About APRSAF
What's APRSAF?
The Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) was established in 1993 to enhance space activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Space agencies, governmental bodies, international organizations, private companies, universities, and research institutes from over 40 countries and regions take part in APRSAF, the largest space-related conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The increasing attendance of high-ranking officials and participants from industry at APRSAF events provides opportunities to discuss international cooperation for space activities in concrete terms.
APRSAF currently organizes five working groups - Satellite Applications, Enhancement of Space Capability, Space Education, Space Frontier, Space Policy and Law - and Space Industry Workshop to share information about the activities and future plans of each country and region in these respective areas. APRSAF also supports the establishment of international projects as solutions for common issues, such as disaster management and environmental protection, so that participating parties will benefit from mutual cooperation.
APRSAF Characteristics
Open and flexible regional cooperative framework
- In view of the diversity of needs in the Asia-Pacific region for space utilization and related developments, APRSAF provides a flexible framework rather than legally binding agreements.
- The open framework of APRSAF enables various entities to participate in its activities.
Voluntary and cooperative activities
- Participating parties carry out their projects in a cooperative and voluntary manner.
- Working groups actively organize workshops throughout the year.
Concrete cooperative activities to solve regional issues
- APRSAF establishes international projects to deal with common issues in the Asia-Pacific region and implement concrete actions:
- Sentinel Asia for disaster management
- SAFE (Space Applications For Environment) for environmental issues
- Climate R (Regional Readiness Review for Key Climate Missions) [Completed]
- Kibo-ABC (Asian Beneficial Collaboration through “Kibo” Utilization)
- NSLI (National Space Legislation Initiative)
APRSAF Video - APRSAF for the past 25 years
This video summarizes the APRSAF activities since its establishment. It was shown at the plenary session of the APRSAF-26.
APRSAF History
1992 APIC
In response to the declaration adopted at the Asia-Pacific International Space Year Conference (APIC) in 1992, APRSAF was established in 1993. APRSAF has been holding annual meetings, jointly organized by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and organizations of host countries.
| 1st | 9-10 Sep. 1993 Tokyo, Japan |
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< Co-Host: Science and Technology Agency of Japan (STA), National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan (ISAS) > | |
| 2nd | 31 Oct. -2 Nov. 1994 Tokyo, Japan |
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(same as above) | |
| 3rd | 13-15 Mar. 1996 Tokyo, Japan |
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(same as above) | |
| 4th | 17-19 Mar. 1997 Tokyo, Japan |
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(same as above) | |
| 5th | 21-23 Jun. 1998 Ulanbator, Mongolia |
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< Co-Host: Mongolian National Remote Sensing Center, STA, NASDA, ISAS > | |
| 6th | 24-27 May 1999 Tsukuba, Japan |
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Main Theme: "APPLICATION OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY" < Co-Host: STA, NASDA, ISAS > |
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| 7th | 19-22 Jun. 2000 Tokyo, Japan |
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"EASY ACCESS TO SPACE BENEFIT" < Co-Host: STA, NASDA, ISAS > |
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2001 |
8th | 23-26 Jul. 2001 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
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"NEW SPACE AGE IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION" < Co-Host: Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE), Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES), MEXT, NASDA, ISAS > |
| 9th | 25-27 Mar. 2003 Daejeon, Korea |
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"BENEFICIAL SPACE APPLICATION FOR THE REGION" < Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology, Korea (MOST), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), MEXT, NASDA, ISAS > |
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| 10th | 14-16 Jan. 2004 Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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"TOWARD PROMOTING COOPERATION ON SPACE APPLICATION IN OUR REGION" < Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand (MOST), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), MEXT, JAXA > |
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| 11th | 3-5 Nov. 2004 Canberra, Australia |
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"TOWARD EXPANSION OF THE SPACE COMMUNITY" < Co-Host: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems (CRCSS), MEXT, JAXA > |
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2005 |
12th | 11-13 Oct. 2005 Kitakyushu, Japan |
