Positioning Navigation and Timing

A "Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Federal Space Agency of Russia, Roscosmos, on Joint Activities in the field of Human Spaceflight Programme," was signed between India and Russia on 5 October 2018.

The Australian Space Agency has formally entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with counterpart agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom, as part of the Australian coalition government’s plan to launch a vibrant new space industry in Australia.

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has released its space exploration roadmap that sets out a path for Australian space industry and research organizations to more fully support and participate in international space science and exploration initiatives, particularly international efforts to reestablish a human presence on the Moon.

The passage of the UK Space Industry Act 2018 into law has not, as yet, seen any further developments, however crucial questions in relation to liability, insurance and charging still need to be addressed. There has been a call for evidence to inform on these crucial regulatory aspects and once these questions are addressed, then there will be something of a clearer picture as to the regulatory environment of UK Space Activity.

Chinese commercial satellite launch vehicle company ExPace successfully launched an experimental positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite called Centispace-1-S1 on board a Kuaizhou-1A launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) on 29 September 2018.

The Philippines will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Russian national space agency, Roscosmos, that will allow the Southeast Asian country to launch the micro- and nanosatellites it is developing, as well as be a site for a receiving station of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) – Russia's positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite constellation that is the equivalent of, and rival to, the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Australian Space Agency and its French counterpart, the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that commits both countries work together to develop their respective space programmes and take full advantage of the rapidly expanding global space industry.

Kleos Space, the Luxembourg-based New Space company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), has been busy since its successful IPO on 24 August 2018 that raised approximately U.S.$8 million.

New Zealand has become a strategic partner of U.S. space-based geolocation company HawkEye 360, enabling the country to access the company's geoanalytical capabilities for maritime domain awareness, border security, and asset protection. Eagle Technology, a New Zealand-based company, will be the strategic partner for New Zealand, bringing HawkEye 360’s radio frequency (RF) geoanalytics to the country.

Australia’s Buccaneer Risk Mitigation Mission Cubesat, a joint mission between the Australian Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), has performed according to plan since its launch in late 2017 and is paving the way for follow-on Buccaneer missions.