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1. Start of the Delivery Mission for Japanese Experiment Module Kibo

2. [[Series 1: Introduction of the Current Status of Small Japanese Satellites]] Introduction of PRIZM

3. Operation Schedule of Kizuna (WINDS) and Experimental Plans in the Asia-Pacific Region

4. Report on the Naro Space Center in South Korea by Mr. Jeongwon Lee, Senior Administrator of the Policy Studies & International Relations Department of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

5. “Mountain GIS e-ConferenceENepal - January 14 - 25, 2008

6. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Updates - April - June 2008]]

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1. Start of the Delivery Mission for Japanese Experiment Module Kibo
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Space Shuttle Endeavour, with JAXA's Astronaut Takao Doi onboard, was successfully launched at 3:28 p.m. (Japan Standard Time) on March 11, 2008.

The 1J/A (STS-123) is the first Kibo delivery mission to the International Space Station (ISS), and the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section (ELM-PS) of Kibo was attached to the ISS on March 14, 2008.

Kibo consists of five major elements, namely the Pressurized Module (PM), the ELM-PS, the Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), the Exposed Facility (EF) and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section (ELM-ES).
The second Kibo delivery mission 1J (STS-124), which will transport the PM and the JEMRMS to the ISS, is scheduled to be launched on May 25, 2008 (Eastern Daylight Time). The remaining parts will be launched in 2009. Through three Shuttle missions, all Kibo parts will be delivered and attached to the ISS.

Full text of the article: http://www.aprsaf.org/feature/feature.html

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2. [[Series 1: Introduction of the Current Status of Small Japanese Satellites]] Introduction of PRISM

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As the first article in this series, the APRSAF secretariat interviewed Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka, Project manager of the small satellites (PRISM), Tokyo University, to learn about the current developmental status of PRISM and his determination to develop it.

"At present (March 2008), we have almost finished manufacturing the Engineering Model (EM) and done the ground testing for it, and we are about to start manufacturing the Flight Model (FM)"
Full text of the article: http://www.aprsaf.org/feature/feature.html

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3. Operation Schedule of Kizuna (WINDS) and Experimental Plans in the Asia-Pacific Region
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The Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS), also known as Kizuna, was launched on February 23, 2008, and JAXA has successfully completed the deployment of multi-beam antennas onboard Kizuna at the end of a series of critical phase operations conducted on March 1, 2008.

JAXA maneuvered the satellite's orbit from a drifting orbit to a geostationary orbit (at about 143 degrees east longitude) on March 14, 2008. JAXA will also spend about four months carrying out initial checks on the functions of the onboard equipment. Kizuna is planned to begin steady operations in July 2008.

Mr. Toshio Higuchi, Senior engineer in the Satellite Applications and Promotion Center at JAXA said "The applications of Kizuna will be widespread as it has been equipped with high-speed data lines that can transfer data such as a large volume of files at high speed, and it can also support broadband Internet access"

Full text of the article: http://www.aprsaf.org/feature/feature.html

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4. Report on the Naro Space Center in South Korea by Mr. Jeongwon Lee, Senior Administrator of the Policy Studies & International Relations Department of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)
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The Naro Space Center, started as part of a national space development program, is now beginning to take shape on Oenaro Island off the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. Korea's first space center will cover almost five million square meters (53,375,000 sq. ft) of the land.

During its first phase, the space center will perform its first mission, launching the Korean Scientific Satellite II (100 kg) with a small space launch vehicle. In the second phase, the space center will expand its capability to launch medium-sized space launch vehicles by 2015.

Full text of the article: http://www.aprsaf.org/feature/feature.html

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5. "Mountain GIS e-Conference" Nepal - January 14 - 25, 2008
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The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Mountain Forum Secretariat (MFS), located in Himalayan region, organized a two-week virtual conference on "Promoting Geographic Information and Earth Observation Applications for the Sustainable Development of the Hindu KushHimalayan region" with 752 participants from 71 countries and 39 presentations during January 14 - 25, 2008.

During the e-conference, three themes, "Capacity building and networking, Mountain databases, tools and methods, and Thematic applications and decision support system" were eagerly discussed in order to promote geo-information science and technology for integrated mountain development based on the previously prepared "discussion paper" by the moderator.

Full text of the article: http://www.aprsaf.org/feature/feature.html

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6. [[Event Information and APRSAF Website Updates - April - June 2008]]
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*April 14 - 16, 2008
The Second GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium
Tokyo, Japan
http://www.prime-intl.co.jp/geoss/

* April 15 - 18, 2008
Water Down Under 2008 - 31st Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium & 4th International Conference on Water Resources and Environment Research
Adelaide, Australia
http://www.waterdownunder2008.com/

*April 21 - 26, 2008
Asia-Pacific Forestry Week: Forestry in a Changing World
Hanoi, Vietnam
http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/33592/en/

*April 23 - 26, 2008
Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Symposium "Towards sustainable land use in tropical Asia"
Sarawak, Malaysia
http://www.atbcasia.org/public/default.asp

* May 21 - 25, 2008
IOC/WESTPAC 7th International Scientific Symposium - Natural Hazards and Changing Marine Environment in the Western Pacific
Sabah, Malaysia
http://www.ums.edu.my/conferences/index.php?mod=Publication&action=homeaccess&conf=IOCWESTPAC7

*June 1 - 8, 2008
26th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
Hamamatsu, Japan
http://www.26ists.com/

* June 5 - 7, 2008
Global Mapping Forum 2008
Tokyo, Japan
http://www.gmforum2008.org/

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Copyright 2008 The APRSAF Secretariat

[APRSAF Newsletters are distributed to update the readers on the recentdevelopments in the space related activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to update your contact information, pleasee-mail to: secretariat@aprsaf.org
We welcome your updates in space-related activities and also yourcomments and suggestions to the APRSAF secretariat.]

APRSAF Secretariat
c/o Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan
Roppongi First Bldg. 12F, 1-9-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
Tel: +81-3-5572-6708 / Fax: +81-3-5572-6707

Web: http://www.aprsaf.org