2009
#089 Report on current operational status of small satellite "KUKAI"("STARS") By Dr. Masahiro Nohmi, Associate Professor at Kagawa University
"STARS" is a technical name that stands for Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite and consists of a mother satellite (called KU) and a daughter satellite (called KAI), and we now call it "KUKAI" as a nickname.
#088 ABDUL JABBAR ASTRONOMY WORKSHOP STARTS IN DHAKA
On April 26, 2009 a workshop on astronomy started at the Jamil Sarwar Trust Auditorium in Dhaka. It was arranged by the "Celebration Committee of International Year of Astronomy 2009, Bangladesh."
#087 APRSAF POSTER CALENDAR 2009
This calendar is published by the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) Space Education and Awareness Working Group, which encourages the use of space materials to enhance education for young people and aims to stimulate intellectual curiosity and passion of young people through their involvement with space activities.
#086 GEO Call for Proposals - Earth Observations in Decision Support
Last month, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO, www.earthobservations.org) issued a Call for Proposals "Earth Observations in Decision Support."
#085 The WINDS "KIZUNA" Symposium and Workshop 2009 Comments from Participants
On February 24, 2009, the WINDS "KIZUNA" (Japanese satellite) Symposium and Workshop 2009 was organized by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) with the support of the Japanese government to discuss the topic of "Toward new and closer bonds in the Asia-Pacific region by using WINDS".
A total of 277 participants from 13 countries (Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Federated States of Micronesia, and the USA (Hawaii)) attended the symposium.
#084 ICIMOD Celebrates 25 Years of Working for Mountains and People
In 2008, ICIMOD celebrated 25 years of working for mountains and people in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. A series of activities and events were held starting in April 2008 on the themes of resilience and the Hindu Kush-Himalayan people's adapting to climate change, and promotion of sustainable mountain development. The celebrations culminated with a week-long series of events from December 1 to 6, built around the actual anniversary day of ICIMOD's foundation on December 5.
#083 Report on current operational status of small satellite "SOHLA-1"
The Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association of Japan (SOHLA) confirmed that SOHLA-1 was launched as a piggyback satellite with the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" (GOSAT) by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 15 at 12:54 p.m. on January 23, 2009 (Japan Standard Time) from the Tanegashima Space Center. Further, it was confirmed that the satellite was working well at 14:36 according to S-band communication between SOHLA-1 and the Tanegashima Tracking and Communication Center of JAXA.
#082 The Third GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium Data Sharing for Transverse GEOSS -Comments form Organizer & Parallel Sessions' Co-chairs-
From February 4 to 6, 2009, the Third GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium "Data Sharing for Transverse GEOSS" (3rd GEOSS AP Symposium) was held at the Kyoto Research Park in Japan. The symposium was organized by the secretariat of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) with the support of the Japanese government. Over 250 participants from 33 countries attended the symposium.
#081 Watching the Earth Breathe From Space ~ Successful Launch of IBUKI (GOSAT) ~
The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" (GOSAT) was launched successfully by the Japanese H-IIA Launch Vehicle, Flight No. 15 (H-IIA F15), at 12:54 p.m. on January 23, 2009 (Japan Standard Time, JST).
IBUKI is the world's first satellite dedicated to measuring greenhouse gases.
#080 Main elements of Kazakhstan's space development by Dr. T. Mussabayev, Prof M. Moldabekov
Space activity on a global scale is constantly developing as a source of innovative technologies, actually in all areas of modern life. Many industries and services of the world have a direct dependence on the development of space activity. Thus, many countries of the world, including those in the Asian-Pacific region, are consistently increasing their scientific and industrial potential in this sphere, confidently and actively developing space technologies.
#079 445th Birth Anniversary of Galileo Galilei Celebrated in Bangladesh
On February 15, 2009 the 445th anniversary of the birth of eminent astronomer and father of modern science, Galileo Galilei, was celebrated in Bangladesh. On an initiative of the Bangladesh Astronomical Society, the National Museum of Science and Technology, Bangladesh (NMST), organized a day-long program including a seminar, exhibition, and video presentation in its auditorium.
#078 Bangladesh Participates In IYA-2009 Opening Ceremony In Paris
On January 15-16, the opening ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. A two-member delegation from Bangladesh participated in this opening ceremony. The members were Dr. A. R. Khan, President of the Bangladesh Astronomical Society and Mr. F. R. Sarker, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Astronomical Society and Single Point of Contact (SPoC) of IYA2009 for Bangladesh.
#077 Kazakhstan Participated in APRSAF for the First Time
In APRSAF-15, held in Vietnam in December 2008, there were six participants from Kazakhstan. This was the first time for Kazakhstan to participate in the forum.
One of the Kazakhstani participants, Dr. Talgat Mussabayev, Chairman of National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, wrote about his experience of APRSAF-15.
#076 Two Years of LAPAN-TUBSAT Operating in Orbit, Indonesia
January 2009 is making the 2 years of LAPAN-TUBSAT operating in orbit. LAPAN-TUBSAT is the micro satellite developed by Indonesia Aeronautics and Space Institute (LAPAN) in cooperation with Technische Universitat Berlin, which is launched on January 2007.
