News Mails - 2013

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ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL SPACE AGENCY FORUM (APRSAF)
News Mail No. 107 Jul/18/2013
http://www.aprsaf.org/
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- * CONTENTS

• 1. News on APRSAF: APRSAF-20 First Announcement Released
• 2. News on APRSAF: Call for Proposals: APRSAF Side Event
• 3. ISRO launches IRNSS-1A by PSLV-C22
• 4. KARI opens satellite utilization cooperation center
• 5. Kazakhstan National Space Center under construction
• 6. Thailand and India agree on geospatial info tech cooperation
• 7. Event Calendar

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* 1. News on APRSAF: APRSAF-20 First Announcement Released
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The 20th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum
(APRSAF-20) will take place from December 3 to 6, 2013, at the Melia
Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. The first announcement is now available at the
APRSAF website:
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf20/pdf/meeting_details/AP20_1st_Announcement.pdf

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* 2. News on APRSAF: Call for Proposals: APRSAF Side Event
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The APRSAF Secretariat is accepting proposals for an APRSAF side event
to be conducted during the APRSAF-20 annual session. The submission
deadline is August 5, 2013.

The APRSAF Executive Committee (ExCom) will review all proposals after
the deadline and inform event organizers in mid-August of any approvals.
For further information, including the guidelines for side events and a
request form, please refer to "APRSAF Side Event" at the following
website (the second item from the bottom of the page):
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf20/meeting_details.php

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* 3. ISRO launches IRNSS-1A by PSLV-C22
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On July 1, 2013, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
successfully launched its first regional navigation satellite, IRNSS-1A,
from a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C22). The satellite was
placed into a planned orbit after about 20 minutes.
The IRNSS-1A is the first of seven satellites that will make up the
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

References:
ISRO Press Release
http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Jul02_2013
ISRO, PSLV-C22/IRNSS-1A Brochure (PDF, 2.25 MB)
http://www.isro.org/pslv-c22/pdf/pslv-c22-brochure.pdf
NASASpaceflight.com
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/07/indian-pslv-launch-irnss-r1a/

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* 4. KARI opens satellite utilization cooperation center
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On June 11, 2013, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) held an
opening ceremony at its satellite utilization cooperation center. The
new center is in the area of KARI, Daejeon, South Korea. It has three
floors above ground, one floor underground, and 7,766 square meters of
total space.

Collecting satellite data from Kompsat-2, Kompsat-3, and Kompsat-5, the
center will be in charge of data calibration/correction/processing,
domestic and international data distribution, and research and
development of application technology.

Reference:
KARI News (in Korean)
http://www.kari.re.kr/bbs/bbs_index.asp?depthno=5&catcode=1411130000&ptype=view&code=news03&idx=12880

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* 5. Kazakhstan's National Space Center under construction
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On June 12, 2013, the Chairman of the National Space Agency of the
Republic of Kazakhstan (KAZCOSMOS), Talgat Musabayev, inspected the
National Space Center (NSC) currently under construction in Astana. Dr.
Musabayev met with construction personnel and checked the installation
of a ground antenna and other facilities to confirm that construction
was proceeding on schedule.

The NSC will consist of five zones: administration, industry, amusement,
residence, and education. It will also house assembly and test
facilities for satellite and other relevant parts; ground facilities to
receive, process, and distribute satellite data (remote sensing and
navigation); a space museum; accommodation; residence; and others.

References:
KAZCOSMOS News (in Russian)
http://kazcosmos.gov.kz/ru/novosti/120613.html
Bnews.kz (in Russian)
http://bnews.kz/ru/photonews/post/143765/
Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary, Company Projects, 2010 (PDF, 4.29 MB)
http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/stsc2011/tech-11.pdf

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* 6. Thailand and India agree on geospatial info tech cooperation
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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his party visited Thailand on
May 30 and 31, 2013, to discuss with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra ways the two countries can enhance their relationship. In
addition, in the presence of the two prime ministers, Executive Director
of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA),
Anond Snidvongs, and the Indian Ambassador to Thailand signed an MoU on
cooperation in mapping and geospatial technology application between
GISTDA and the Survey of India (SOI).

The MoU promotes bilateral cooperation in space technology based on an
existing program entitled "Indo-Thai GeoSpatial Cooperation" (2012-2014).
Under the MoU, SOI will survey areas in Thailand (about 100 square km)
and demonstrate technologies and expertise for urban mapping together
with GISTDA. Furthermore, India will conduct annual training on survey
and mapping technology at the Indian Institute of Surveying & Mapping,
inviting five Thai engineers every year.

References:
Government of India, Prime Minister of Office, Press Release
http://pmindia.nic.in/press-details.php?nodeid=1630
GISTDA News (in Thai)
http://www.gistda.or.th/gistda_n/index.php/gistda-activities-news/icalrepeat.detail/2013/05/30/2975/-/MTc5MmRjZmUzMDc1NmE1NzVhODBiMTJiMTQzMjQ2Yjc=

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* 7. Event Calendar
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- International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2013)
(21-26 July 2013, Melbourne, Australia)
http://www.igarss2013.org/

- Multi-GNSS environment for sustainable development
(9-13 September 2013, Hoi An, Vietnam)
http://navis.hust.edu.vn/index.php/news-events/120-summer-school-on-multi-gnss-environment-for-sustainable-development

- 64th International Astronautical Congress
(23-27 September 2013, Beijing, China)
http://www.iac2013.org

- 13th Australian Space Science Conference
(30 September - 2 October 2013, Sydney, Australia)
http://www.nssa.com.au/ocs/index.php?cf=15

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Copyright 2013 The APRSAF Secretariat

APRSAF News Mails are distributed to update the readers on
recent developments in space-related activities in the
Asia-Pacific region.

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APRSAF Secretariat
c/o Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
ochanomizu sola city, 4-6 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 101-8008 Japan
Tel: +81-50-3362-5880 / Fax: +81-3-5209-3208
E-mail: secretariataprsaf.org
Web: http://www.aprsaf.org
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