Policy and Law

In Part One of this multi-week SpaceWatch Middle East Theme on the Chinese Space Silk Road and the Middle East, we invited Dr. Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) to provide an overview of the Space Silk Road for readers. The emergence of China’s Belt and Road …

The new formation of the UAE Space Agency Board of Directors has met for the first time on August 14, 2017, chaired by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of State for Higher Education. Board members include H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Khalid Al Buainain, Badr Al Olama, …

Over the course of this coming week, SpaceWatch Middle East is running the first part of a multi-week theme on China’s Space Silk Road and the Middle East. Today, as a scene setter, Benjamin Habib and Viktor Faulknor of LaTrobe University in Australia, provide an overview of China’s Belt and Road …

Centuries ago, China and Europe were connected by a number of trade routes across the Eurasian landmass and the Indian Ocean that were later known as the Silk Road. These Silk Roads not only connected the ancient Chinese Middle Kingdom and Medieval Europe, but also connected regions of Eurasia that …

Blockstream, the leader in blockchain and financial cryptography, today announced the availability of Blockstream Satellite, a new service that broadcasts real-time Bitcoin blockchain data from a group of communication satellites in space to almost everyone on the planet. Blockstream Satellite enables further participation in Bitcoin, including the billions of people …

The small satellite is enjoying what has been a re-birth over the past five years and this is culminating in a plethora of new constellations and technological developments that could literally see the satellite industry move onto a new trajectory. Helen Jameson, SpaceWatch Middle East Senior Contributing Editor, takes a …

STATEMENT BY SIMONETTA DI PIPPO DIRECTOR UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS (UNOOSA) Sixtieth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Vienna, 7-16 June 2017 Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, On behalf of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, I warmly welcome you all to the sixtieth …

For All Moonkind, Inc., announced on July 30, 2017, the formation of an International Advisory Council which will develop and implement the nonprofit organization’s plan to obtain United Nations protection of the six Apollo Lunar Landing Sites and related artifacts. One of the key members of the Advisory Council is …

Andre Kearn, Radiant Senior Director, Commercial Services, of DigitalGlobe, writes on how satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence can be used to map the human dimension of conflict. Using the Syrian Civil War as a case study, Kearn demonstrates the utility of DigitalGlobe’s Human Landscape. Political unrest and religious disputes have led …

The Iranian government minister responsible for the space portfolio has stated that he will step down before the start of President Hassan Rouhani’s second term. Mahmoud Vaezi, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, has been responsible for Iran Space Agency activities as well as negotiations with Russia and other …