Human Spaceflight: The coming war of space tycoons

VVVolVolVolVol o6 o6 66l l. .No. NoNo. No79 N N 55 oo5.. 5 July 2018 2021

AFRICA

SPECIAL EDITION

The rise SPECIALTheof underwater rise REPOR of T Nigeria drones in the maritime environment

A new leader and player in the aerospace industry

C O N T E N T S Vol.9 No. 5

Unleashing the full potential of Africa’s Blue Economy Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello From land to water, drones are now everywhere Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald Teaching Astronomy to teenagers SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey Unveiling Nigeria GeoPortal Head, Application Services M. Yakubu Meteorite tracked to its birthplace in the asteroid belt Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel 30 years since the Earth observation Usman Bello satellite ERS-1 was launched Alozie Nwankwo Europe's biggest startup and tech event Juliet Nnamdi Trends affecting media landscape in sub Saharan Africa Client Relations Sunday Tache Delivering content to any screen Lookman Bello MultiChoice delivers strong results in Q1 Safiya Thani Marketing Offy Pat Living in the Dawn of a Golden Era of Space Exploration Tunde Nathaniel Unlocking Africa's full EO potential with EU Space synergies Wasiu Olatunde India’s Chandrayaan-2 Solar X-ray monitor unravels mysteries of the Media Relations Favour Madu Solar Corona Khadijat Yakubu The rise of underwater drones Zacheous Felicia in maritime environment Finance Folarin Tunde Sateliot, Spanish MoD promotes first Nanosatellite constellation Human Spaceflight: The coming war of space tycoons Space Watch Magazine is a publication of Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, SF 04, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected]

LEGAL CONSULTANTS Idowu Oriola & Co. Garki, Abuja

DISTRIBUTION CONTACTS Ade Adejo

ABIJAN INTERNATIONAL Suleija, Abuja

AYO DISTRIBUTION AGENCY Emir Road, Ilorin Olumayowa Ojo

NEWSROUND INTERNATIONAL Area 10, Garki, Abuja Magazine Circulation Nigeria Limited 90, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja Magazine Subscription Nigeria Limited Ikeja, Lagos.

DELALI OTCHI Ridge Church, Tudu Branch, Accra, Ghana.

AL AHRAM NEWPAPERS LIMITED Al Galaa Street -11511 Cairo-Egypt Ayo Olu

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION AGENCY Jos, Plateau State. Cover source NASA

1 -

\

35 4 6 2 0 9 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 - REVIEW Unleashing the full potential of Africa’s Blue Economy

Africa is endowed with a vast network of aquatic A recent report revealed that African Blue average annual rate of 8% over the past 5 resources and extensive interconnected oceans. Economy sectors and components years, compared to a global 5% change. The African lake zones cover approximately generated a value of USD 296 billion with 49 The traffic in the African harbours should 240,000 km², while its trans-boundary river million jobs. It is projected that by 2030, exceed 2 billion of tons by 2063 versus 500 basins cover approximately 64 per cent of the figures will be respectively USD 405 billion million in 2018. The Increased port traffic will continent's land area. The total length of Africa's and 57 million jobs while in 2063 estimates be done thanks to the modernization of the coastline is some 26,000 km, making the African would respectively be USD 576 billion of ports that can progressively accommodate maritime domain extremely important for value created and 78 millions of jobs. The the latest generation of large ships more commercial, environmental, developmental and number of jobs would correspond to about than 21 000 TFE. The creation of sub- security reasons. There are more than 100 ports 5% of the active population in 2063. The regional maritime shipping companies, of in Africa, 52 of which handle containers and main driving sectors of the Blue Economy cabotage companies and the development transnational trade. The continent's maritime are tourism, both in term of value added and of transport corridors with the application of economy is estimated to represent some 90 per jobs created; the mineral sector, and the Oil freight rates will furthermore allow African cent of its total commerce. and Gas that have a strong contribution to shippers to transport their cargoes at For three-quarters of the African continent, the the value added but a low participation in the reasonable costs. blue or ocean economy is its principal economy job creation process. The fishery sector will and, if well used, could be a potent engine for remain stable, with a high number of people Fishery economic growth. The new and developing employed while the aquaculture will The capture fisheries production, currently industries in a blue or ocean economy include continue to grow in next decades. Port and standing at 10 million tonnes, is expected to aquaculture; marine renewable energy shipping will grow at a constant rate. The remain fairly constant throughout 2063 due technologies for wind, wave and tidal energy; value of blue carbon and other ecosystem to, inter alia, overfishing, overcapacity and bioproducts such as pharmaceutical and services generated by coastal, marine and poor governance. The total gross value- agrichemical; blue or ocean carbon including aquatic ecosystems will progressively added of the fisheries in Africa is estimated carbon storage in mangroves, seagrass and increase as conservation efforts expand. at USD 21 billion or 1.26% of the GDP saltmarsh; and desalination. A blue or ocean Education and research will follow the same (USD1.9 trillion) of all African countries. economy open doors for Africa's industrialization pattern due to a growing demand for Marine artisanal fisheries contribute the and economic development.6 Fresh water and knowledge, especially in the area of deep- most at USD 8.1 billion, followed by marine marine fish contribute to the food security of over sea mining, offshore exploration and climate industrial fisheries and inland fisheries at 200 million people in Africa and provide an change mitigation and adaptation. USD 6.8 billion and 6.3 billion respectively. income for over 10 million people. In May 2014, In 2018, the fisheries sector employs about the African Union estimated the first-sale value of Port and shipping 13 million people of which 7 million were African fisheries marine, inland and aquaculture Although Africa still has a relatively small fishers and 6 million were processors. More to be US$19.7 billion per annum. It also impact in international trade about 3% of than half of the fishers are employed in estimated that there would be an additional world volumes, African shipping follows the inland fisheries and the largest share of US$2 billion available annually for African upward trend in the world. As a result, traffic processors work in marine artisanal economies if the fisheries sector were to be in African container ports has grown at an fisheries. managed sustainably.

