News Mails - 2007
1. Indonesian First Micro Remote Sensing Satellite Performs Well
2. Latest News of THEOS - Thailand Earth Observation System
3. 2007 Mini-Projects Announcement
4. China Launched Satellite for Nigeria - May 13
5. The US Earth's Surface Observing Satellite, Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)
6. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update - May - June 2007]]
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1. Indonesian First Micro Remote Sensing Satellite Performs Well
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The Indonesian first micro remote sensing satellite, LAPAN-TUBSAT, which was jointly developed by Indonesian Aerospace Institute (LAPAN) and the Technical University of Berlin (TUB), launched into orbit at an altitude of approximately 630 km in January 2007, is now performing well.
Mr. Abdul Rahman, the Head of Ground Segment Division of Aerospace Electronics Technology Center (AETC) of LAPAN gave the APRSAF details about the present status of LAPAN-TUBSAT including the ground segments. The Spacecraft Control Center (SCC) of LAPAN has been developed in Rumpin area of Indonesia for monitoring the status of the satellite and the LAPAN also has a plan to develop the ground station in Biak Island near New Guinea Island in order to cover the eastern side of Indonesia. The satellite operators in the Rumpin SCC connected to the ground station in Spitzbergen of North Pole and the TU-Berline ground station can monitor all the LAPAN-TUBSAT passes and its conditions.
For more details with current images from LAPAN-TUBSAT:
http://www.aprsaf.org/interviews_features/features_2008/feature_05.php
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2. Latest News of THEOS - Thailand Earth Observation System
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Based on the cooperation agreement between both the Governments of Thailand and France, the Thailand Earth Observation System (THEOS) program has been established. The THEOS satellite is the first high-resolution Earth observation satellite for Thailand to be operated by a Thai public organization, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
The Marketing and Public Relations of THEOS Project, GISTDA, Pitan Singhasaneh said, "THEOS satellite is expected to provide worldwide geo-referenced image products and image reception - processing capabilities for applications in cartography, land use, natural disaster assessment and mitigation, environmental monitoring, agriculture and forest management, and coastal zone monitoring. THEOS can support timely imaging of any areas in less than 3 days. THEOS satellite is scheduled to be launched in October 2007 in a sun-synchronous orbit from Yasny launch base, Russia, by a Dnepr rocket. The satellite has passed thermal, mechanical, electrical and electromagnetic compatibility tests and is undergoing post reference test at the moment."
Full text of the article:
http://www.aprsaf.org/interviews_features/features_2007/feature_09.php
GISTDA Website:
http://www.gistda.or.th/
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3. 2007 Mini-Projects Announcement
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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) have newly set the "Guideline for the application for JAXA/AIT Mini-Projects" of Japanese Fiscal Year 2007 (starting from April 1).
The Mini-Projects are almost a year-long comprehensive capacity building program with the main characteristic of carrying out capacity building activities through actual-world applications.
Project participants work together with experts from some organizations such as JAXA, AIT and other designated agencies for accomplishing project objectives identified by the local agencies.
For those who may have interests in these activities, the website of Geo-Informatics Center (GIC), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is available at:
http://www.geoinfo.ait.ac.th/news_announcements.php
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4. China Launched Satellite for Nigeria - May 13
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China successfully launched the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1) with the Long March 3-B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 0:01 a.m. on May 14, 2007, and the satellite had entered its orbit without glitches.
NIGCOMSAT-1 is a super hybrid geo-stationary satellite and the first satellite which Chinese scientists have designed, built and launched for another country. The satellite will orbit at longitude 42 degrees east
and will provide communications services for Africa, parts of the Middle East and southern Europe.
Observers say the successful launch of NIGCOMSAT-1 will create new business opportunities for China's space industry.
The satellite and carrier rocket were developed respectively by the China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which are under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The launch represents the 98th flight of China's Long March series of rockets.
China view - May 14, 2007, by Mr. Song Shutao -
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/14/content_6096957.htm
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5. The US Earth's Surface Observing Satellite, Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)
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The LDCM is the next in a series of Landsat Satellites which have collected data of the Earth's ntinental surface to support global change research and application for more than 30 days. This mission will continue to obtain valuable data and imagery to be used in agriculture, education, business, science, and government.
The16th Landsat Technical Working Group was held in Brazil from May 14 to 18, 2007 with the participation of eleven countries globally including China, Indonesia and Japan. The meeting provided an opportunity for the U.S. Landsat Project staff to present the current status of Landsat mission including LDCM.
Full text of the article:
http://www.aprsaf.org/interviews_features/features_2007/feature_08.php
LDCM websites:
http://ldcm.usgs.gov/ and http://ldcm.nasa.gov/
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6. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update - June 2007]]
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*June 6-8, 2007
Rivers 2007: 2nd International Conference on Managing Rivers in the 21st Century Solutions Towards Sustainable River Basins
Contact: rivers2007@gmail.com
http://rivers07.eng.usm.my/
*June 12-13, 2007
Location India 2007, 3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Vehicle Tracking, Location Intelligence and Surveying
Bangalore, India
http://www.location.net.in/india/index.htm
*June 12-15, 2007
13th PCGIAP Annual Meeting
Seoul, Korea
*June 14-16, 2007
RAST 2007 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Space Technologies
Istanbul, Turkey
http://www.rast.org.tr/
*June 20-27, 2007
Geoinformation Forum Japan 2007
Yokohama, Japan
http://www.jsurvey.jp/eng-geoforum2006.htm
*June 27-29, 2007
Good Land Administration
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
http://www.la-east-west.mn/
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Copyright 2007 The APRSAF Secretariat
APRSAF Secretariat