1. APRSAF-25 Updates

25th anniversary session of APRSAF was held in Singapore
The twenty-fifth session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-25) ended successfully after the 4-day meeting in Singapore, from November 6-9, 2018. In all, 385 participants from 29 countries and regions and 9 international organizations attended the meeting. Discussions covered a wide range of topics from technology to policy issues, including enhancement of partnership with regional international organizations for the establishment of a new SAFE initiative framework, finalization of a mission concept for co-development of an innovative small satellite, and promotion of the establishment of a policy-level community. Through the forum, participants were able to reconfirm the importance of further deepening cooperative relationships in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of space.
The Secretariat extends its thanks to all who participated and contributed to the success of APRSAF-25.
The outcomes of APRSAF-25, including the presentations of Plenary Sessions, and the photographs are available on the APRSAF website:
https://www.aprsaf.org/annual_meetings/aprsaf25/meeting_details.php

2. News on APRSAF Activities

1) APRSAF Welcomes Your Feedback
We would appreciate it if all those who participated in the APRSAF-25 would provide their feedback by completing the online questionnaire on the following website:
https://goo.gl/forms/WYJoGwb465UghkW52

The last date for submission of your feedback is December 28, 2018. We look forward to receiving your valuable feedback for further improvement of APRSAF activities.

2) Seminar on Space Education for Educators was successfully held in India
Seminar on Space Education for Educators was held from November 15 to 16 at Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), ISRO, Dehradun, India.
The Seminar was attended by the School Teachers (Class - IX to XII), Educators from Planetarium, Science Museum, Mentors, etc. The number of participants was 80, from India and Nepal. The Seminar aimed at building a working knowledge for teaching tools and methods to impart space education with a scope to include in schools curricula and extra-curricular activities for future generations.
For more details:
https://aprsaf-sewg2018.iirs.gov.in/

3) Third meeting on the joint development of innovative small and cube satellites was held on 23 October 2018
Based on the action items from the second meeting of Joint Development of Innovative Small-Cube Satellites held on 23 August, JAXA reported on the results of the feasibility study. Participants then discussed these results and what a possible meaningful payload would be.
For more details:
http://www.aprsaf.org/capacity_building/joint_development/3rd_meeting.php

4) Fourth meeting on the joint development of innovative small and cube satellites was held on 6 November 2018, in Singapore during the APRSAF-25
On 6 November 2018, the fourth meeting of Joint Development of Innovative Small- Cube Satellites organized by the APRSAF Secretariat was successfully held in Singapore during APRSAF-25. The meeting consisted of a brainstorming session for preparing the mission concept.
For more details:
http://www.aprsaf.org/capacity_building/joint_development/4th_meeting.php

At the plenary session of APRSAF-25 on 8 November 2018, progress on the mission concept was introduced. However, this mission concept needs to be discussed further in detail, as to who will make contributions on which portions.
These official commitments will be announced by the APRSAF Secretariat.
Signature to the agreement is hoped for around March to April next year, with the subsequent start of development.

3. News on APRSAF Community

1) Turkey establish its own space agency
Ankara announced that the country will have its own space agency that will focus on developing space technology that's in line with the government's policies.
Turkey announced its own space program that will be in line with the policies charted out by the country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a new presidential decree.
The Turkey Space Agency will be part of the country's Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Reference:
http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/default.aspx# (Official Gazette of Turkey, only in Turkish)
https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/four-things-to-know-about-turkey-s-upcoming-space-program-22449
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-launches-national-space-program-139681

2) Australia's Space Agency will be located in Adelaide
Australia's Space Agency will be located in Adelaide, reinforcing South Australia's long-standing contribution to the nation's space journey.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said South Australia was a key hub for innovation and the technology industry, making it the ideal home for the new Agency.

Reference:
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/australian-space-agency-adelaide

3) The House of Representatives of Philippines moves for creation of PH Space Agency
The House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a measure seeking the creation of a Philippine Space Agency that would respond to the growing need for a more secure and independent access to space.
With 207 affirmative votes, the chamber approved House Bill No. 8541, otherwise known as the Philippine Space Development Act.
Under the bill, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) shall be created as the central government's agency that will address all national issues and activities related to space science and technology applications.

Reference:
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1055728(in Indonesian)

4) Applications for Fourth round of KiboCUBE is open!
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and JAXA are pleased to announce the fourth round of KiboCUBE! This joint program between UNOOSA and JAXA provides opportunities to deploy CubeSats from the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" of the ISS. Applications for the fourth round are due by 31 January.

For more information regarding KiboCUBE, please access:
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/psa/hsti/kibocube/2019.html

5) Now accepting applications for the United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship Program, Post-graduate study on Nano-Satellite Technologies (PNST)!
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of Japan in cooperation with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) are pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the 2019 round of the United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship Program, Post-graduate study on Nano-Satellite Technologies (PNST) (Kitakyushu, Japan).

Fellowship program details, application requirements and application forms are available from
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/psa/bsti/fellowships.html

The deadline for submitting applications is 20 January 2019.
Late applications will not be considered.
A total of six scholarships will be awarded: Three for PhD students and three for master's degree students.
PNST has been an annual program since 2013. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in an engineering field (aerospace not required), be under age 35, be from a non-space-faring nation, and (most important) be passionate about space. See the website (link provided above) for full details.

4. Event Calendar

-COPUOS STSC
(11-22 February 2019, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria)
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/events/data/2019/56th_session_of_the_scientific_and_technical_subcommittee.html

- Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTC) 2019
(14-15 February 2019, St. Regis, Singapore)
https://www.space.org.sg/news-events/global-space-and-technology-convention-gstc-2019

-Global Space Congress (GSC) 2019
(19-21 March 2019, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
https://www.aerospacesummit.com/events/global-aerospace-summit-2020/event-summary-a24874f9a19e4614bf5158f6f6670d3f.aspx

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.
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