4 REVIEW

1.3% over the last decade. The sector has potential for expansion and growth as most areas are yet to be exploited. The contribution to employment in 2018 was estimated at 24 million jobs in Africa at annual growth rate of 5.6% compared to global average of 3.9%. This provides potential opportunity for economic development. In 2030 the value added generated by the coastal tourism should exceed 100 billion with 28 million people employed while in 2063, it should generate 138 billion of value added with an employment figure of 35 million. The strong development of the continental tourism will boost the demand for tourism services and infrastructures. The development of eco- tourism will contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and reduce the ecological footprint. Blue Carbon and other ecosystem services Blue Carbon is part of a Blue Economy with an opportunity to develop coastal wetland projects to mitigating climate change. The planning of blue carbon conservation projects and evaluating how ecosystems can be more effectively included within existing policy frameworks, carbon financing mechanisms such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Land Degradation (REDD+) and other UNFCCC mechanisms are essential to restoring and protecting marine ecosystems. There is also a great opportunity for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for adapting and mitigating climate change in existing frameworks for carbon offsets referred to as carbon credits. Coastal protection, biomass production, water purification, etc., are among the most important ecosystem services delivered by aquatic ecosystems. Their current value is Aquaculture estimated to the average monetary value of The African aquaculture sector records the Ocean mining carbon sequestration of about USD 130 000 per km2 of mangrove, salt marshes and sea fastest growth in the world between 2006-2018, Deep-seabed and seawater mining are the new grasses. At the scale of Africa, the value is averaging 10% or more and is expected to frontier with huge potential. The value of top estimated at USD 40 billion in 2018 annually partially fill the growing fish supply-demand gap sea-bed mining minerals such as diamond, with a potential growth to USD 45 billion in up to 2063. The value of aquaculture is estimated gold, cobalt, zinc and copper in Africa could 2030 to USD 70 billion in 2063 with an at USD 2.77 billion. Despite huge potential, the reach a value added of about USD 6 billion. On effective protection and restoration of growth is confined to fewer countries with Egypt the other hand, if African countries exploit about coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems. accounting for nearly 70% at 1.37 million tonnes 2% of the market value from seawater mining of of the total 1.98 million tonnes while Nigeria 10% of global production from seawater ranked second with 300 thousand tonnes. In potential, it is worth about USD 50 billion of Research and Education 2018, there were about 1.2 million aquafarmers value added. This gives a combined value Both are key pillars of the development of across the continent, an increase from 920 added of about USD 56 billion. It could reach Blue Economy in Africa. Currently, the main thousand in 2014 about USD 76 by 2030 and USD 123 by 2063. research and education activities are linked to fisheries and aquaculture with a huge gap Sustainable blue energy of expertise in renewable energy, deepsea Oil and Gas mineral exploitation, oil and gas as these In 2018, the total GDP contribution of oil and sectors are research driven by international .Blue energy penetration has already started in gas in the major producing countries such as companies with low connections to African many African countries such as Ghana (Wave Angola, Congo. Dem. Rep., Cote d'Ivoire, education and research institutions. The Energy), Mauritius (FPV) and Offshore wind Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique, growing importance of BE sectors and BE projects. Considering Ghana's electricity Nigeria and South Africa is about USD 80 component such as Blue Carbon is currently contribution to GDP of about 1.5% as our billion. By 2030 and 2063, the value added pushing the development of new reference and assuming that progressively the could reach about USD 100 billion and USD educational programs in pilot countries such share of the Blue Economy will be 5% of the total 140 billion, respectively. as South Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius and energy contribution in 2030 and 7% of the total Ghana. The current trend will be maintained energy contribution in 2063 the GDP contribution Coastal tourism until 2063. of the blue energy could reach about USD1.6 In 2018 the sector contributed USD80 billion, billion and USD2.3 billion, respectively. about 3.4% of the GDP at annual growth rate of

