News Mails - 2006
APRSAF News < 15 Dec 2006 #015>
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1. [[Hot Topic]]
APRSAF-13 successfully closed its 3-day program
(Jakarta, Indonesia, 5-7 December)
2. [[Hot Topic 2]]
APRSAF-13 Side Events: Summary Report
(Jakarta, 5-12 December)
-APRSAF Poster Contest
-APRSAF Water Rocket Event
-APRSAF Space Education Seminar
3. [[Interview]]
LAPAN Current Activities
4. [[Asian Space Update]]
Digital Asia Network Collaboration between Keio University, Japan,
Geoinformatics Centre of Asian Institute of Technology (GIC-AIT),
Thailand and ICIMOD
(Nepal)
5. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update- January 2007]]
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1. [[Hot Topic]]
APRSAF-13 successfully closed its 3-day program
(Jakarta, Indonesia, 5-7 December)
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The thirteenth session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-13) was held under the main theme entitled "Work Together, Building a Secure and Prosperous Society" so as to invite participating entities mainly from the region to join hands and cooperate in the use of space activities for a common cause.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Research and Technology of Indonesia (RISTEK), the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), APRSAF-13 gathered more than 150 participants from about 55 entities in 18 countries and 8 international organizations. At the plenary session on Day-1, following the welcome speech by the chairman of LAPAN Dr. Adi Sadewo, two keynote speeches were delivered by the Deputy for Research on Science and Technology Program RISTEK Dr. Bambang Setiadi on behalf of HE Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister for RISTEK, and Senior Vice Minister for MEXT Mr. Toshiyuki Endo.
Throughout the active presentations and discussions at the Plenary Session including the status report on the Sentinel-Asia Project on Day-1, and the four Working Groups'Sessions on Earth Observation, Communication Satellite Applications, Space Education and Awareness, and the International Space Station (ISS) on Day-2, all the participants of APRSAF-13 accepted its recommendations explained below and APRSAF-13 successfully closed its 3-day program on December 7, 2006. APRSAF-14 will be held in Bangalore, India and co-hosted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), MEXT and JAXA in the fourth quarter of 2007.
All the presentation materials for the Plenary, four Working Groups, 'entinel Asia" Session as well as the closing Plenary are now available at the following site:
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf13/meeting_details.php
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[Recommendations of the thirteenth session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-13) , Jakarta, Indonesia, 7 December 2006]
Recognizing the importance of working together to address issues of common concern in the region toward building a secure and prosperous society through the use of space technology and its applications,
Recognizing the need to make further efforts to enhance disaster management by using space technologies and ensuring the progressive development of the Sentinel Asia project, particularly in view of the tragic losses and damages caused by recent disasters,
The participants of APRSAF-13 adopted the following recommendations:
1. The Joint Project Team shall strengthen the Sentinel Asia activities and improve the operability of the existing systems, taking into account the needs such as to enlarge the scope of the project to cover various types of disasters, to increase the number of Earth observation satellites involved and to implement dedicated training programs, expressed by the participants of APRSAF-13.
2. Earth Observation Working Group shall study the feasibility to establish a similar project in the environment field, based on the experience of Sentinel Asia project.
3. Communication Satellite Applications Working Group shall share the information relating to digital divide in Asia Pacific region, recognize the role of satellite communications and navigation, and identify solutions for the region.
4. Communication Satellite Applications Working Group shall consider applying the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS) experiment program to study:
i) the technical issues of Ka-band satellite communications, satellite IP network, broadband communications; ii) the application of WINDS to Sentinel Asia project, and iii) post WINDS program with cooperation of Asian countries.
5. International Space Station (ISS) Working Group shall accelerate the joint research coordination and start the feasibility studies for ISS/Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) utilization, and promote human resources development to realize the international cooperation among the Asia-Pacific countries.
