[1] News on APRSAF Community

1) UN/Japan PNST 2018 Application Open until January 28
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of Japan, in cooperation with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), have opened a new opportunity this year: The United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship Programme on Nano-Satellite Technologies for nationals of developing countries or non-space-faring nations. The postgraduate study on Nano-Satellite Technologies (PNST) Fellowship Programme will provide extensive research opportunities in nano-satellite systems through the use of the nano-satellite development and testing facilities available at Kyutech.

Details and application requirements and documents of the Fellowship programme are available at
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/psa/bsti/fellowships.html.

The deadline for submission of applications is January 28, 2018.

2) KiboCUBE's Third Round of Applications Open until March 31, 2018
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are now accepting application for the third round of "KiboCUBE," a program that offers educational and research institutions from developing countries the opportunity to deploy cube satellites (CubeSats) from the Kibo module of the International Space Station. The University of Nairobi and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala were selected in the first and second rounds, respectively.

The deadline for applications is March 31, 2018.

Announcement by UNOOSA
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/psa/hsti/kibocube/2018.html

3) Dr. K. Sivan Appointed as Secretary of the Department of Space; Chair of Space Commission and ISRO
Dr. K. Sivan was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of Space Commission. Dr. Sivan has served as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) since June 2015.

He joined ISRO in 1982 in its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Project. He contributed immensely toward ending the mission planning, mission design, and mission integration and analysis. During his stint at ISRO, he held many responsibilities, such as project director of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

References:
Press Information Bureau, Government of India
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=175541
VSSC
http://www.vssc.gov.in/VSSC_V4/index.php/director-dr-k-sivan

4) India's PSLV-C40 Successfully Launches Latest Remote Sensing Satellite "Cartosat 2F" and 30 Satellites
In its 40-second flight (PSLV-C40), India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launched successfully the Cartosat-2 Series Satellite, or "Cartosat 2F," along with 30 co-passenger satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Center. The launched occurred on January 12, 2018. The 710-kg "Cartosat 2F" is similar to the earlier six satellites of the Cartosat-2 series, and is intended to augment data services to the users. The satellite design life is set at five years. The co-passenger satellites comprise one Microsatellite and one Nanosatellite from India as well as 3 Microsatellites and 25 Nanosatellites from six countries, namely, Canada, Finland, France, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

References:
ISRO Press Release
https://www.isro.gov.in/update/12-jan-2018/pslv-successfully-launches-31-satellites-single-flight
ISRO PSLV-C40/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Brochure
https://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c40-cartosat-2-series-satellite-mission/pslv-c40-cartosat-2-series-satellite-brochure
CartoSat-2F, WMO OSCAR
https://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/738

5) UAE: A New Member of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters
The National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NECMA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that the UAE has become a member of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters (ICSMD). The country will be represented in the context of the International Charter by the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA), the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), and NECMA.

The International Charter aims at providing a unified system of space data acquisition and delivery to those affected by natural or man-made disasters. An authorized user, a disaster management authority, can access and request assistance for emergencies in one's own country, or in another country with which one cooperate for disaster relief. According to NECMA, "the UAE currently intends to contribute to the Charter through the sharing of images and data collected by DubaiSat-2, which will be joined by the UAE-built Khalifa-Sat."

References:
NECMA News
https://www.ncema.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/12/12/2017/%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B6%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AB.aspx#page=1
UN-SPIDER News
http://www.un-spider.org/news-and-events/news/united-arab-emirates-becomes-official-member-international-charter-space-and

[2] Event Calendar

- COPUOS STSC 2018
(January 29 to February 9, Vienna, Austria)
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/current.html

- 10th Global Space Technology Convention (GSTC)
(February 1-2, 2018, Singapore)
https://www.space.org.sg/industry-programs/global-space-and-technology-convention

- Y-ISEF/I-ISEF - ISEF2 Side Events
(February 28, March 1, and March 3, 2018, Tokyo, Japan)
http://www.isef2-se.space/

- The 2nd International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF2)
(March 3, 2018, Tokyo, Japan)
http://www.isef2.jp/index.html

Copyright 2020 The APRSAF Secretariat

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