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 Interviews: Rahul Narayan of TeamIndus
The Google Lunar XPrize (GLXP) may have ended, but the teams that have invested nearly a decade into their lunar dreams have vowed to continue to reach their goals. TeamIndus had made huge progress towards the launch deadline of 31 March, 2018, and inspired the people of India and beyond …
Read More »Saudi Arabia to Contribute Optical Camera to China’s Chang’e-4 Lunar Far Side Mission
By Andrew Jones China’s pioneering Chang’e-4 lunar mission set to launch later this year will carry an optical camera provided by Saudi Arabia as part of international involvement in the mission. The Chang’e-4 mission, which will use the backup to the 2013 Chang’e-3 Moon lander and rover, plans to make …
Read More »Orbital ATK Receives Order for Second In-Orbit Satellite Servicing Vehicle
Orbital ATK, a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced on January 4, 2018, that it has been awarded a contract for a second Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2). The vehicle was ordered by Intelsat S.A. to provide life extension services for an Intelsat satellite. Orbital ATK is now producing …
Read More »#SpaceWatchME Op’Ed: Private Companies Are Launching A Space Race – Here’s What To Expect
International competition in space has been a permanent feature of humankind’s forays into Earth orbit and beyond ever since the launch of Sputnik by the former Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. During the Cold War the competition was between super powers. Today the competition is between at least 60 countries and …
Read More »Lockheed Martin Reveals New Details to its Mars Base Camp Vision
At the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide, Australia, Lockheed Martin experts revealed new details of its Mars Base Camp concept including how it aligns with NASA’s lunar Deep Space Gateway and a Mars surface lander. Mars Base Camp is a vision of how to send humans to Mars in …
Read More »#SWMEThemes: China’s Space Silk Road and the Middle East – The Indian Perspective
In Part Four of the SpaceWatch Middle East multi-week theme on China’s Space Silk Road and the Middle East, Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, India, offers an Indian perspective on China’s Space Silk Road, and points out that despite the rhetoric from Beijing, …
Read More »For All Moonkind, Inc. Announces Formation of International Advisory Council Which Includes an Emirati Member
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 …
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