Policy and Law

The Global Space Congress at St. Regis Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi Hotel was buzzing on 31 January 2017 as it welcomed an international delegation including heads of space agencies, C-Level executives from leading space and aerospace companies, government ministries, top researchers, and academics. The day was packed with presentations and …

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) concluded the first edition of its “Project Space” event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and general supervisor of all projects of the …

A Space Lawyer’s Perspective In the latest SpaceWatch Middle East interview series, Torsten Kriening speaks to Dr. Olga Stelmakh of McGill University, Canada. They discuss the area of global space governance. This is one that not often discussed, yet it is critical and as space becomes an increasingly important part …

A Space Lawyer’s Perspective In the latest SpaceWatch Middle East interview series, Torsten Kriening speaks to Dr. Olga Stelmakh of McGill University, Canada. They discuss the area of global space governance. This is something that is not often discussed, yet it is critical and as space becomes an increasingly important part …

The Syrian Minister for Information, Mohammed Ramez Turgeman, has intimated that the Syrian government is in discussions with Russia about a possible satellite acquisition so that Damacus can assert greater control over how its information and propaganda can be disseminated throughout the country and beyond without being interfered with. The …

Peter B. de Selding, the former international correspondent of Space News, reports in his new venture SpaceIntelReport.com, that Hong Kong-based company China Trends Holdings Ltd. is considering buying Dubai-based satellite communications company Thuraya for U.S.$201 million. Within days of the announcement by China Trends Holdings Ltd., Thuraya issued a statement …

As part of the new partnership between SpaceWatch Middle East and The Précis, a quarterly space law and policy report produced by Space Law & Policy Solutions, run by the prominent space lawyer and friend of SpaceWatch Middle East, Michael J. Listner, SpaceWatch Middle East is occasionally publishing select articles from The Précis. Reproduced here are …

The Ethiopian government announced on 3 January 2017 that it intends to build its own medium-sized space launch vehicle (SLV) and develop the capabilities to domestically build satellites. The Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) said that it will develop a medium-sized SLV that should have its maiden launch …

The head of the Iran Space Agency (ISA) has claimed that his organisation is in talks with several European countries and Japan, as well as China and Russia, to explore the possibility of space cooperation. Mohsen Barami also claimed that Iran is in discussions with several international satellite operators. “We …

In the latest SpaceWatch Middle East interview series, Torsten Kriening speaks to Rahul Narayan of TeamIndus. They discuss the work of the World Economic Forum, ‘Future of Space Technologies’ Council. On 13-14 November 2016 the Annual Meeting for the Global Future Councils took place in Dubai, UAE. Once a year members …