News Mails - 2015

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ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL SPACE AGENCY FORUM (APRSAF)
News Mail No. 129 June/01/2015
http://www.aprsaf.org/
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- * CONTENTS

• 1. News on APRSAF: Space Exploration and Kibo Utilization for Asia Workshop Held on May 28 in Jakarta
• 2. News on APRSAF: 7th SAFE Workshop to Be Held in June
• 3. News on APRSAF: New APRSAF Brochure Available
• 4. Event Calendar
• 5. International Response to the Earthquake in Nepal
• 6. JAXA Releases 30-Meter Mesh World Elevation Data
• 7. UAE's Mars Probe Named "Hope"

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* 1. News on APRSAF: Space Exploration and Kibo Utilization for Asia Workshop Held on May 28 in Jakarta
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The 1st Space Exploration and Kibo Utilization for Asia Workshop was held on May 28, 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This workshop was organized by the Space Environment Utilization Working Group (SEUWG) and hosted by the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) to ensure firm progress towards international space exploration programs among the Asia-Pacific countries in compliance with the recommendations of APRSAF-21 held in Tokyo last December.

The results of the workshop will be available later. Details including the program and a related video can be seen on the following website:
http://www.aprsaf.org/working_groups/seu/

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* 2. News on APRSAF: 7th SAFE Workshop to Be Held in June
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The 7th Space Application For Environment (SAFE) Workshop will be held on June 17, 2015, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The workshop is jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Resources Geography (HCMIRG) of Vietnam and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

For further information, please visit the SAFE portal:
- Information on 7th SAFE Workshop
http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/SAFE/events/7th_ws.html

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* 3. News on APRSAF: New APRSAF Brochure Available
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A new APRSAF Brochure is now available on the APRSAF website:
http://www.aprsaf.org/about/leaflet.php
The new framework of working groups and other updates are reflected in this version.

We will be grateful if you forward this information to anyone who may be interested in APRSAF activities.

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* 4. Event Calendar
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- Third UNISEC-Global Meeting
(July 3-5, 2015, Tokyo, Japan)
http://www.unisec-global.org/meeting3.html

- Joint Conference 30th ISTS, 34th IEPC & 6th NSAT
(July 4-10, 2015, Kobe, Japan)
http://www.ists.or.jp/2015/

- International Workshop on Air Quality in Asia
(August 4-7, 2015, Bogor, Indonesia)
http://gofc-fire.umd.edu/meeting/static/Indonesia_Workshop_2015/index.php

- 66th International Astronautical Congress
(October 12-16, 2015, Jerusalem, Israel)
http://www.iac2015.org/

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* 5. International Response to the Earthquake in Nepal
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The devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25 and the major aftershock on May 12 have caused significant damages to wide areas in Nepal and its neighboring countries. International actors have supported the response to the disaster. An APRSAF initiative, Sentinel Asia, conducted emergency observations over the affected areas and provided space-based information that has been utilized to mitigate further damages.

References:
- Sentinel Asia
https://sentinel.tksc.jaxa.jp/sentinel2/topControl.jsp#
- International Charter Space and Major Disasters
https://www.disasterscharter.org/web/guest/activations/-/article/landslide-in-nep-2
- ICIMOD
http://www.icimod.org/?q=17851
- UN-SPIDER
http://www.un-spider.org/advisory-support/emergency-support/9911/earthquake-nepal-india-bangladesh-china
- JAXA
http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/gallery/lib_data/3disaster.htm

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* 6. JAXA Releases 30-Meter Mesh World Elevation Data
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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has published a free global land elevation data set with a resolution of 30 meters horizontally (30-m mesh version). The data set has been compiled with archived images from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS). Initially, East and South East Asian areas are being made available to the public, following which worldwide areas will be made available. This data set is expected to be utilized for scientific research, education, and other services by the private sector using geospatial information.

References:
- JAXA Press Release
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/05/20150518_daichi.html
- Precise Global Digital 3D Map "ALOS World 3D" Homepage (JAXA)
http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/aw3d/index_e.htm
- ALOS Global Digital Surface Model "ALOS World 3D - 30m" (AW3D30) (JAXA)
http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/aw3d30/index.htm

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* 7. UAE's Mars Probe Named "Hope"
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The UAE's first Mars probe, scheduled to be launched in July 2020, was named "Hope," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, announced on May 6, 2015. A team of 75 Emirati engineers and researchers are currently working on The Emirates Mars Mission, and are engaged in developing and manufacturing the probe. The team will be expanded to over 150 by 2020. The probe will embark on a ten-month journey to the Red Planet after its launch, and will conduct science operations in the Mars orbit for two years, followed by extended science operations for another two years.

References:
- His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum News
http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=8b78cb65c982d410VgnVCM1000003f64a8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=c7c8001ff133e210VgnVCM1000004d64a8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=default&date=1430940758357&type=sheikh
- Emirates Mars Mission
http://www.emiratesmarsmission.ae/mars-probe/

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Copyright 2015 The APRSAF Secretariat

APRSAF News Mails are distributed to update the readers on
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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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