APRSAF-5

Background

APRSAF is an annual international meeting to provide an opportunity to representatives from space agencies and relevant international organizations of the Asia-Pacific regions to get together to exchange their opinions and coordinate their space policies.
At the Asia-Pacific Space Agency Forum which was held on the occasion of the International Space Year (ISY) of 1992, Japan proposed a meeting of APRSAF.
The first session of APRSAF was held in 1993, and since then, every year the meeting had been held in Tokyo until 1997 as follows:

• The 1st Session : Tokyo, Japan / Sep. 1993
• The 2nd Session : Tokyo, Japan / Oct.-Nov.1994
• The 3rd Session : Tokyo, Japan / Mar.1995
• The 4th Session : Tokyo, Japan / Mar.1997

At APRSAF-4, a delegate from Mongolia proposed to host a next meeting of APRSAF and consequently APRSAF-5 was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in June 1998

Participating Countries and Organizations

Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, USA

NASDA's Roles:

As one of the organizing agencies, NASDA is in charge of not only planning and organizing the annual meeting of APRSAF, including secretariat functions, but also sending its staff to make a leading speech and other presentations at every Session of the APRSAF meeting.

Organized by

• Mongolian National Remote Sensing Center, Ministry of Nature and Environment
• Science and Technology Agency of Japan
• Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan
• National Space Development Agency of Japan

Date

June 21-23, 1998 (June 23 was for a technical tour).

Venue

Chingis Khan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Participants

Sixty including the Secretariat and observers.
They were representatives from 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, ESCAP, embassy staff and other relevant international organizations.

Program

General Chairman

Prof. Yasunori Matogawa, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan

Vice Chairman

Mr. S. Khudulmur, Director, Mongolian National Remote Sensing Center

Moderator

Mr. Masami Takemoto, Deputy Director, External Relations Department, NASDA

First Day (June 21):

One-day Technical Tour to Mongolian National Remote Sensing Center, Geology-SPOT Center, and Tourist Camps

Second day (June 22):

Welcome Address by His Excellency, Mr. S. Bayartsong, Minister of Nature and Environment
Keynote Address by Dr. V. Ramos, Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines, presented by Mr. V. Santos Director, National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority, Philippines
Keynote Report by Dr. M. Ganzorig, Cosmonaut, Director of Institute of Informatics,
Mongolian Academy of Science
Session 1: Space Science
Session Chairman: Mr. S.P.D. Alwis
(1) Introduction of the Japanese Space Science Programs

Third Day (June 23):

Session 2: Utilization of Satellite Data for Sustainable Development
Session Chairman: Dr. Toshihiko Ogawa
(1) Data Application Research and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region
(2) Earth Observation Satellite Plan by NASDA, focusing on the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)
(3) Promoting the User of Observation Data in the Asia-Pacific Region through the Global Observation Information Network (GOIN)
(4) Application and Research of Earth Observation Satellite Data over Mongolia
(5) Pilot Project in Thailand
(6) Indian Remote Sensing Program
(7) Remote Sensing and Their Application in Mongolian MAGIC PROJECT ?E General and Closing Remarks . General and Closing Remarks

Results of the Meeting

The technical tour to the National Remote Sensing Center and the Geology-Spot Center on July 21, 1998 gave us a good experience to know how Mongolia uses its remote sensing technology. At the meeting of APRSAF-5, there were 21 reports and presentations from the participants, and active discussion among them was made on the current space development activities in the Asia-pacific Region. Especially, presentations from the Mongolia delegates reaffirmed the listeners how much important remote sensing technology has a role to play in the land management and environment protection projects in Mongolia. In addition, presentations from Japan about the most up-to-dated space science and satellite development programs attracted much attention from the participants, and provided some useful information for their future space development in the Region. Furthermore, some people from foreign embassies and international organizations stationed in Mongolia joined the meeting as observers, and the two local TV stations broadcast the meeting.

Report