Authors: Runggu A Prilia, Maximilien Berthet.
From the expansion of national space programs to the enactment of space laws, the momentum is undeniable. This article provides a glimpse into the thriving space ecosystem shaping our future and highlights the power of space communities.
We are witnessing a consistent growth of interest in space activities across the Asia Pacific region. It is reflected through the expansion of national space programs including increased investments, enhancement of international and regional cooperation, establishment of space agencies, and enactment of space laws, to name a few. These positive trends can be attributed to the role of space communities in the region.
Space technology is now seen as an integral part of national activities. While developed space nations like Japan, China, and India are going to the Moon and venturing into space resources exploration, other spacefaring nations in the region are catching up in their own way, through their own space programs. South Korea has successfully launched a three-stage rocket, Nuri, and delivered eight small satellites to Sun-synchronous orbit in 2023. South Korea also has its eyes set on a lunar mission, having become a member of the Artemis Accords in 2021. Indonesia plans to develop a national Earth observation satellite constellation that consists of high and very high-resolution optical imaging satellites, and synthetic aperture radar satellites to cover nationwide activities and provide more precise and timely services. Other countries like Thailand and Vietnam are enhancing their respective Earth observation satellite programs, THEOS and VNREDSAT. Taiwan, meanwhile, has significantly increased its space sector investments in the last six years, amounting to billions of USD.
Establishment of space agencies further indicates a commitment to space activities. In a mere six-year span, we have witnessed several such agencies emerging in the region such as the Australian Space Agency (2018), the Malaysian Space Agency (2019), and the Philippine Space Agency (2019). Singapore also appointed the Office for Space Technology & Industry as its national space office (2020).
In recent years, more countries have enacted space laws. The Philippines enacted the Republic Act No. 11363, also known as the Philippine Space Act, in 2019. Malaysia enacted the Malaysia Space Board Act in 2022, which provides for the establishment of the Board as well as the promulgation of national space activities. Taiwan passed the Space Development Act in June 2021, later amended in 2023. Thailand is in the process of drafting its National Space Act, to foster integration of the country’s space-related activities and boost its new space economy.
The space community serves as a bridge between stakeholders, with wider linkage to parties even outside the space sector. It also plays an important role in increasing space awareness, by bringing strategic space issues to the fore of discussions. For example, the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) holds annual meetings to discuss topics like space innovation, sustainability, and space economy. These meetings are attended by the government, industry, and academia. The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) is another example of a space community in the region that embraces students and young professionals taking part in space activities and discussions. There are occasions where the space community gives birth to collaborative projects and initiatives. Some initiatives derived from the APRSAF are Sentinel-Asia, focusing on disaster management, and Kibo-ABC, promoting shared use of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station. The SGAC hosts many projects ranging from space technology and its applications, law and policy, sustainability, to social issues like gender equality and human rights.
The Asia-Pacific Oceania Space Association (APOSA) is a community of communities within this ecosystem. Founded by a team of multinational young professionals, we are a sustainable space community of problem solvers with a vision to foster friendship and collaboration among the space community in the Asia Pacific Oceania region. APOSA acts as an interface between space professionals and space enthusiasts, by providing simple continuous platforms to connect, discuss, and act upon a variety of challenges, from diverse domains such as space technology, law and policy, space economy, sustainability, and more. As of now, APOSA’s platforms consist of a podcast (Space Smurfs), and a design thinking workshop (Cosmic Sandbox). Through these initiatives, we have reached more than 15 countries inside and outside of Asia Pacific.
APOSA community blog is the newest addition to our platforms, and aims to provide a place for professionals, students, and other space enthusiasts to voice their opinions, findings, or updates on relevant space issues or activities in the region. We recognize that there are few websites with a central focus on space activities in the Asia Pacific. The community blog attempts to close the gap, and will give further exposure of space activities in Asia Pacific to a broader audience. We believe that every contribution matters, regardless of the scale, and in this blog, everyone is welcome to participate. In the future, we hope that this blog will generate collaborative initiatives and level the development of space activities in Asia Pacific, so that no one will be left behind.