5 REVIEW

Unmanned underwater vehicle The Deep Trekker REVOLUTION

Underwater drones were first invented in the 1950s. research ship to deploy. In the 2000s, it With advanced capabilities and intelligence, the Their design enabled them to carry out missions for became possible to deploy them off much DTG3 Underwater Camera is the best in its class. the Navy and research colleges. The money came smaller vessels. The mini commercial-grade underwater drone is from the defense budget. Like many technologies to built to provide operators with the ability to quickly emerge from the Cold War, drones fell under the Modern underwater drones are like miniature deploy and visually inspect within underwater Navy's control. In the 1960s, technology continued submarines without crew. These submarine environments. Designed to work well in low light, to advance. This allowed an underwater drone to drones are challenging to send radio signals the 4k internal camera provides a 270 degree even retrieve a lost nuclear bomb. The retrieval to. They can be autonomous, using their rotating field of vision. With live, zero latency occurred off the coast of Spain and remained secret onboard sensors to function. Another method viewing, operators get a clear and accurate visual of for many years. is a long tether that allows for a direct the underwater environments they are operating in. Through the 1970s, commercial industries began to connection between ship and drone. An Pilots can record high quality videos or switch to use them in earnest. Underwater drones even saved underwater drone works by controlling its photo mode to snap photos in up to 8 megapixels. the crew of a wrecked submarine during the 1970s. buoyancy so that it doesn't sink. Like all The straightforward handheld controller is easy to Droves grew in demand for their effectiveness and underwater vehicles, they have crush depths use. The 7-inch screen is sunlight-readable and ability to do things no human could. and can be designed for different operating weatherproof, meaning users get a clear view no The most famous decade that heralded the arrival of conditions. The motors they use push water matter what conditions they are facing. underwater drones was the 1980s. The finding of the and allow the drone to move about either by The Deep Trekker REVOLUTION is a completely Titanic by Robert Ballard required a new type of command or on their own. re-imagined drone. Mission-ready with greater ROV. They developed this machine with help from Most underwater drones use a line that payload capabilities, deeper depths and advanced the Navy. The latest version enabled the discovery of connects them to the control room where stabilization, the REVOLUTION is tough and the famous wrecks of the Titanic and Bismarck. In they're operated. Inside this control room, portable. The patent pending revolving head allows the 1990s, drones began to do more extensive work. operators can manage the tilt, elevation, and operators to rotate the camera, manipulators, and Newer drone models could now disable mines and orientation of the vehicle in real-time. sonar all while station holding in moving water. With do other duties that once relied on human divers. Cameras act like eyes, allowing the operators a 260 degree field of view, the 4k underwater Methods of deployment and battery life were also to guide the drone to its target. camera allows for excellent situational awareness. improved. These improvements led to an even more One of the most important functions of an Pilots can record high quality video or switch the extensive array of industries that used the drones. underwater drone is the camera. A camera to photo mode to take pictures in up to 8 The 2000s saw a massive boost to underwater Underwater drone camera allows users to get megapixels. Specifically designed to work in harsh, drones. The reason behind this was the eyes underwater to perform a wide variety of low light environments the camera reliably provides improvement of the lithium-ion battery technology. tasks including inspection, retrieval and excellent footage for operators. As this method of energy storage improved, so too observation, among countless other The integrated screen controller provides live, zero did the construction of drones. In decades past, a applications. latency viewing on a super bright, sunlight-readable drone would require a tremendous tether and a full and weatherproof screen.

6 SPECIAL FEATURE

From land to water, drones are now everywhere

For many years unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or, as they're more commonly known, drones, were an exclusive technology to governments and military outfits. But today, commercial and domestic drone use is booming. This trend has been driven by advancements in underlying drone technologies (such as sensors, cameras, GPS, and batteries), a positive regulatory environment and investor enthusiasm. These factors, together with ever-reducing price tags perhaps the most crucial of the lot – have combined to make drones an increasingly attractive solution to a diverse range of business problems, and a more popular product in the consumer market. With both consumers and businesses now looking to explore drone use, but for very different reasons, telco operators find themselves uniquely positioned to aid in this exploration, by having much of the required network infrastructure to do so already in place. This, together with existing expertise in connectivity, cloud and big data, means that telcos have the foundations to play a pivotal role in the provision and regulation of drones in the near future.Below, we look at the ways that a wide range of companies are harnessing drone technology for commercial purposes across industries. Here are some of the applications. Defense While military drones have been used for over a decade (the Predator UAV is among the most well known), smaller, portable drones are now being used by ground forces on a regular basis. Military spending for this technology is expected to grow as an overall percentage of military budgets, providing an opportunity for specialized drone manufacturers and deliver aid. And in certain circumstances, they disease and its jumps from animals to humans. software developers. Since 2014, US military are helping to prevent disasters altogether. In In a similar vein, Microsoft is leveraging drone spending on drone technology has increased from just 2017, drones were used to help restore power technology to capture and test mosquitoes for over $4B to about $9B annually, according to the to areas damaged by Hurricane Harvey, as well infectious disease. Ideally, this intelligence Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College. It as survey damage to flooded areas and assist could be used to protect local residents, and in estimates that 95 countries around the world already in search and rescue efforts. the future could help prevent epidemics before possess some form of military drone technology, up To help monitor and combat forest fires, they begin. from just 60 about 10 years ago. surveillance drones outfitted with thermal Another illness being combated with the help of imaging cameras are being deployed to detect drones is schistosomiasord pioneered an abnormal forest temperatures. By doing so, experimental method for tracking the spread of Emergency Response teams are able to identify areas most prone to a n d p r e d i c t i n g t r a n s m i s s i o n s o f Innovations in camera technology have had a forest fires or identify fires just minutes after schistosomiasis. Instead of using animals, the significant impact on the growing use of drones. UAVs they begin. Demand for this kind of technology team's approach uses drone and satellite outfitted with thermal imaging cameras have provided is growing. In 2019, the Department of Defense imagery to track the presence of “unrooted, emergency response teams with an ideal solution for made an official request for drones that can be identifying victims who are difficult to spot with the floating vegetation” where the snails that deployed during a natural disaster to distribute transmit the disease make their habitats finding naked eye. In 2017, Land Rover partnered with the food and water to affected areas. Austrian Red Cross to design a special operations these sites through drone imagery lets those vehicle with a roof-mounted, thermal imaging drone. researchers know what areas are at higher risk The vehicle includes an integrated landing system, Disease Control for schistosomiasis infections. which allows the drone to securely land atop the is, a tropical disease caused by parasitic vehicle while in motion. This custom Land Rover worms. A team of researchers made up of Agriculture Discovery, dubbed “Project Hero,” hopes to save lives scientists from the University of Washington Farmers across the world are continuously by speeding up response times. and StanfTracking animals also allows striving to reduce costs and expand yields. With researchers to track disease. Drones with the use of drones, agricultural workers are able Humanitarian Aid & Disaster thermal imaging cameras have been used by to gather data, automate redundant processes, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical and improve efficiency. Raptor Maps, for Relief Medicine to track macaque movements in the instance, is an agricultural analytics startup In addition to emergency response, drones have province of Palawan in the Philippines a region that relies on drones to help farmers better proved useful during times of natural disaster. In the where malaria is an active threat. The ability to predict their potential harvest. Another area aftermath of hurricanes and earthquakes, UAVs have follow these animals provided further insight where drones are gaining traction is the been used to assess damage, locate victims, and into the possible movement of infectious cultivation of crops, a process that can be

