• 

  Mr. Leong Keong Kwoh
  Director, Centre for Remote Imaging,
  Sensing and Processing (CRISP)

• 

  Mr. Naoto Matsuura
  Senior Chief Officer of Satellite Applications,
  JAXA

The Space Applications Working Group (SAWG) was established following the 20th anniversary of the APRSAF, and its first meeting was held at APRSAF-21 in Tokyo in December 2014. Part of the motivation for forming the SAWG was to foster enhanced cooperation with local operational agencies in each country of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as with development aid agencies and international organizations, through the promotion of sustainable operation of space applications.

The SAWG of APRSAF-25 to be held in Singapore will be co-chaired by National University of Singapore and JAXA, and will provide a discussion opportunity about space technology as an enabler (regional platform) for societal development. More specifically, space technology can supply information and inputs to find solutions that address the Global Agenda (Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals) and that also support Spatial Data Infrastructure through value addition, dissemination and data sharing frameworks such as Open Data Cube efforts by Australia, India and Vietnam; data/information sharing portals such as JASMIN (JAXA), MOSDAC, BHUVAN (India), and MANTAP (Indonesia), etc.

SAWG initiatives, namely, Sentinel Asia for disaster monitoring and Space Applications for Environment, and SAFE for environmental applications including agriculture (GEOGLAM-Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring) and integrated water and land resource management, will be discussed in detail to improve and enhance services to end users in the Asia-Pacific region. These two initiatives, Sentinel Asia and SAFE, are both in advanced phases of maturity as technical demonstration endeavors of SAWG. In addition, commercial sector participation on advanced IT technologies, such as big data analysis and cloud computing that are playing a key role for delivering information services using space-based data, will be planned.

In conclusion, we are looking forward to seeing you in Singapore to discuss the latest space applications that can support a safe, prosperous Asia-Pacific region by using advanced space technologies and IoT.

• 

  Prof. Kay Soon Low
  Professor,
  National University of Singapore /
  Director, Satellite Technology and Research Centre (STAR)

• 

  Mr. Ryoichi Imai
  Vice President /
  Director General of Research and Development Directorate, JAXA

The Space Technology Working Group (STWG) aims to enhance and support space technology development in the Asia-Pacific region through active information exchange among experts from space agencies, academic institutions, as well as from the private sector in the region.

Based on the achievements at APRSAF-24 in India, the program structure of the STWG for this year’s session is given below. The STWG co-chairs are pleased to call for presentations on each topic.

Recent trends in space technology development status

Introduction to own nations’ current trends in space technology development and efforts in capacity building, or lessons learnt from capacity building courses are expected. The main topics of interest are as follows: (a) Current and future space technology development roadmap and its function, (b) Advanced, cutting-edge and innovative technologies (satellite bus, devices, components, or relevant facilities), and (c) Capacity building at “higher education” (university or working engineer) level.

Space industry participation

Space industries including small and medium enterprises, and/or governments, institutes and space agencies that support such industries are invited. Presenters are expected to introduce advanced, cutting-edge, and innovative technologies that can be applied commonly or solve common technological barriers in the region. In particular, presenters from Singapore are welcomed.

Space debris countermeasures

This session will share space debris countermeasures focusing on technical issues. Nations which launch satellites, and institutes or agencies from spacefaring nations are most welcome to introduce their activities.

Status report for the “Joint development of Innovative Small and Cube Satellites”

The current status for the preparation of the “Joint development of Innovative Small and Cube Satellites” proposed in APRSAF-24 will be reported.

• 

  Mr. Cheng Hai Tan
  Professional Member,
  Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA)

• 

  Mr. Fumiaki Tanigaki
  Associate Senior Engineer,
  Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Utilization Center,
  Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, JAXA

The Space Environment Utilization Working Group (SEUWG) was formed to encourage countries in the Asia-Pacific region to utilize the Japanese Experiment Module, also known as “Kibo,” which means “hope” in Japanese. The Kibo module on the International Space Station (ISS) is a manned space facility that provides unique research capabilities in a microgravity and in-orbit space environment. Various scientific and engineering research activities are conducted on Kibo that take advantage of the exceptional environment, in the fields of life science, medical science, materials science, space environment monitoring, astronomical observation, Earth observation, and advanced technologies.

One key capability of Kibo is small-satellite deployment that employs the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD). Approximately 220 satellites have been deployed from Kibo up until now, and J-SSOD has been gathering global attention as a new space transportation system for satellites. Kibo also commands the Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) and the IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform (iSEEP) that together provide easier and more frequent opportunities for small-sized technical experiments and exposed experimental hardware (e.g., new device tests for satellite and Earth observation using HDTV camera). Furthermore, Kibo’s Pressurized Module is used not only for science and technology, but also for capacity building like the Asian Try Zero-G program.

At this time, we look forward to presentations on current activities and interesting utilization ideas/proposals for submission to the SEUWG. Topics of space environment utilization other than Kibo utilization (parabolic flight experiments, sounding rocket experiments, etc.) are also welcome. Private companies will be invited to introduce their activities and plans that incorporate capabilities currently provided by the ISS.

Through discussions held following the presentation of relevant topics as described above, the SEUWG aims to contribute to introducing new projects for Kibo utilization. We welcome the participation of many countries from the region, and look forward to sharing and discussing the future of space environment utilization for the Asia-Pacific region.

• 

  Dr. Rogel Mari Sese
  Program Leader,
  National Space Development Program

• 

  Dr. Nozomu Sakuraba
  Director,
  Space Education Center, JAXA

On behalf of the Space Education Working Group (SEWG), we would like to welcome everyone to the 25th Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum. The SEWG aims to inspire, nurture, motivate and develop young talent in order to support future space programs. Through various space educational activities, we strive to spark the intellectual curiosity of young minds, not only in the Asia-Pacific region but throughout the world.

This year, the SEWG will hold its annual Water Rocket Event from November 2nd to 4th in Singapore, right before the APRSAF-25. The event is co-organized with SpeedB as our local organizer. During the Water Rocket Event, students and educators from more than 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region will test their skills in making and launching water rockets, as well as interact with each other to foster cultural exchanges between countries . At the annual Poster Contest, selected works from participating countries will be exhibited at the APRSAF-25 session venue, with the winner being selected based on the votes by APRSAF-25 participants.

In this year’s working group meeting, the SEWG would like to put a spotlight on “Innovative Space Education Programs”. With the advent of new techniques for teaching and communicating space science, the topic is timely and fitting. These innovations can come in the form of new technologies used, online space education or new pedagogies. We hope that SEWG members would share their respective innovative and unique programs, create a dynamic exchange of ideas, and share best-practices in teaching space to our youth. New trends in global space education will also be introduced, including the movement from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning, which aims to foster human resources with broader knowledge and creativity. We hope that through these discussions, it would serve as a preview for future trends for space education in the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of this year’s output, the SEWG looks forward to contributing ideas and innovations to enhance member countries’ space education activities based on their respective educational policies. In order to achieve this, it is important for us to be creative and think out-of-the-box in developing, utilizing and promoting space-related educational materials and activities. We look forward to your active participation at the next SEWG meeting. See you in Singapore!