The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed on 1 April 2018 that it had lost contact with the GSAT-6A communications satellite that had just been launched on 29 March 2018.
Read More »Bangladesh’s Bangabandhu-1 Communications Satellite Shipped to Florida for Launch Preparations
Bangladesh’s space ambitions are closer to reality. The Bangabandhu-1 communications satellite has been shipped to Florida for its upcoming launch. The satellite’s manufacturer, Thales Alenia Space of France, has sent it from its warehouse in Cannes for arrival on 30 March 2018.
Read More »2018 to be Active Year for Pakistani Space, With Chinese Help
Often cast in the shadow of the space activities of its Indian neighbour, Pakistan's space programme is all-too-often ignored. 2018, however, may be the year that Islamabad's space ambitions pass some critical milestones, albeit with help from its other neighbour, China.
Read More »India and EU Sign Copernicus Remote Sensing Data Exchange Agreement
The European Union and India signed a cooperation arrangement agreement Monday forging significant earth observation links to combat climate change and provide environmental security. "The European Commission and India's Department of Space (DoS), have decided to sign an arrangement with the aim to strengthen and stimulate cooperation on Earth observation and mutual access to the data from the EU's sentinel series of satellites and from the Indian earth observation satellites," the statement said.
Read More »Welcome to SpaceWatch Russia & CIS
Russia and other independent republics of the former Soviet Union enjoy a proud and impressive space heritage, from Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin to the Mir Space Station and the unparalleled launch record of Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Read More »Russia to Send non-crewed Mission to Mars in 2019, According to Vladimir Putin
In what might be an election ploy or a signal of a growing space race, President Vladimir Putin announced plans for Russia to go to Mars in 2019 despite funding difficulties and a poor Russian track record for Martian exploration. Plans for this Mars mission come after 15 unsuccessful and …
Read More »Chinese Counterspace and the Return of Great Power Geopolitics: Implications and Suggested Strategic Responses for India
How should India approach Chinese efforts to develop antisatellite (ASAT) weapons and its ambition to establish space superiority? In a talk given to the Observer Research Foundation’s Space Security conference in New Delhi on 16 February, 2018, ThorGroup’s Dr. John B. Sheldon offers a few suggestions. For those who have just …
Read More »India and France Sign Wide-Ranging Joint Vision for Space Cooperation
India and France have announced a broad and strategic space cooperation agreement to guide their developing bilateral strategic partnership. This Joint Vision for Space Cooperation includes both existing and new joint mechanisms, with inter-agency representation led by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French National Space Agency (CNES) respectively. The progress and outcomes will be reported to the bilateral Indo-French Strategic Dialogue for review and assessment.
Read More »India, France to Cooperate on Space-Based Maritime Domain Awareness in Indian Ocean, Other Space Activities
France and India have agreed to cooperate on space-based maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean. This decision to increase cooperation is seen as a geopolitical countermove to what many Indian analysts believe are increasing attempts by China to gain superiority in the Indian Ocean. France and India will now …
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Op’ed: NewSpace and the Geoeconomic Space Race to Come in the Indian Ocean Region
With China’s Belt and Road Initiative coming under criticism, and a proposed infrastructure programme in the offing from the so-called ‘Quad’ powers of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, ThorGroup GmbH Chairman and President, Dr. John B. Sheldon, argues that the Quad powers tap the potential of their NewSpace …
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