During the 10th annual summit of member states of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO) it was announced that Iran has been given permission for its satellites to share the APSCO information system. The summit, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 6-8 September 2016, also agreed that Iranian satellites be accepted …
Read More »Iran and Bolivia sign space cooperation agreement
The Iranian and Bolivian governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the end of August that commits both countries to extensive cooperation in space issues. The MoU was signed in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra on 26 August 2016 by the Iranian ambassador to Bolivia, …
Read More »Israel’s Spacecom unveils recovery programme after Amos-6 loss
Spacecom announced on 5 September 2016 that it is developing a plan of action following the loss of the AMOS-6 communication satellite due to the explosion of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on the launch pad. The company has begun measures to recover funds invested in the project. The company’s management …
Read More »Still waiting to launch: Iran’s space programme and the ‘Resistance Economy’
Remember Iran’s potential as a significant regional player in space? So do we, but as ThorGroup’s Chairman Dr. John B. Sheldon points out, that potential will mean nothing without significant economic and political reform from Tehran. So far, though, there is little sign that much-needed reform is in the offing …
Read More »Israel’s Spacecom sale in jeopardy after SpaceX Falcon-9 explosion destroys Amos-6 payload
The sale of the Israeli commercial satellite communications company Spacecom to Chinese telecommunications company Beijing Xinwei Technology Group is now in jeopardy after Spacecom’s Amos-6 communications satellite was destroyed when a static engine test of a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket went wrong at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, United …
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 »Israel’s Spacecom to be sold to Chinese group after launch of Amos-6
Shareholder’s of Israel’s Spacecom, operator of the Amos fleet of commercial communications satellites, announced on 24 August 2016 that they has agreed to sell the company for U.S.$285 million to Chinese telecommunications company Beijing Xinwei Technology Group Co. Ltd. It is believed that the sale will proceed, subject to Israeli …
Read More »Iran, Azerbaijan cement space cooperation agreement
Iranian and Azerbaijani officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for space cooperation between the two countries, days before Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visits the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, on 8 August 2016. Iranian Minister for Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi and Azerbaijani Minister Communications and High Technologies Ramin Namigoglu …
Read More »Kuwait mulling development of a national satellite capability
The Kuwaiti cabinet, the Council of Ministers, is considering the acquisition and launch of a satellite, according to local reports in Kuwait City. Draft legislation has been submitted to the cabinet from the Communications and Information Technology Commission. The reports say that the cabinet has formed a committee to examine …
Read More »The New Asian Space Race
Asia is home to three established space powers – Japan, China and India – and there are several new players, some with rising aspirations of reaching the Moon, thus giving way to a new competition in Asia. The fact that six of the ten countries – China, India, Iran, Israel, …
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