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"MAXIMIZING SPACE BENEFITS FOR THE SOCIETY" < Co-Host: MEXT, JAXA > |
| 13th | 5-7 Dec. 2006 Jakarta, Indonesia |
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"WORK TOGETHER, BUILDING A SECURE AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY" < Co-Host: Ministry of Research and Technology, Indonesia (RISTEK), National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), MEXT, JAXA > |
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| 14th | 21-23 Nov. 2007 Bangalore, India |
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"SPACE FOR HUMAN EMPOWERMENT" < Co-Host: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), MEXT, JAXA > |
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2008  |
15th | 9-12 Dec. 2008 Hanoi & Ha Long Bay, Vietnam |
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"SPACE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT" < Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA > |
| 16th | 26-29 Jan. 2010 Bangkok, Thailand |
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"SPACE APPLICATIONS: CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS HUMAN SAFETY AND SECURITY" < Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand (MOST), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), MEXT, JAXA > |
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| 17th | 23-26 Nov. 2010 Melbourne, Australia |
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"THE ROLE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE" < Co-Host: Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research (DIISR), MEXT, JAXA > |
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18th | 6-9 Dec. 2011 Singapore |
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"A REGIONAL COLLABORATION FOR TOMORROW'S ENVIRONMENT" < Co-Host: Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA), Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing, National University of Singapore (CRISP), MEXT, JAXA > |
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19th | 11-14 Dec. 2012 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
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"ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH INNOVATIVE SPACE PROGRAMS " <Co-Host: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), National Space Agency (ANGKASA), MEXT, JAXA> |
2013 |
20th | 3-6 Dec. 2013 Hanoi, Vietnam |
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"VALUES FROM SPACE: 20 YEARS OF ASIA-PACIFIC EXPERIENCES" <Co-Host: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA > |
| 21st | 2-5 Dec. 2014 Tokyo, Japan |
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"LEAP TO THE NEXT STAGE: DELIVERING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS" <Co-Host: MEXT, JAXA> |
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| 22nd | 1-4 Dec. 2015 Bali, Indonesia |
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"SHARING SOLUTIONS THROUGH SYNERGY IN SPACE" <Co-Host: Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of Indonesia (RISTEK-DIKTI), National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), MEXT, JAXA> |
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2016 |
23rd | 15-18 Nov. 2016 Manila, the Philippines |
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"BUILDING A FUTURE THROUGH SPACE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION" <Co-Host:Department of Science and Technology（DOST), MEXT, JAXA> |
| 24th | 14-17 Nov. 2017 Bengaluru, India |
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"SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT" <Co-Host: Department of Space (DOS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), MEXT, JAXA> |
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| 25th | 6-9 Nov. 2018 Singapore |
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"INNOVATIVE SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR EVOLVING NEEDS" <Co-Host: Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA), MEXT, JAXA> |
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| 2019 APRSAF Nagoya Vision was adopted The National Space Legislation Initiative |
26th | 26-29 Nov. 2019 Nagoya, Japan |
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"ADVANCING DIVERSE LINKS TOWARD A NEW SPACE ERA" <Co-Host: MEXT, JAXA> |
2020 |
-- | 19 Nov. 2020 Online |
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"SHARING SPACE VISIONS BEYOND DISTANCE" <Co-Host: SSTL, VAST, LAPAN, MEXT, JAXA> |
| 2021 5 WORKING GROUPS / 1 WORKSHOP |
27th | 30 Nov. - 3 Dec. 2021 Online |
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"EXPAND SPACE INNOVATION THROUGH DIVERSE PARTNERSHIPS" <Co-Host: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA> |
| 28th | 15-18 Nov. 2022 Hanoi, Vietnam |
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"BRIDGING SPACE INNOVATIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE" <Co-Host: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA> |
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| 29th | 2023 Indonesia |
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TBC <Co-Host: National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), MEXT, JAXA> |
