News Mails - 2006
APRSAF News < 01 Dec 2006 #014>
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1. [[Hot Topic]]
APRSAF-13 will be held next week
(Jakarta, Indonesia, 5-7 December)
2. [[Asian Space Update 1]]
Signing of the MOU between GISTDA and JAXA Concerning the ALOS Data Sub-Node
(Bangkok, Thailand, 23 November)
3. [[Asian Space Update 2]]
Caravan Seminar on Geospatial Technologies for Disaster Mitigation -
Philippines Perspective
(Philippines, 27 November)
4. [[Asian Space Update 3]]
Announcement of the Korean Astronaut Candidates
5. [[Asian Space Update 4]]
8th International Forum on Advanced Satellite Communications in the Asia-Pacific Region
(Tokyo, Japan, November 28)
6. [[Asian Space Update 5]]
Revealing Dark Universe by AKARI (ASTRO-F)
7. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update- November 2006]
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1. [[Hot Topic]]
APRSAF-13 will be held next week
(Jakarta, Indonesia, 5-7 December)
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APRSAF-13 will be held next week in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the main theme "Work Together, Building a Secure and Prosperous Society," aiming to invite participating organizations from the Asia-Pacific region to join forces and cooperate in space activities for a common cause. About 150 participants from 19 countries and 7 international organizations will take part in APRSAF-13.
Representatives of participating countries will make a variety of presentations at the Plenary Session. In addition, APRSAF-13 will receive a status report on Sentinel Asia, which is an activity that shares, through the internet, disaster-related information such as images taken by earth observation satellites to contribute to disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region.
On the second day of APRSAF-13, four working group sessions will be held: Earth Observation (EO) WG, Communication Satellite Application (CSA) WG, Space Education & Awareness WG, and International Space Station (ISS) WG.
After the sessions, APRSAF-13 Water Boost Rocket Competition will be held on Dec 9 at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Science & Technology Center, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Final announcement, tentative program and concept papers for each working group can be obtained at APRSAF Website:
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf13/meeting_details.php
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2. [[Asian Space Update 1]]
Signing of the MOU between GISTDA and JAXA Concerning the ALOS Data Sub-Node
(Bangkok, Thailand, 23 November)
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The Director of Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) Dr Thongchai Charuppat and the Executive Director of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Dr Yasushi Horikawa signed on Thursday, 23 November, 2006, 11:00 hours the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning the ALOS data sub-node cooperation at Lad Prao B-Horvang Room, Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok Hotel.
GISTDA is being established with the consent of JAXA as the ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) Data Sub-Node for the ASEAN region to receive and distribute the data to ten ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines and Thailand. In this regard, GISTDA is also upgrading the satellite data receiving system, data recording, database management, cataloguing and processing with the same standard of other ALOS data nodes including JAXA in Asia, ESA (European Space Agency) in Europe and Africa, NOAA/ASF in North and South America and GA (Geoscience Australia) in Oceania countries.
ALOS was successfully launched on 24 January, 2006, and the first image was taken on 14 February, 2006, over Mt. Fuji in Japan. The satellite has three remote-sensing instruments: PRISM with 2.5-meter resolution for stereo mapping, AVNIR-2 with 10- meter resolution for land use and vegetation and PALSAR with 10- and 100- meter resolution for change detection in topography and geology. With multi-sensors, ALOS data can be applied in various fields such as cartography, natural resources survey, land-use classification and disaster management.
GISTDA Ground Station will be operational for ALOS data processing and distribution in February 2007
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3. [[Asian Space Update 2]]
Caravan Seminar on Geospatial Technologies for Disaster Mitigation -
Philippines Perspective
(Philippines, 27 November)
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Caravan Seminar on Geospatial Technologies for Disaster Mitigation -
Philippines Perspective was held on 27 November 2006 at City Garden Hotel, Makati City, Philippines.
The seminar was attended by about 70 participants from various government, non-government organizations as well as government and private academic sectors who are involved in the use of remote sensing technologies.
The seminar was welcomed by various directors like Dr. Lal Samarakoon, Director, Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., director, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and General Diony Ventura, administrator, National Mapping Resources and Information Authority (NAMRIA).
Japanese experts delivered information on various space programs of JAXA and the Sentinel Asia disaster support programs.
Participants became aware on how to collaborate and access information that is related to space-related technologies applied to disaster mitigation.
On the part of Geo Informatics Center - Asian Institute of Technology, Dr. Lal Samarakoon gave updates on the various remote sensing technologies applied to disasters. Likewise, his introduction on the activities of "mini-project" on space technology applications currently being implemented in GIS-AIT gave ideas on the possible future collaborative work with various disaster research agencies.
Many participants have signified their intentions to participate in these 'ini-projects'
Dr. Manzul Hazarika likewise mentioned all ongoing 'ini-projects'being implemented in the region. It shows that various expertises can be tapped in the training center.
On the side of local presentations, the topic focused on the Philippines'current space technology programs and applications, the current and future remote sensing data status and the JAXA-GIC/AIT-PHIVOLCS-NAMRIA collaborative work on landslide susceptibility mapping in the Philippines.
One of the important topics that gained attention is the national multi-agency multi-hazard mapping activities of the Philippines. The mapping activities involved hazard mapping of floods, storm surge,
tsunami, landslides, liquefaction, ground rupture and ground shaking. It became visible that such remote sensing is an invaluable tool in fast-tracking hazard mapping activities and likewise in monitoring
disasters. A strong collaborative work and linkages should be worked out in the immediately
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4. [[Asian Space Update 3]]
Announcement of the Korean Astronaut Candidates
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The MOST and KARI announced last week that 10 astronaut candidates had been selected in the third selection and that the fourth selection of other 10 astronaut candidates would begin on December 3 and continue for about four weeks.
The final two candidates who will be trained at the Gagarin Center in Moscow from April 2007 will be selected by the end of this year.
Ten Korean astronaut candidates including three women were selected at the third selection from among 30 candidates at the second selection. The 10 candidates, who passed a complete medical test, a space
environment adaptation test and a coping ability with various conditions test, will enter the competition for the final selection of two Korean astronauts.
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5. [[Asian Space Update 4]]
8th International Forum on Advanced Satellite Communications in the Asia-Pacific Region
(Tokyo, Japan, November 28)
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The 8th International Forum on Advanced Satellite Communications in the Asia-Pacific Region organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC) * was held at Chiyoda Media Plaza Tokyo Japan on 28 November with about 190 participants (including ICT policy makers, researchers, engineers, satellite service providers, and satellite manufacturers from Japan and abroad).
The co-organizers are the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
The 8th forum was held with the following aims:
1. To promote the realization of collaborative international application experiments using WINDS** (Wideband Inter Networking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite) developed by JAXA and NICT, which will be launched by an H-IIA launch vehicle in fiscal 2007;
2. To diffuse the current status of research and development on ultra-high speed satellite communications technology.
At the forum, five speeches were delivered and then five panelists eagerly discussed the theme "Future Perspective of Broadband Satellite Utilization in the Asia-Pacific Region."
APRSAF Secretariat interviewed Regional Director of Asia Pacific Huges Network Systems India Ltd, India Mr. Raj K. Bajaj and Associate Professor of the Electrical Engineering Dept of Bandung Institute
Technology Indonesia Dr Sugihartono about their impression on this forum and their hope for WINDS. Mr. Bajaj and Mr. Sugihartono took part in the forum as panelists and speakers. They told us that WINDS would be of initiatory KA band technology for experiment and could provide a technology for eliminating the geographical digital division in the Asia-Pacific region.
The video interview with Mr. Raj and Mr. Sugihartono will be uploaded in APRSAF Website soon.
*The MIC in cooperation with NICT and JAXA has been working on research and development of ultra-high speed satellite communications technology to ensure the same level of speed and volume of fiber-optic networks, using satellite communications technology that can be resistant to the effects of natural conditions on earth.
**WINDS can take full advantage of the characteristics of satellite communications technologies such as wide coverage, multicast ability and disaster-resistant capabilities. The WINDS satellite communications
system will enable home users to receive 100 Mbps-class high-speed data with a small dish of about 45 cm in diameter (in case of reception) and this is expected to be the best tool in eliminating the geographical digital division in the Asia-Pacific region.
URL: http://www.jaxa.jp/jda/brochure/img/04/winds.pdf
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6. [[Asian Space Update 5]]
Revealing Dark Universe by AKARI (ASTRO-F)
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AKARI (ASTRO-F) * is the JAXA's infrared astronomical satellite successfully launched on February 21, 2006. The biggest goal of the mission is an infrared all-sky survey. It captured the first light on April 13, when its lid opened. Its in-orbit performance was clearly shown by a series of images released last May.
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/05/20060522_akari_e.html
Last August, a new series of images depicting vivid scenes of the birth and the death of stars was released.
http://www.jaxa.jp/news_topics/column/no19/index_e.html
During the survey observations, AKARI observed one of the most important targets for studies about the formation of galaxies: the Large Magellanic Cloud. The wavelength bands used have been the strongest so far, producing stunning images of our nearest neighbor galaxy in the universe. The images were released in November.
http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/results/results_e.html#1101
The world-wide astronomical community is now looking forward to new discoveries from AKARI.
Security Chief of the Akari Project Dr Takao Nakagawa said to APRSAF Secretariat: "We have completed about 70% of the all-sky survey, and we are pretty much excited to see new results every day." AKARI (ASTRO-F): See the following new website for more detailed information:
http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/ASTRO-F/Outreach/gaiyou_e.htm
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7. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update- November 2006]]
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* Dec 4-5, 2006
The 6th International Workshop on Web and Wireless Geographical Information Systems
Hong Kong, China
http://www.dl.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp/w2gis06/
* Dec 4-6, 2006
8th International Conference on Information Integration and Web-based Applications & Services (IIWAS2006)
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
http://www.iiwas.org/conferences/iiwas2006/
* Dec 5-7, 2006
The 13th Session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-13)
Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf13/meeting_details.php
-APRSAF-13 Side Event
**Dec 9, 2006
The 2nd APRSAF Water Boost Rocket Event
Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf13/meeting_details.php
**Dec 11-12, 2006
APRSAF Space Education Seminar
* Dec 6-7, 2006
International Conference on Sustainable Development Issues and Prospects for the Greater Mekong Sub region
Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.ait.ac.th/gmsarn/index.htm
* Dec 6-7, 2006
1st International Conference on Digital Information Management
Bangalore, India
http://www.icdim.org/
* Dec 8-9, 2006
National Seminar on Geo-Informatics
Maharashtra, India
http://www.vpmthane.org/news/seminar-geoinfo.htm
* Dec 11-15, 2006
Regional Workshop on Sharing Geographic Information in the HKH region-Geo-Network Metadata implementation
ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal
http://menris.icimod.net/news/showDetail.php?id=105
* Dec 12-15, 2006
2nd International Conference on Sustainable Sloping Lands and Watershed Management
Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
http://www.nafri.org.la/05_news/workshops/sswm2006/sswm2006.htm
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Copyright 2006 The APRSAF Secretariat
APRSAF Secretariat