7 SPECIAL FEATURE

repetitive, time-consuming, and detail oriented. To help address this, equipment manufacturer Case IH has built an autonomous tractor, while Abundant Robotics is developing a solution for autonomously picking produce. Weather Forecasting Scientists are leveraging new forms of hardware and software for data collection to help study the climate and better predict future changes to global weather systems. Today, most data is collected through stationary structures or captured with geospatial imaging solutions. Drones, however, offer a versatile option that can physically follow weather patterns as they develop. Maritime Navigating oceans and ports requires an immense amount of expertise and labor from the estimated 1.65M people serving on international merchant ships today. But with increasing amounts of oceanic data and innovations in autonomy, unmanned marine vehicles could become the standard for maritime shipping. Rolls-Royce has already completed a drones to lift and stack thousands of polymer being captured by small, agile UAVs. number of trials with unmanned vessels controlled bricks, the team was able to create a geometric remotely. structure nearly 10 meters high. The finished product serves as a concept for a “vertical village” Urban Planning Energy that would employ a similar structure, which As urbanization continues, cities are having to adapt to larger populations and chronic While alternative energy has become would be built by larger drones. congestion. Urban planning has become increasingly popular, fossil fuels still remain a key Routine inspections are the key to the long term increasingly important for cities, but requires a energy source for the world. Inspection of the care and success of any infrastructure. However, thorough understanding of metropolitan infrastructure used to extract, refine, and inspections of underwater infrastructure are rhythms and flows. With the use of drones, transport oil and gas is an important part of the historically strenuous and difficult, and often urban planners are able to better understand industry and often needed to ensure compliance dangerous. Underwater drones can now protect their environments and implement data-driven with regulations and standards. With the use of divers from these situations and make routine improvements. drones, much of this inspection work can be done inspections and repairs possible. Engineering consulting firm Arup has used remotely and safely. Using specialized thermal Many bridges for example, act as homes for drones to gather data in population-dense sensors, some drones can find leaks faster than a electrical, gas, high-speed data and other utilities. areas. With many municipalities operating on human inspector, while onboard high-resolution The inspection and maintenance of those utilities limited budgets, drones can provide a relatively cameras enable some issues to be diagnosed is critical to maintain service and avoid hazards to low-cost way to capture invaluable urban data. remotely. navigation. Today, a survey and imaging system For example, drones have helped city planners Another area where drones have shown promise can be mounted on an autonomous underwater determine which areas may benefit from green is in setting up new sites for the production of vehicle to inspect the deepest structures and space. energy. Drones that survey areas and gather bridges. Underwater drones can supply better Today, machine learning is helping make more topographic detail can be used to help oil and gas methods for acquiring and recording data that sophisticated mapping processes possible at a companies identify new drill sites, or they can be improve quality, cost-effectiveness and safety of lower cost. In Benin, the Benin Flying Lab used used by solar utilities to design configurations for traditional inspections. drones to create a data-dense aerial map of the new arrays. town of Dassa, then applied machine learning INSURANCE technology to classify the different types of Mining Insurance inspections are a core area where structures and regions on the map, a process Mining is a capital-intensive venture that requires insurance companies can leverage drones. that would have taken a significant amount of constant measurement and assessment of Traditionally, inspectors and assessors for time and labor without the software. physical material. Stockpiles of ore or rock or property insurance would scale structures to minerals are difficult to measure. But with unique conduct manual inspections of properties, but cameras, drones are able to capture volumetric now drones can provide detailed assessments Airlines data on stockpiles and survey mining operations with high-resolution cameras. While damaged or Compliance is a challenge for many industries, from the air. This reduces the risks associated defective property still requires the attention of a but the airline industry must adhere to with having surveyors on the ground. physical inspection, UAVs are beginning to have particularly stringent levels of regulatory an impact there as well. standards. FAA inspections vary in comprehensiveness, but basic inspections are Construction Planning conducted after every 125 hours of flight time. One of the most common commercial use cases Realty Additionally, airlines are expected to conduct for drones is construction planning and Drones have been beneficial in capturing pictures their own routine inspections before every flight. management. Software developers have created of high-value properties, showing that even the In an attempt to improve this process, Intel solutions that analyze construction progress with real estate industry can be upended by drone partnered with Airbus to conduct exterior aircraft regularly captured data. While ground surveying technology. By 2016, real estate was already inspections with UAVs. Intel supplied drones is still a critical part of construction planning and reported to be one of the most active industries outfitted with cameras that allow them to collect monitoring, the use of drone data has become when it came to adopting drone technology. For images and data that can be used to create increasingly important. property developers, drones can be a useful tool detailed, 3D-models of the Airbus fleet. Airbus for understanding how to better outfit a property has also launched its own drone subsidiary with the views, amenities, and features. Being called Airbus Aerial, which looks to provide Infrastructure Development able to quickly scan a property from all angles can inspection services across a variety of While drones serve a useful purpose in allow a better ability to design a structure for the industries. construction planning and management, they landscape in which it sits. Low-cost aerial also have the potential to be used to develop photography is being leveraged to take images of Telecommunications physical infrastructure. By programming the a property's exterior, home interiors are also tTelecommunication towers also are inspected

8 SPECIAL FEATURE

flip side, drones are also used by law enforcement for surveillance and crime prevention. In 2019, there were about 600 law enforcement departments around the United States that employed drones as a crime prevention and response tool, according to the Center For the Study of the Drone at Bard College. Journalism And News Coverage News outlets are using drones to add context and understanding to news stories, enhance production value, and improve documentary storytelling. Drones were subsequently used to get aerial footage of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma by journalists at the Miami Herald, to get footage of the California wildfires, and to assess flood-ridden areas in the Midwest. CNN for instance, has an extensive drone program called CNN Air. The network reports flying hundreds of missions in more than 20 countries. Footage collected by its drone fleet contributes to CNN's core frequently to ensure service reliability. In the use of helicopters. This has had a dramatic news report, its Great Big Story initiative aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, AT&T and impact on Hollywood's bottom line, pushing the (dedicated to creating micro documentaries Verizon launched drones in Houston, Texas to limits of cinematography.The XM2 Cine Sierra, and short films), and other projects for Turner inspect theirowers a process that would have been with a maximum payload of 65 pounds, is one of and Time Warner. too dangerous and time-consuming to do manually. the largest drones designed specifically for With drones, the crew can collect footage These drones were able to quickly assess damage cinematography. It has found wide use on big- that would be difficult to get otherwise due to to help guide repair teams in restoring service. In budget Hollywood pictures, including films like safety issues, high costs, or physical many cases, service was brought back in hours Star Wars Episode IX. barriers. CNN's senior director of national rather than days. Work is also ongoing to develop drones that can news technology and aerial imagery & With telcos requiring in-house drone services for film without the need for an active human guide. reporting Greg Agvent explains that drones their own needs, providing drone procurement Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are allow the teams to “capture things that you solutions to customers is a practical extension of experimenting with autonomous drone software simply cannot capture from a helicopter, their current services. And by providing their own that aims to allow a drone to independently stay which would create that much more noise skilled pilots with the necessary licenses and afloat, follow a human figure through a complex and cost you that much more money.” certifications, the telco drone procurement service environment, and execute various blocking and would be a complete out-of-the-box solution. tracking directions. Air Travel Airbus uses drones in routine plane Internet Sports inspections. The company captures data and With the world's largest tech firms vying for our time Skycam, a robotic camera suspended from a images of its aircraft to help analyze the and attention, the need for global internet access is cable-driven, computerized transport system, condition of the planes. But drones are becoming more and more central to business changed the way viewers experience televised influencing other aspects of air travel as well. models. Facebook experimented with a solar- sports. The camera provides up-close and Passengers traveling with drones must powered drone called Aquila, which was envisioned personal perspectives that traditional, stationary adhere to certain rules about storage of the as helping to provide internet access to rural parts of cameras cannot capture. Today, Skycam is a devices' lithium-ion batteries and sharp the world. The Aquila drone was touted as a core necessity for any professional arena sports components such as propellers. Rather than component of Facebook's push to increase internet broadcast. Drones, however, are becoming simply packing their drones into their access around the world before work on it was increasingly popular for professional sports suitcases, travelers need to educate halted in mid-2018 when the social media giant outside of the stadium. Vermeer, for example, themselves to safely and legally transport the decided to use third-party drones instead. offers live sports broadcast services that have machines. In an effort to help alleviate some Google initially acquired solar-powered drone been used in a number of live and recorded TV of these concerns, Wing — a subsidiary of company Titan Aerospace to provide UAV-powered broadcasts. In addition to traditional sports, Google's parent company Alphabet — internet but the venture proved challenging. It has drones are influencing sports of their own. launched an app called OpenSky that helps since pivoted toward a weather balloon-like design drone operators better plan their routes to called Project Loon that aims to provide internet avoid traffic and reduce accidents. access from the stratosphere. Underground Economies And Security Live Entertainment Fighting Crime Security companies are using drones to provide more comprehensive surveillance Drones have already had an impact on event Though drone technology has many positive systems for industrial, commercial, and surveillance and event photography/film, but are uses, it has also been used to conduct illegal residential properties. One company, also being used more directly to entertain. Disney activities. In particular, drones have been used to Nightingale Security, enables clients to has been one of the more active companies in this transport drugs across international borders. establish repeatable pathways that the space, and has filed for a number of drone patents Large drones can span nearly 5.5 feet and are drones can travel daily, monitoring key focused on entertainment. Synchronized lights designed to carry equipment like heavy security areas. The same service deploys shows, floating projection screens, and drone Hollywood cameras. With flight times of 18-40 drones with live streaming capabilities puppeteers have all been considered by the minutes (depending on the weight of payload) immediately after an alarm is triggered, entertainment giant. Vego Aero is one example of a and top speeds of around 40 mph, drones can be allowing the security team and clients to private player creating live, synchronized drone well-suited for transporting illicit cargo. Drones obtain key footage of a potential breach. performances for audiences. have also been involved in bombings, cases of One of the first industries to adopt drones was voyeurism, and smuggling goods into US professional film. Drones have allowed filmmakers prisons. In 2015, a drone even flew into the to capture dramatic aerial perspectives without the grounds of the White House undetected. On the

9 ASTRONOMY

Teaching Astronomy to teenagers

The Universe is a wonderful place and awareness of its grandeur by children even at a young age is conducive to their upbringing. Learning about the cosmos can increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of science and technology. As Ödman- Govender puts it eloquently: 'the view of Earth from space without real borders between countries helps young children develop the skills and values that will help them create a better future for themselves'. Teaching astronomy is therefore of great interest to science educators. Furthermore, there is a wealth of knowledge on the level of understanding children have on basic astronomy. A more recent development is the recognition of children's influence on their own learning processes. Ever since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, appreciating and even using the input of children has been slowly on the rise. It has resulted into what is now commonly called 'participation' projects, of which there are many examples in the video field. Almost all of these projects have in common that they are meant for children to participate in the actual production. The end resulting videos are usually, though not always, publically available. Through the better alignment offered by participation of educational material to the worldview experienced by children, there could be improved learning experiences from video material. Children on an astronomy camping trip, tell stories line appeared. They have those kinds of lessons at school. around a campfire. Upon nightfall they gaze at the Astronomy tells us things about who we are Keeping the audience engaged is key to stars in a clearing of the woods together with an and how things are made up. It is an important keeping the interest. Use materials or go astronomer. The telescope brings stars closer, but part of our lives and therefore teenagers should outside of the classroom to keep interest. that's not close enough. They would rather be among also become more interested and aware of this Sharing and going through photos is something the stars. The make a wish to fly through space after topic (especially the more higher educated that attracts teenagers. Facebook and they spot a falling star. One boy though, does not teenagers). This brief study is to find existing Instagram are popular because teenagers can believe in wishes. The children go to sleep but the one astronomy resources aimed at teenagers and share photo's easily. Teenagers like to keep boy wakes up and returns to the telescope. He falls on find what is lacking in these resources, to get each other updated with their daily experiences his back in amazement because up in the sky, he can the attention of teenagers. The study also look and they can share these photos with friends on suddenly see the dreams of the children. They are into where teenagers go to; existing portals social media. dreaming of being in space! The next morning the boy from other fields such as fashion, music, Teenagers like to carry responsibility, as it listens to the children talk. When they tell about their games, social media and apps. The study also makes them feel independent. Have a class adventure in space he tells them what they i n c l u d e s p o i n t s w h e r e a s t r o n o m y split up in groups and let them assign a group experienced really happened. They decide to keep it communication for teenagers can improve on. leader for each group. Then have a certain a secret because no one will believe them. Even though Astronomy resources for assignment for them to make. Humor is a very Given the extraordinary imagination of children and teenagers exist, they don't use any modern appealing aspect to teenagers. Websites like tendency to focus on difficult subjects, the main strategies and concepts teenagers are hugelol and bored appeal to teenagers because challenge was to guide their exuberant enthusiasm interested in. This is one of the factors for lack the websites use humor as means of into a more coherent and practical direction. The age of interest in Astronomy among teenagers. communication (called memes) to which differential can clearly be felt with the participants. Therefore, it is important to look what teenagers can relate to. Older children had a longer attention span and better teenagers are interested in and why. These It can be concluded that improvement on the understanding of filmmaking processes. Interestingly, strategies could then be used for Astronomy field of Astronomy communication is needed, it never occurred to the children to take on role or type communication. specifically for teenagers. Teenagers aren't that was not their own, i.e., acting. Though they would very aware of Astronomy which is important. say scripted lines, their own names were used in the Most students aren't very aware of what you Astronomers should adapt to modern strategies film. can do with the study astronomy. If an and start working with these modern concepts, Children were often found to have no preconceived astronomer could explain high school students such as using lots of images and making the notions on various subjects. If they were asked about that astronomy is more than looking at the stars subject overall more appealing to teenagers. their opinion on such topics they were largely reliant all day, then more students would be interested Children respond best to instructions when on the information provided to them by staff. This in this study. consistently given by a small number of leads to the situation where the output of discussions Modern day teenagers are interested in things individuals. Too many people and they may find depends on the input of information. The value of the like social media, pop music, video games, themselves conflicted for both attention and interaction then lies in the way children deal with the apps, etc. Video games are innovative and authority. Most logically the Director would information presented. It is important to keep this in modern. They are all unique in some sort assume such duties. However, given the mind and to not expect completely ab initio ideas. (creative, motion technology) which is the pressure of handling technical production that Additionally, there is a strong flexibility in the thoughts reason for their success. Due to social could prevent appropriate attention to kids, the and ideas of the children. For example when the third marketing, these games have become even choice was made to have an Assistant Director. session started off with gathering questions for an more popular. In this way the production could approach the interview with an astronomer, this had been largely Teenagers aren't interested into listening to a concept of 'One Voice to the Child' forgotten when a new idea for an adventurous story boring talk about astronomy for 60 minutes.

