Thursday 28 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

Summit to focus on regional space programme

Dubai, April 13, 2009

An upcoming regional space summit will focus on several emerging projects in Mena, including the pioneering launch this summer of the UAE’s first indigenously built remote sensing satellite, DubaSat-1.

More than 20 emerging national space projects in the Middle East and Africa will be the highlight of the second Global Space Technology Forum (GSTF), taking place from December 7 to 9 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The need for the UAE to lead Arab countries into space was highlighted by senior delegates at the GSTF launched in Abu Dhabi last November, and that message will be stressed upon at this year’s event, which will attract experts from NASA.

Highlighting the UAE’s pioneering role in regional space industry developments is Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the country’s first nationally-owned satellite operator.

The recent announcement by Abu Dhabi based 4C Gulf Earth Observation Center (4C GEOC) for a US$1 billion dollar Earth space observation centre, Yahsat’s planned telecommunication satellites launches, including that of DubaSat-1, is evidence that the UAE is showing the way forward for Arab countries in the creation of a regional space programme.

DubaSat-1 is set to be launched this summer from the Baikonur complex in Kazakstan, the former centre for the Soviet space programme. The satellite will provide data for infrastructure development, rural and urban development planning, management of natural disasters and provision of accurate maps.

The establishment of an Arab space research agency is seen as essential to combine talent, information and technology between countries in Mena, and plans have already been submitted to governments across the region.

“With the UAE Government already working hard to develop science and technology, the Emirates is seen as the logical venue for the agency’s headquarters,” said Nick Webb, Director of Streamline Marketing Group, organisers of GSTF.

“Regional governments have been studying plans and more detailed proposals are being formulated,” he added.

“Mena and the Indian Subcontinent as a whole are keen to enter the space age in a big way in order to benefit from the enormous opportunities offered by next generation space research and commercial space applications.”

The event combines a three-day exhibition of the latest space technology equipment and services with a two-day conference outlining global policy relating to private ventures and future projects in space, new technology and research efforts making space access easy and affordable.

The forum will provide a platform for decision makers representing Middle East space and satellite projects from countries such as Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Oman, Vietnam, UAE and Algeria to come together for the first time to discuss space and satellite technology.

They will be joined by representatives of the NASA, European Space Agency, and other prestigious space programmes worldwide.

A series of special closed-door meetings will allow decision makers representing leading Middle East space programmes and other emerging space markets to discuss their requirements and projects.

The forum will be rounded off on the final day by a high level advanced sat-com conference spotlighting the advances in satellite communications which are slowly revolutionising the communication sector.

GSFT 2009 is expected to grow on last year’s launch event, which saw 32 leading experts from worldwide space organisations addressing a targeted audience of about 250 conference delegates and nearly 1100 professionals.

The event has gained official support from the UAE Space Reconnaissance Center, the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology and the UAE Society of Engineers, in addition to industry media partners SpaceNewsfeed UK, Spacelinks and  Geoconnexion. – TradeArabia News




Tags: UAE | Dubai | Satellite | Space | Global Space Technology Forum | DubaSat |

More Industry, Logistics & Shipping Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads