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1. [[Hot Topic 1]]
Activities of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Thailand in 2007

2. [[Hot Topic 2]]
Activities of the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), Singapore in 2007

3. [[Hot Topic 3]]
Activities of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Korea in 2007

4. [[Hot Topic 4]]
Activities of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal in 2007

5. [[Asian Space Update 1]]
Image from LAPAN-TUBSAT, Indonesia
-January 10, 2007-

6. [[Asian Space Update 2]]
Assignment of Astronauts for the Space Shuttle Mission (STS-123 1J/A) to Launch the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo", Japan
-January 30, 2007-

7. [[Information]]
SELENE Campaign- Fly Your Wishes to the Moon Now! -
-Adult and children alike can submit names and brief good wishes for inclusion on the spacecraft. Application Period to be extended to Feb. 28, 2007 - JAXA

8. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update- February- March - April 2007]]

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1. [[Hot Topic 1]]
Activities of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Thailand in 2007
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New Year Message from GISTDA, Thailand:
- Lt. Gen. Dr. Vichit Satharanond, Chairman, GISTDA Executive Board -

It is an honor and pleasure for me to have an opportunity to deliver a message here in APRSAF News. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) is responsible for geoinformatics and space-related activities especially earth observation satellite data reception, distribution and applications.
In 2007, GISTDA continues receiving data from Landsat 7; SPOT 2, 4, 5; Radarsat; MODIS; and NOAA. As the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) data Sub-node in Thailand and ASEAN countries, GISTDA will start receiving ALOS data at Lad Krabang Ground Receiving Station in the first quarter of 2007. This year is very important for us because the first Thailand Earth Observation Satellite (THEOS) is to be launched. THEOS, with imaging capability of two meters in Panchromatic and 15 meters in multispectral wavelengths, is scheduled to be in orbit in October 2007. The construction of ground control segment and the new receiving station at Sriracha is now in progress. It is expected that THEOS will serve the needs of various applications both in Thailand and other countries.
In the area of application, GISTDA will promote and support the use of satellite data in various fields, particularly the preparation of THEOS data applications. GISTDA will also focus on human resource development especially in area of remote sensing and GIS applications. The activities will be focused on local people more than those in the last year.
As for international cooperation, GISTDA will continue cooperating with various countries both in Asia and other regions as well as international organizations. In February, GISTDA will organize the exhibition on “Thailand’s Contribution on Earth Environment from Its Space-Related ActivitiesEduring the COPUOS-44th Session of Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in Vienna.
Definitely, GISTDA ensures the continuation of participation and support APRSAF activities especially Sentinel Asia Project. We expect that APRSAF will be the forum benefiting all Asian countries. Finally, I wish APRSAF News to be a successful media in bridging the gap in space related fields.

GISTDA Website
http://www.gistda.or.th/Gistda/HtmlGistda/Html/index2.htm

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2. [[Hot Topic 2]]
Activities of the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), Singapore in 2007
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New Year Message from CRISP, Singapore:
- Dr. KWOH Leong Keong, Director, Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing-

---Remote Sensing Activities---
The Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP) in National University of Singapore, is Singapore’s main organization responsible for remote sensing activities. CRISP operates a remote sensing satellite ground station which was installed in September 1995. The ground station has three tracking antennas, a 13m diameter X band antenna, a 6m X band antenna and a 1.5m L band antenna, and two geostationary 3.6m L band antenna reception of Fengyun 2C, China's second professional geostationary orbit meteorological satellite, and the Multi-functional Transport Satellite-1R (MTSAT-1R), Japanese weather satellites. The earth observation satellites CRISP now receives Satellite Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre 2/4/5 (SPOT 2/4/5), European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS), NOAA,environmental satellite of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, MTSAT-1R, FengYun 2C, Earth Observing System -AM (Terra)/ -PM1 (AQUA) and IKONOS,commercial high-resolution satellite.

CRISP embarks the New Year with plans to expand its data reception capability by adding a new S/X band tracking antenna. The antenna is expected to be commissioned in early 2008.

CRISP will continue to be active in applying remote sensing satellite data to environmental monitoring, especially in the area of forest fires. CRISP will also continue to conduct research on the processing, analysis and applications of satellite remote sensing data. Currently, CRISP research focuses on the processing and application of very high spatial resolution imagery, hyperspectral data with tens to hundreds of spectral bands, and multiple polarization synthetic aperture radar.

---Satellite Technology/ XSAT---
The X-Sat project in the Centre for Research in Satellite Technologies (CREST) in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a joint center for satellite engineering between NTU and Defence Science Organization (DSO). X-Sat is a LEO satellite mission designed with multi-mission objectives in earth observation and imaging applications, satellite based data acquisition/distribution and messaging and on-board data processing experiments.

The primary mission objective of the X-Sat mission in earth observation and imaging is realized through a 10m resolution multi-spectral visible band optical instrument named IRIS. SaTReCi of South Korea has been contracted to build this optical payload for the X-Sat mission. The secondary payload, named the Parallel Processing Unit (PPU), is designed and developed indigenously by CREST for the demonstration of on-board data processing, such as image data compression, in small satellites.

X-Sat is currently being developed. It is scheduled for launch in 2008.

CRISP Website
http://www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/

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3. [[Hot Topic 3]]
Activities of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Korea in 2007
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New Year Message from KARI, Korea
- Dr Hwang, Director of the Policy and International Relations Division -

In 2006, Korea achieved a few successful results in the space field. First, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) successfully launched KOMPSAT-2 into orbit on July 28 2006 by a Russian launch vehicle at Plesetsk in Russia, which has 1m resolution of Multi-Spectral Camera and it has been producing useful earth observation data. Second, KARI selected two candidates for the first Korean astronauts who will board on Soyuz spaceship for the International Space Station in April 2008. In the commercial area, Korea Telecom successfully launched KOREASAT-5 into the geostationary orbit for broadcasting services in northeastern Asia. But Haukuk Aviation University Satellite-1 (HAUSAT-1), which was 1kg mass of an ultra micro satellite developed by students of Korea Aviation University, failed to enter into orbit due to the launch failure at Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan.

In 2007, there is no big special event such as satellite launch, but a few space programs will go on as scheduled. The Naro Space Center will be completed its construction and facilitated with many pieces of equipments this year. KARI will prepare its first launch for Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), at the Naro Space Center. KSLV-1 had been scheduled to take Scienced Technology Satellite-2 (STSAT-2) into orbit by the end of this year. But KSLV-1 launch will be postponed to the next year because the KSLV-1 program will be delayed. The two candidates for astronauts will be sent to Russia soon and be trained for boarding on the International Space Station next year. The satellite developing programs such as Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-3 (KOMPSAT-3), KOMPSAT-5 and Communication Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS-1) will go on as planned. Year 2007 will be very quiet but substantial in the space field to Korea.

KARI Website
https://www.kari.re.kr/index1.asp

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4. [[Hot Topic 4]]
Activities of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal in 2007
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New Year Message from ICIMOD, Nepal
- Dr. Basanta Raj Shrestha, Division Head, Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) - Mountain Environment and Natural Resources Information Systems (MENRIS) -

"ICIMOD’s Space Technology Applications in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region"
The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) based in Kathmandu has been working as the only regional center for sustainable livelihoods of the mountain people and promoting economically and environmentally sound development of mountain ecosystems in the HKH region. ICIMOD through Mountain Environment Natural Resources Information Systems (MENRIS) program has adopted a strategic approach to assist its regional member countries in capturing the opportunities provided by the Space and related technologies for organized information networking and improved decision making. ICIMOD is regularly participating in APRSAF to highlight the importance of space technology applications in the mountain areas. More information is available at www.icimod.org.

The following paragraphs describe briefly activities related to space technology applications in mountain areas:
In collaboration with the European Space Agency, an internet platform within the frame work of Mountain Geoportal (http://menris.icimod.net) has been created to build, share, learn and communicate geospatial information regarding remote sensing applications in the HKH region. In addition, there are 11 remote sensing project proposals being implemented by partners from the regional countries of the HKH region to demonstrate the use of remote sensing applications for mountain areas. These will later be integrated in Space educational portal (EDUSPACE) of the ESA.
ICIMOD together with national partner institutions and in partnership with UNEP is focusing on mapping of glaciers, glacial lakes and Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in the Himalayas. The comprehensive database thus developed through remote sensing and GIS techniques will provide the basis for monitoring of glacier environment in the wake of global warming and design of early warning system for disaster mitigation efforts.
The 'Application of Satellite Rainfall Estimates in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region' project has been carried out in collaboration with USGS and NOAA to strengthen regional cooperation in flood forecasting and information exchange, and to build the capacity of partner institutions for satellite rainfall estimation and its application. The project is supported by the USAID/OFDA.

Likewise, many remote sensing applications are underway such as highland wetland mapping, transboundary biodiversity corridor mapping, land cover mapping and others which are essential components to make informed decision-making for mountain development policies and practices.

In sum, MENRIS together with strategic partnership with international agencies is contributing towards a comprehensive capacity building and networking activity through regional and national training courses, provision of new software and tools, exchange of scientists, and technical backstopping to partner organizations to enhance and strengthen the capacities of institutions of the HKH in utilizing space technology applications for mountain areas. For more information please visit Mountain Geoportal at http://menris.icimod.net.

ICIMOD Website
http://www.icimod.org/home/

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5. [[Asian Space Update 1]]
Image from LAPAN-TUBSAT, Indonesia
-January 10, 2007-
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LAPAN-TUBSAT was successfully launched by PSLV-C7, ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, with four satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, India at 9:23am on January 10, 2007, and it has been with other satellites placed in a polar orbit at an altitude of 637 km with an inclination of 97.9 deg with respect to the equator. The satellite is rotating in nominal mode at 1 deg/sec perpendicular to the orbit plane and the attitude is as from now on under control.
The satellite has an ability to manipulate its attitude, hence its camera points Off-nadir. This feature could shorten the ground repeat or the time it takes to repeat the image in the same region. Traditionally this process takes about 16 to 26 days for sun synchronous orbit satellite. Therefore, events that could not wait for a long delay such as forest fires, floods, and landslides can be monitored on time.
The specifications of two video cameras are the high-resolution video camera (3.5km swath and 5m-ground resolution) and the low-resolution video camera (81km swath and 200m-ground resolution).

Dr. Ing Soewarto Hardhienata, Director of the Aerospace Electronics Technology Center, National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) gave a message to APRSAF News readers with the image of LAPAN-TUBSAT.

"The micro satellite LAPAN-TUBSAT is successfully sending images of Indonesia’s earth surface, such as images of the Palimanan (a part of West-Java) area on Friday, January 19, 2007 (above). The satellite started to send images since early January and passes above the Indonesia area three to four times a day."

The image of LAPAN-TUBSAT is attached to this Newsletter.
(See attached file: LAPAN-TUBSAT_Image.jpg)

Technical Aspects and Attitude control strategy of LAPAN-TUBSAT Micro Satellite
http://www.ilr.tu-berlin.de/RFA/sat/lapan/paper/hardhienata.pdf

TUBSAT Microsatellites Project (Working Group Prof. Dr. U. Renner)
http://www.ilr.tu-berlin.de/RFA/index.htm

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6. [[Asian Space Update 2]]
Assignment of Astronauts for the Space Shuttle Mission (STS-123 1J/A) to Launch the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo", Japan
-January 30, 2007-
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the selection of the following astronauts as crew members for the Space Shuttle mission to assemble the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" (1J/A).
The Kibo, which has been developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as part of the International Space Station (ISS) Program, is scheduled to be launched by three Space Shuttle missions. On the first of the three missions, the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section will be attached to the ISS. This mission also will deliver the Canadian Space Agency's Dextre robotic system.
Japanese Astronaut Takao Doi has been assigned as a crew member on this mission; astronaut Naoko Yamazaki will assist the mission from the ground as the Crew Support Astronaut (CSA).

Crew Commander Capt Dominic L. Gorie
Pilot Col Gregory H. Johnson
Mission Specialist Richard M. Linnehan
Mission Specialist Maj Robert L. Behnken
Mission Specialist Capt Michael J. Foreman
Mission Specialist Takao Doi

JAXA Press Release
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/01/20070130_sts-123_e.html

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7. [[Information]]
SELENE Campaign- Fly Your Wishes to the Moon Now! -
" Adult and children alike can submit names and brief good wishes for inclusion on the spacecraft."
Application Period to be extended to Feb. 28, 2007 - JAXA
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The SELENE is an artificial satellite that aims to collect closely featured scientific data on "The formation of the moon and its transitional history up to today," which is the biggest lunar exploration project since the Apollo Project.

JAXA will accept from the public names and messages to deliver to the moon aboard the SELENE. Please send your wishful messages to JAXA.

For more information on the SELENE Project including application details, please visit:
http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/event/selene/index_e.html

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8. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Update- February- March - April 2007]]
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* Feb 5-7, 2007
International Workshop on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM-2007)
Bangalore, India
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/kerf/

* Feb 6-8, 2007
eHealth Asia 2007
Putrajaya, Malaysia
http://www.ehealthonline.org/ehealthasia/index.asp

* Feb 8-9, 2007
OECD Regional Conference for Asia "Statistics, Knowledge and Policy"
Seoul, Korea
http://www.oecd.org/document/46/0,2340,en_21571361_31938349_37414254_1_1_1_1,00.html

* Feb 8-9, 2007
35th Annual Conference of the Australian Map Circle
Canberra, Australia
http://australianmapcircle.org.au/amc2007/index.html

* Feb 15-17, 2007
Conference on 'Current Trends in Remote Sensing and GIS Applications'
West Bengal, India
http://www.geocities.com/iitkgpconf2007/

* Feb 19-21, 2007
APCO Australasia 2007 Conference and Exhibition
Queensland, Australia
http://www.intergraph.com/events/APCO_2007/default.asp

* Feb 21-23, 2007
Inaugural IEEE International Digital EcoSystems Technologies Conference,
Cairns, Australia
http://www.ieee-dest.curtin.edu.au/

* March 5-8, 2007
CARIS 2007 ? 11th International User Group Conference and Educational Sessions
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
http://www.caris.com/conferences/caris2007/

* March 12-14, 2007
International Conference on Water and Flood Management (ICWFM)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
http://teacher.buet.ac.bd/icwfm/index.htm

* March 21-22, 2007
CRCSI Workshop: Geophysical Image Processing
Sydney, Australia
http://www.crcsi.com.au/pages/CalendarDetails.aspx?tabid=1&AVCalendarPage=1&Mid=1&ItemID=106&viewdate=21%20March%202007

* March 21-23, 2007
3rd Asian Space Conference
Singapore
http://pdcc.ntu.edu.sg/ASC2007/

* March 27-30, 2007
Asia Modeling Symposium (ASM 2007)
Phuket, Thailand

* April 1, 2007
Mapping & 3D Information Extraction from High Resolution Sat. Imagery
Sydney, Australia
Contact: training@crcsi.com.au

* April 2-3, 2007
Australian Water Summit Sydney 2007
Sydney, Australia
http://www.acevents.com.au/water2007/

* April 4-6, 2007
Location Asia 2007
Hong Kong, China
http://www.location.net.in/

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Copyright 2006 The APRSAF Secretariat

APRSAF Secretariat

c/o. Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan
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Japan

Telephone: +(81 3)5572-6708
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