10 AFRICA

Unveiling Nigeria GeoPortal by Emmanuel Jolaiya and Aniekwena Precious Chinwe

The launch of the Nigeria Geoportal is one of the continuous effort, that consumes time and human for projects that require spatial analysis to exciting news to the geospatial community in resources suggests the need for a unified open inform decision-making. In the case that a Nigeria in recent times. It was officially announced data portal where high-quality data can be portal like the Nigeria GeoPortal existed on the social media pages of the Africa Geoportal contributed to by organizations and individuals for earlier, many of the data collection exercises and Sambus Geospatial Nigeria Limited on the 8th easy access to the users. Why can't we have a being carried out would have been abolished, of April 2021. The platform is powered by Nigeria's unified portal to host local data specific to Nigeria? as most of the required data about Nigeria are National Statistical Agency, a governmental Why can't we continue to update existing data found on the platform which would have saved agency that provides accurate, timely, continuous, rather than collecting new data that leads to data a lot of resources. and sustainable basis, socio-economic statistics redundancy? All these efforts lead to data on all facets of development in Nigeria alongside disconnection, and these are the problems the ESRI, the global market leader in providing GIS Nigeria GeoPortal would provide solutions to if Why Open Data Matters solutions and products. The platform leverages the embraced and well harnessed. To see the changes we all desire, we need to ESRI's ArcGIS Hub, an easy-to-configure cloud embrace open data and encourage the sharing platform that organizes people, data, and tools to Mr. Biyi Fafunmi, Head of National Data Archive of data for use by problem solvers. As GIS is accomplish initiatives and goals as the underlying the spokesperson for the Nigeria National data-driven, little or nothing can be done technology. Statistical Agency – NBS in an interview without access to the right data. Having access mentioned that the National Bureau of Statistics to these data would not only unlock What is a Geoportal and Why We which is known by law as the apex and National innovations but also spark ideas that can solve Statistics office in Nigeria, NBS is expected to co- pressing problems and cause the change Need One? ordinate the entire national statistical system, needed as a Nation. This was the key Geoportals are web-based portals used to develop, and promote best statistical standards takeaway from the discussion in the webinar discover, access geospatial data and services, and uses. Not only that, NBS is to develop and hosted earlier by the Sambus Geospatial analyse, edit, and visualize spatial data on the maintain a national data bank that will act as a focal Nigeria Limited on the Open data day event in internet. Geoportals are important for the effective point of accessing statistical information. NBS March 2020. The webinar recordings can be use of geographic information systems (GIS) and a became involved with the Africa Geoportal in less accessed on their YouTube page. Moreover, key element of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). than a year ago prior to their interaction with the NBS encourages all members within the Over the years, several Governmental Agencies, Esri team and the aftermath of creating the Nigeria Nigeria National Statistics system to join the NGOs, Private Organizations, and MDAs have Geoportal. Nigeria Geoportal by sharing their geospatial embarked on data collection exercises with an data and analysis on the portal as done on their overarching goal of acquiring location-based data earlier established COVID-19 Datahub. and attributable information that are important for Benefits of the Nigeria their various use cases. Meanwhile, some of this GeoPortal Finally, Mr. Biyi noted that the NBS is ready to data already exists in some other organizations' Mr. Biyi also stated that the Nigeria Geoportal will share their GIS resources in the portal and data banks but are sometimes not made open and therefore solve among other problems the issue of build capacity where necessary. He advised easily accessible by users in the general populace. having access to geospatial data, reduce the that the users of the Nigeria Geoportal should Perhaps, due to several constraints, problem of conflicting data, cost of maintaining keep on using the portal as frequently as confidentialities, and policies around the use of online geoportal, create opportunities for more possible, give feedback to better improve the these data, technical requirements in setting up a people in learning GIS and its applications, data portal, share citations to better enrich the fully-fledged and highly efficient data portal, interpretation will be made easy as well as a better portal, and always visit the portal for a new unawareness of existing data portals, poor quality understanding of data for decision making and update. The Nigeria GeoPortal has been of existing data among other reasons. easy sharing of data. developed for use, it is the responsibility of the GIS users to put it to good use by sharing However, these data are very crucial in the The Nigeria GeoPortal hosts data that are quality data on the platform and spreading the execution of their development and high-impact contributed by organizations and individuals on a word to the GIS professionals and projects, hence the need for the data collection single portal for access to analysts, researchers, gatekeepers in the country. exercises can be justified. This repetitive and and interested organizations that want to use data

11 PERSONALITY

DARE TO DREAM Education is life changer!

I am Captain Kgomotso Phatsima. I am the Founder and President of Dare To Dream. I am exciting, risky and challenging. I lost the woman who like me and give them a chance I never had, among the first female pilots to ever kiss the raised me - I lost my mother! l lost my friend We use the POWER OF FLIGHT to ignite skies of Botswana with a military aircraft. I am the Nevertheless Not only was I a military pilot I have a dreams, to celebrate passion and give the Author of "Born To Fly- The Story of a Female Master of Science degree in Strategic Management upcoming generation a sense of purpose in Military Pilot Rising in Africa". Before I begin our from the University of Derby with a focus on aviation their education. story allow me to quote the most amazing African safety, I also have a post graduate certificate in For this reason I won the Botswana Youth legend of all time. Enterprise Risk Management as well as a certificate Awards Best Female of the Year Award 2017 , I Education is the engine of personal development in Finance for Non Finance managers from have also been selected by the Obama and growth . It is through education that the Botswana Accountancy College. I am a certified and Foundation as one of the exceptional daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that qualified trainer by Botswana Qualifications emerging young brilliant young minds the son of a mineworker can become the head of Authority among others. I have a Commercial Pilot changing the narrative of our communities, our mines, that a child of a farm worker can become Licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of countries and the African Continent. I have a president of a great nation " Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela I grew up from very humble beginnngs in a small village called Ledumadumane. A village which is a just a stone throw from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. I used to walk barefoot to school and see aeroplanes passing over my mother's house and from an early young age I knew I was born to fly! I finished my high school with exceptionally flying colours because I knew where I wanted to go. Knowing where you are going is the first step of getting there. I was admitted in South Africa to study piloting, my family did not support my dream, they say it was too risky , way too out of the norm for a girl child from very humble beginnngs to fly aeroplanes! With a 45 year's old difference my mother lamented - we are too poor my child, during our time s girl child could never fly aeroplanes, Go to the university and become a teacher. We truly lived in completely different generations with my mother. Indéed I went to University of Botswana to study Bachelor of Education Science specialising in mathematics and physics. And ultimately became a teacher In April 2009 the Botswana Defence Force decided to enlist it's first female military pilots, and the requirements was any basic degree in science, that very degree that I was reluctant to pursue became a launching pad and a runway towards my flying career and this time around I knew nobody was going to stand on my way. I left home for a year long basic military training. My mother cried! But I told her no mother this is my dream, this is what resonate in my heart. This is what I want! The basic military training was one of a kind! The most painful yet challenging and exciting experience ever. I learned a lot of things from Captain Kgomotso Phatsima leadership to tactics, shooting a gun to working as a team to martial arts and self defence. Every time when I was tired, when I didn't feel like doing Botswana.... And in April 2019 was my FINAL and been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen it is anymore, when I was too exhausted and 10th year of my military career, I resigned from the British High Commission 80th Commonwealth drained walking 120kms if I saw a plane flying army to fully focus on my business and Foundation Point of Light Award Winner. I am an alumni of above the sky; if I was running I will run faster, If I I am the Founder and President of Dare to Dream, the International Visitor Leadership Program - was shooting, I will shoot with more precision When I was growing up in the village I never had the Leadership Tour of the United States of enthusiasm and passion. It motivated me opportunity to sit down with a pilot nor see the inside America because I knew that ultimately I will achieve my of a flying machine until I had the opportunity to fly it, Lastly Dare to Dream! Dare to be inspired by dream. after qualifying as one of the first female Military our story! Dare to be the difference! Dare to be Fast forward to now a decade down the line I Pilots in Botswana Defence Force l started Dare To the change you want to see in the world!!! have achieved a lot of things, and also lost a lot of Dream to inspire the next generation more Support our efforts and donate to our noble things, the journey has been mesmerising, especially girls and those who grew up in the village cause!! Today we can!!!

