News Mails - 2011
ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL SPACE AGENCY FORUM (APRSAF)
Newsletter -No. 078 Jan/24/2011
http://www.aprsaf.org
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**CONTENTS
1. KOUNOTORI2 successfully launched
2. APRSAF SEUWG launches Space Seed project
3. UNSW launches the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER)
4. China launches Beidou navigation satellite
5. India and Russia sign Joint Statement on GLONASS
6. Event Calendar
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1. KOUNOTORI2 successfully launched
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KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station, ISS) was successfully launched by the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2 from the Tanegashima Space Center on January 22. KOUNOTORI2 was separated from H-IIB at approximately 15 min after the lift-off. The cargo is expected to dock with ISS on January 28.
JAXA Press release:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/01/20110122_h2bf2_e.html
KOUNOTORI2 Special site:
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf2/index_e.html
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2. APRSAF SEUWG launches Space Seed project
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The Space Environment Utilization Working Group (SEUWG) of APRSAF has launched the Space Seed for Asian Future (SSAF) 2010-2011 mission. The mission has been planned and developed by the space agencies in the APRSAF SEUWG to enhance space utilization opportunities and stimulate scientific interest among young students. As the first step, some seeds from Asian space agencies were successfully launched by the KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2) on January 22, and these seeds are scheduled to be retrieved by Space Shuttle Endeavour several months later.
For further information of the mission:
http://www.aprsaf.org/working_groups/seu/wg_seu_ssaf.php
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3. UNSW launches the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER)
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The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, has launched the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) on November 22 to assist in the Australian Federal Government's drive to increase the country's capabilities in the space industry. ACSER will develop technologies for satellite navigation, earth observation applications such as monitoring of disasters and climate change, space vehicle engineering, etc. These developments will be based on (1) the expertise of researchers at the UNSW faculties of Engineering and Science and UNSW@ADFA (Australian Defence Force Academy) as well as (2) the use of UNSW's partnerships with universities, governments, the private sector, and space agencies not only in Australia but worldwide. ACSER will investigate flying satellites in different close formations and using a synthetic aperture radar to create exact models of the earth's surface and to evaluate biomass. These models can be used in emergency situations such as earthquakes, flood, and fire.
References:
UNSW News
http://www.eng.unsw.edu.au/news/the-australian-centre-for-space-engineering-research-acser-launched
http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2010/nov/space_centre.html
Australian Government News
http://www.space.gov.au/Pages/LaunchoftheAustralianCentreforSpaceEngineeringResearch.aspx
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4. China launches Beidou navigation satellite
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On December 17, China launched Beidou-2 (Compass-I2) using its Long March 3A (CZ3A) launch vehicle from the Xi Chang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite is the seventh satellite that is a part of their Beidou navigation system launched via Long March 3A (CZ3A) and the second Beidou-2 IGSO (Inclined GSO) satellite of the system.
The Compass Navigation Satellite System (CNSS) or Beidou-2 is China's second-generation satellite navigation system that provides positioning and navigation services to China and neighboring countries. The system covers an area spanning approximately 120 degrees in longitude in the Northern Hemisphere.
References:
NASA Spaceflight.com
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/12/china-launches-navigation-satellite-2010-record-15-launches/
Space Flight Now
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1012/17beidou/
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5. India and Russia sign Joint Statement on GLONASS
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On December 21, the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Manmohan Singh, held the 10th Annual Summit meeting in India and signed an agreement to further strengthen and expand their strategic partnership. As per the statement, they reviewed the bilateral scientific and technological cooperation, expressed satisfaction at the extension of the Integrated Long Term Program (ILTP) for cooperation in the field for another decade. The program will be facilitated by the Indian-Russian S&T Centre and by other programs.
Further, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of projects in the space field, including lunar exploration, human space flight, and the development of a micro satellite that will be used to study solar radiation for educational purposes (this satellite is named Youthsat). They also appreciated the expansion of India's utilization of the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System, GLONASS. According to The Hindu of December 22, they signed an agreement to share high-precision signals from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) for defense as well as civilian use.
References:
Ministry of External Affairs, India, India-Russia Joint Statement
http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=540216902
NIS GLONASS News (Russian)
http://www.nis-glonass.com/press/news/352/
The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article969539.ece
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6. Event Calendar
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- Global Space & Technology Convention (GSTC) 2011
(25-26 January 2011, Singapore)
http://www.gstcsingapore.com/
- 17th Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference
(3-5 February 2011, Houston, USA)
http://www.spacecenter.org/TeachersSEEC.html
- Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, UN COPUOS: 2011 48th session
(7-18 February 2011, Vienna, Austria)
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/COPUOS/stsc/2011/index.html
- 34th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment
(10-15 April 2011, Sydney, Australia)
http://eblast.arinex.com.au/eblasts/view/20100319_34th_international_symposium_on_remote_sensing_of_the_environment
- Annual Central Asia GIS Conference- GISCA 2011
(19-20 May 2011, Almaty, Kazakhstan)
http://gisca11.aca-giscience.org/home
- 2011 International Conference on Space Science and Communication (IconSpace2011)
(12-13 July 2011, Pahang, Malaysia)
http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/ispace/
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Copyright 2010 The APRSAF Secretariat
APRSAF Newsletters are distributed to update the readers on recent developments in space-related activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
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