1. APRSAF-25 Updates

- First announcement of APRSAF-25 released
The first announcement of the 25th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-25) has been released. The APRSAF-25 will be held from 6 - 9 November 2018 in Singapore with the theme of "Innovative Space Technology for Evolving Needs." It will be jointly organized by the Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

For further information about the APRSAF-25, and to download the PDF file of the first announcement, please visit the APRSAF website at:
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf25/meeting_details.php

Please note that the APRSAF will be collecting registration fees from the participants for the APRSAF-25 to make the APRSAF a sustainable forum. More information on registration fees will be released in the second announcement.

- Call for proposals for APRSAF-25 Side Events
The APRSAF Secretariat is now accepting proposals for APRSAF Side Events. The closing date for submission is 29 June 2018. Please visit the following website for more information:
http://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf25/side_events.php

2. News on APRSAF Activities

- The first space science video-conference seminar for Indonesia concludes successfully
On 5 April 2018, the first space science video-conference seminar for Indonesia organized by the APRSAF secretariat was successfully held by the Institute of Space Astronautical Science (ISAS), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Lembaga Penerbangan Dan Antariksa Nasional (LAPAN) after the declaration of the Joint Statement at the AP-24 in India. The aim of the seminar was to enhance the knowledge of space science and improve the regional space capabilities. Two professors from ISAS, JAXA gave an overview of the ISAS research activities and the HINODE solar observatory. 31 participants from LAPAN posed exciting questions and we expect to see further activities and collaborations between them and JAXA.

For more details, please visit the below website:

(Reference)
LAPAN news (in Bahasa Indonesia)
http://pussainsa.lapan.go.id/index.php/subblog/read/2018/629/Teleseminar-dari-JAXA-Jepang/berita

The APRSAF secretariat promotes activities such as the aforementioned seminar to support and enhance higher educational programs in the Asia-Pacific region with the aim of improving the regional space capabilities based on the Joint Statement at AP-24.
If you are interested in such space science seminars, please contact us at secretariat@aprsaf.org.

- APRSAF-ESPI to jointly hold "Inter-Regional Space Policy Dialogue", an evening event during the week of UNISPACE+50

The APRSAF Secretariat and European Space Policy Institutes (ESPI) will be co-organizing an event titled, "Inter-Regional Space Policy Dialogue between Asia-Pacific and Europe - Toward Space Policy for Socioeconomic Development", in the evening of 22 June 2018, at ESPI, Vienna, Austria using the occasion of United Nations COPUOS. The event will provide an overview of space policy communities and activities in both Asia-Pacific and European region. The event will also invite space policy experts from both regions for a panel to exchange their views on " necessary actions to make use of space technology for national development from a policy point of view". The Joint Statement of the APRSAF-24 noted the importance of space policy practitioners to regularly gather and exchange views, and this event is an opportunity to follow up on the Statement. The participants are kindly requested to pre-register early via the ESPI event website which will be opened up soon.

For more information, please visit the ESPI website:
http://espi.or.at/events/upcoming-espi-events/espi-aprsaf-evening-event-and-reception-during-copuos

3. News from the APRSAF Community

1) First KiboCUBE successfully deploys from Kibo
The first CubeSat developed under the KiboCUBE programme has been successfully deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" at the International Space Station. This CubeSat, named "1KUNS-PF" was developed by a team from the University of Nairobi as the country's first satellite, and the experience and technology acquired from the development of this CubeSat will be applied in future earth observation satellite of Kenya.
(Reference)
University of Nairobi news
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/content/kenya%E2%80%99s-first-satellite-finally-deployed-orbit
(Reference)
JAXA press release
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2018/05/20180511_1kuns-pf.html

2) ISRO successfully launches IRNSS-1I Navigation Satellite
ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C41 successfully launched the IRNSS-1I Navigation Satellite on 12 April 2018 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
(Reference)
ISRO news
http://www.isro.gov.in/update/12-apr-2018/pslv-c41-successfully-launches-irnss-1i-navigation-satellite

3) STI under VAST holds workshop on enhancing collaboration in support of Sentinel Asia.
The Space Technology Institute (STI) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) held a workshop on enhancing collaboration in support of Sentinel Asia's mapping, sharing, and information exchange in emergency cases in Hanoi on 19 - 20 March 2018, in collaboration with the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA). The main objective of the workshop was to boost Sentinel Asia's efficiency in assisting communities to improve their capacities in coping with disasters in the region.

(Reference)
VAST news
http://www.vast.ac.vn/en/news/activities/1808-workshop-on-enhancing-coordination-in-support-of-sentinel-asia-s-mapping-sharing-and-exchanging-information-in-emergency-cases

4) Australia establishes new space agency
The Australian Government announced the establishment of a new Australian Space Agency on 8 May 2018. The minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, announced the appointment of Dr. Megan Clark AC as the interim Head of the Australian Space Agency on 14 May 2018. The Australian Space Agency will commence operation on 1 July 2018.

(Reference)
Australian Government news
http://industry.gov.au/INDUSTRY/IndustrySectors/SPACE/Pages/default.aspx

5) Bangladesh launches first satellite
Bangladesh's first communication satellite was launched on 11 May by SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It was hailed by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a notable achievement in a livestream appearance from her country's capital, Dhaka. "Today is a very delightful and glorious day for our motherland, Bangladesh, and the Bangali nation," she said. "With the launching of the Bangabandhu Satellite-1, we are hoisting our national flag in the space."

(Reference)
The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/spacex-launches-bangladeshs-first-communications-satellite/article23863954.ece

6) JAXA appoints Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa as President
Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa was appointed as the new JAXA President to succeed his predecessor, Dr. Naoki Okumura. His previous work experience includes Member of Committee on National Space Policy, Cabinet Office; Secretary General, Secretariat of Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy, Cabinet Secretariat; Professor, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University; JAXA Project Manager, Mercury Exploration Mission "BepiColombo"; Visiting Scientist of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). He earned his PhD (Engineering) from the Department of Aeronautics, School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo.

4. Event Calendar

- UNISPACE+50: the first United Nations global space summit of the 21st century
(18 - 21 June 2018, Vienna, Austria)
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/unispaceplus50/symposium.html

- 61st Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(22 - 29 June 2018, Vienna, Austria)
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/events/data/2018/61st_committee_on_the_peaceful_uses_of_outer_space_including_the_high-level_unispace50_segment.html

- SAFE Mini Work Shop at Thailand (TBD)
(early July 2018, Thailand)

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APRSAF News Mails are distributed to update readers on
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