team Summit for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. The Team Summit will take place in Tel Aviv, kicking off on 31 August 2016. For the …
Read More »UAE Space Agency discusses cooperation with South Korea
It was announced on 27 August 2016 that the UAE Space Agency is discussing means of joint cooperation with South Korea in the fields of peaceful exploration of outer space and space sector development. The negotiations are part of the Space Agency’s continued efforts to build bilateral relations with nations …
Read More »Middle Eastern Lunar Missions: the Role of the Moon in the Middle East’s Spacefaring Future
The Moon is rapidly becoming the destination of choice for space agencies and companies since it poses less technical and financial risk than going directly to Mars. ThorGroup GmbH’s intern in Washington, DC – Nickolas J. Boensch – explores the emerging ‘Moon Rush’ and the possible roles and opportunities for …
Read More »UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to host Emirates Mars Mission workshop in October 2016
The United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced the 2nd Annual Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Science Workshop, which targets students, graduates and educational entities from various UAE universities. The workshop, which will be held on October 3rd at The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City, will address …
Read More »Politics bite back: Turkish space ambitions on hold after attempted coup
The attempted coup by elements of the Turkish military on 15 July 2016 has more than just interrupted the daily rhythms of Turkish politics – it has completely upended the political order as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) consolidate power by ruthlessly pursuing their …
Read More »President Rouhani names new members to Iran’s Supreme Council of Space
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed three new members to the Supreme Council of Space – the supreme space policy-making body in Iran – on 14 August 2016. The three individuals appointed to the Supreme Council of Space are Elham Aminzadeh, Mostafa Safavi-Homami and Hassan Shafti. Each appointment lasts for four …
Read More »Satellite spectrum issues for the Middle East: an interview with Hans-Juergen Tscheulin
Space and satellites are often treated as an intrinsically exciting and glamorous field of activity. Yet the issue of spectrum requirements, regulatory filings, and spectrum management are all too often considered to be unglamorous, and as a result are unfairly and dangerously ignored. The reality is that without a competent …
Read More »UAE Space Agency, Mubadala and Lockheed Martin launch comprehensive space-based workforce development programme
On 8 August 2016 global technology leader Lockheed Martin, the UAE Space Agency and Mubadala launched a space-based workforce training programme to develop emerging leaders in the UAE space industry. Generation Space: The Space Fundamentals Training Program for early career professionals across the UAE aerospace industry will run for the …
Read More »Algeria’s AlSat-Nano prepared for early September launch from India
Algeria’s AlSat-Nano is being readied for launch sometime between late August and early September 2016 from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Andhra Pradesh on the eastern coast of India. AlSat-Nano is sharing the launch into orbit on an ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) …
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