6. Space Education and Awareness Working Group shall promote space education activities at all levels, such as the Water Rocket Event, Poster Contest, Space Education Forums and Seminars as well as CanSat activities, within the framework of APRSAF, and APRSAF shall encourage collaborations among Working Groups of APRSAF by creating synergies among their efforts toward the enhancement of space education in the region.
7. Entities participating in APRSAF shall explore possible funding sources for the successful implementation of the recommendations.
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JAXA International Relations Division Manager, Mr. Hitoshi Tsuruma, would like to extend his sincere gratitude on behalf of the APRSAF Secretariat to all the participants for their contributions to the success of APRSAF-13.
He added, "Most importantly, I would like to express our special thanks to all the secretariat members of RISTEK and LAPAN for their every effort to make the 3-day conference and the series of educational events a resounding success. We are looking forward to working with all participating entities to further strengthen our collaborations within the framework of APRSAF
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2. [[Hot Topic 2]]
APRSAF-13 Side Events: Summary Report
(Jakarta, 5-12 December)
-APRSAF Poster Contest
-APRSAF Water Rocket Event
-APRSAF Space Education Seminar
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[[ APRSAF-13 Side Events: Summary Report ]]
As the joint educational activities for primary and secondary school students and teachers, the series of APRSAF-13 side events were successfully held, initiated by APRSAF Space Education Working Group.
(Jakarta, 5-12 December)
***APRSAF Poster Contest ( 5-7 December) ***
"School children present their posters at APRSAF annual meeting in Jakarta."
The school children at the age between 8 and 11 years old from four Asian countries had their posters on display at APRSAF-13. Under the theme entitled 'mportance of Space' Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam participated in the first Poster Contest held by APRSAF. Each country selected the three best posters through a national contest for submission for the final selection during APRSAF-13. Ms. Kaede Ando of Japan received APRSAF Best Poster Award. Mr. Tsubasa Fujita of Japan and Ms. Do Dieu Linh of Vietnam received APRSAF Special Poster Awards.
The next APRSAF Poster Contest is planned for the fourteenth session of APRSAF to be held in India, 2007. The next Contest will contribute to the global celebration of the World Space Week by sharing the theme of the poster contest of the latter to be announced.
***APRSAF Water Rocket Event (7-9 December) ***
"Students from Asian and Pacific countries gather to share the excitement of water rocket launch."
The junior and senior high school students from thirteen countries in Asia and the Pacific were in the limelight in Jakarta as they competed in launching their water rockets at Archipelago at Taman Mini Indah Indonesia (TMII) on Saturday, 9 December.
29 students at the age between 11 and 18 years old selected through national competitions held in Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, spent three days together in Jakarta, learning about space science and technology and expanding the friendship by sharing their knowledge and skills of making and launching water rockets during the APRSAF Water Rocket Event. The Event was held from 7 to 9 December and co-organized by LAPAN, Science and Technology Center (PPIPTEK) at TMII, MEXT, and JAXA.
The participating students shot their water rockets toward the target line, 56 meters away from the point of launch. Strong wind on the day presented challenges to determine the best direction and angle for launch as well as the amount of air to be pumped into the rocket. The competition enjoyed the attendance by 700 spectators, and the media coverage by fourteen local television and radio stations as well as newspapers.
During the Water Rocket Event, a seminar was also held on 8 December for the accompanying teachers and instructors to share experience and exchange information on how they are promoting water rocket activities in their countries.
***APRSAF Space Education Seminar (11-12 December) ***
"School teachers in Jakarta encounter space education and interact with space experts."
About 50 high school teachers in Jakarta spent two days at PPIPTEK encountering space education and participating in interactive discussions with space experts during the Space Education Seminar on "Space Science and Technology and Their Applications." held from 11 to 12 December.
Hosted by PPIPTEK and co-organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), LAPAN and JAXA, on behalf of APRSAF Space Education and Awareness Working Group, the Space Education Seminar provided the opportunity for the first time for the participating teachers to learn what space education is all about.
Deputy Minister for Utilization and Dissemination of Science and Technology of Indonesia , H.E. Dr. Idwan Suhardi, officially opened the Seminar. On the second day, the participants had an opportunity to meet State Minister for Research and Technology of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, who visited PPIPTEK.
The programme featured lectures by 15 space experts from 7 countries and international organizations on remote sensing and applications, space technologies for disaster management, space science and astronomy, as well as educational materials and activities using space materials.
The teachers and the speakers had interactive discussions on how to make it more interesting for the students to learn about remote sensing applications and physics. Lively discussions also took place to examine opportunities and challenges of using space technologies to predict natural disasters and to mitigate their impacts on the socio-economic development.
The Co-chair of the Space Education and Awareness WG, Prof. Koh-ichiro Oyama gave a comment to APRSAF members:
"The activities of each Working Group have been agreed upon year by year, and the system to determine the action items and implement them has been established.." He hopes that the members of each group work more toward peace among countries of Asian region in the future. "The main object of the Space Education and Awareness Working group is, of course, to enhance the education. Education is one of the most interesting and important issues around the world. The participants from each country are eager to take actions relating to this issue, and therefore, some events like this water rocket competition have been held." He looks forward to results from future activities of this working group.
"Children and students have curiosities about science potentiality, and
what is important is how to stimulate such curiosities." The water rocket event is one of the opportunities to stimulate their curiosities and, he desires very much that this event would be continued.
Result of the APRSAF-13 Side Events:
http://www.aprsaf.org/interviews_features/features_2006/ap13_event.php
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3. [[Interview]]
LAPAN Current Activities
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The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) has been restructured several times since its establishment, in order to respond to the growing needs for research and development in the field of aeronautics, space technology, and its applications in Indonesia.
LAPAN is a government agency directly responsible to the president of Indonesia and the Minister of Research and Technology (RISTEK)
coordinates its tasks. Its goal is the advancement of aerospace science and technology to promote national development.
We visited LAPAN to interview Mr. Nur HIDAYAT, Head of Remote Sensing, Mr. Dedi IRAWADI, Head of Ground Receiving Station and Mr. Ignatius ARISDIYO, Head of User Service. Mr. Ignatius ARISDIYO gave the following comments:
"We are receiving, and most likely in the future as well, moderate resolution satellite data. Currently, we receive such data like Landsat 7, SPOT 2&4, and MODIS. Our users represent consist of various sectors such as forestry, agriculture and urban planning. The forestry sector was represented the large group of our users, and recently, the number of users from urban and civil planning sector is rapidly increasing.In Indonesia, there are 33 provinces and more than 420 municipality governments that need moderate and high resolution data. Higher resolution data are in high demand, as they help the municipal government board of planners to monitor and plan the urban growth. To respond to their needs, we currently utilize high resolution data provided by IKONOS, QuickBird, SPOT 5, and EROS. We have not yet decided to receive higher resolution data at our ground station, but we know we will need a large volume of satellite data to serve our users."
The full version of these interviews will be uploaded to the APRSAF website.
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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. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update- January 2007]]
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* Jan 3-5, 2007
7th International Conference on Urban Planning and Environment (UPE 7)
Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.arch.ku.ac.th/upe7/
* Jan 3-7, 2007
Planet Earth, 94th Indian Science Congress
Delhi, India
http://www.sciencecongress.org/html/94th_details.html
* Jan 11-12, 2007
GEOSS Symposium on Integrated Observation for Sustainable Development in
the Asia-Pacific Region
Tokyo, Japan
http://www.prime-intl.co.jp/geoss/
* Jan 17-18, 2007
National Conference on Environment and Community Development 2007
Penang, Malaysia
* Jan 22-25, 2007
Map World Forum
Hyderabad, India
http://www.mapworldforum.org/index.htm
* Jan 23-27, 2007
International Dialogue on Science and Practice in Sustainable Development
Chiang Mai, Thailan
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Copyright 2006 The APRSAF Secretariat
APRSAF Secretariat