12 AFRICA

Botswana Meteorite tracked to its birthplace in the asteroid belt

A small asteroid barreled through the sky and watering hole," Mohutsiwa Gabadirwe, a mixture of distinct rock pieces that originated burned up over the Kalahari Desert of Botswana geoscientist at the Botswana Geoscience from different parts of Vesta. "The oldest known in the summer of 2018 and now, scientists Institute (BGI) in Lobatse, said in the SETI materials found in both Vesta and in the suspect that the space rock originated from statement. meteorite are zircon grains that date back to Vesta, the second largest asteroid in the solar After searching the park on several field more than 4.5 billion years ago, during the early system. The small asteroid, named 2018 LA, was expeditions, the team uncovered 23 fragments phase of the solar system," Onken noted. The first observed through a telescope at the of the Motopi Pan meteorite; they then analyzed orbital path that 2018 LA took around Earth also University of Arizona's Catalina Sky Survey and the isotopes, or versions of elements with points to Vesta as the asteroid's origin point, the looked like a speck of light whizzing through the different numbers of neutrons, within the authors found. stars, according to a statement from the SEITI meteorite bits. These isotopes hint at the Despite both being HED meteorites, though, Institute.. chemical composition and size of the original Motopi Pan and Sariçiçek differed in several "This is only the second time we have spotted an asteroid, prior to when it burst through the ways. For instance, the team estimated that the asteroid in space before it hit Earth over land," atmosphere. material in both meteorites likely solidified on Peter Jenniskens, a SETI Institute meteor 2018 LA originally measured about 5 feet (1.5 Vesta's surface about 4.563 billion years ago, astronomer, said in the statement. "The first was meters) in diameter and had been zooming but phosphate grains in Motopi Pan showed asteroid 2008 TC3 in Sudan 10 years earlier." around in space for about 22 to 23 million years evidence of having melted in more recent Mere hours after being spotted, 2018 LA came before crash-landing on Earth, the team history, while Sariçiçek did not bear these tumbling out of the sky and burned up in the determined. The rock was traveling about markings. atmosphere over Botswana, transforming into a 37,280 mph (60,000 km/h) before entering the This hinted that Motopi Pan formed close to the brilliant fireball. Remarkably, the SkyMapper planet's atmosphere, according to the ANU center of a large impact event that took place Telescope at Australian National University statement. Further analysis of the rocky about 4.324 billion years ago, the team (ANU) captured the moments just before the rock fragments showed that they closely resembled concluded. They suspect that the same event broke through Earth's atmosphere, and CCTV another set of meteorites called Sariçiçek that formed a giant dent, known as the Veneneia camera footage caught the final moments of the fell in Turkey in 2015. impact basin, on Vesta's surface. "We now meteor's explosive descent in black-and-white. Both sets of meteorites were categorized as suspect that Motopi Pan was heated by the "These last images before the asteroid entered howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites, Veneneia impact, while the subsequent Earth's atmosphere were SkyMapper's biggest which are the only class of meteorites to be Rheasilvia impact," which occurred later and contribution. They helped to pinpoint both the traced back to Vesta, according to the American partially obscures the Veneneia impact basin, search area for the meteorite fragments on Earth Museum of Natural History. (AMNH). The bits of "scattered this material around," Jenniskens and the meteor's origin in space," Christopher eucrite in the HED meteorites contain hardened said. Onken, the ANU SkyMapper Project Scientist, lava from Vesta's surface; diogenites contain "Because the team tracked the rock from space said in a statement from ANU.. minerals from rocks buried below the surface of all the way down to the impact site, they were Pulling from the available astronomical the asteroid; and howardites are a unique mix of able to calculate a very precise orbit that is observations, an international team of scientists the two other rock types, formed when objects consistent with an origin near Vesta, providing pinpointed the region where the meteor likely collided with Vesta. one of the best links we have between an disintegrated, scattering space rock fragments "Overall, we classified the material that asteroid asteroid and meteorites," Ashley King, a on the ground below; this region happened to fall 2018 LA contained as being howardite, but planetary scientist at the Natural History within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, a some individual fragments had more affinity to Museum who was not involved in the work, told national park in the Kalahari Desert. "The diogenites and eucrites," Jenniskens said. The the Guardian. meteorite is named 'Motopi Pan' after a local asteroid formed as a breccia, or a cemented

13 ASIA

5G is live in Malaysia

Malaysia is speeding up 5G deployments in the country through a “special purpose vehicle” (SPV) that will receive 5G spectra, as well as build, operate and lease 5G infrastructure to new and existing telcos

Mobile connectivity allows business to be done on reality and software engineering. To Malaysia, sectors. The success of this technology will be the move, enable access to information and services 5G is an economic imperative that will reshape underpinned by a vertical industry uptake of the anywhere and opens up new opportunities and our ability to be a producing economy. Whilst it technology as well as direct consumer services. markets. The mobile sector itself is a major is impossible to predict exactly where 5G will contributor to the Malaysian economy but more make the biggest impact, there is widespread importantly, it is also an enabler of economic agreement that it has the power to rejuvenate 5G Malaysia demonstration activities in other sectors. The nation is on the cusp of six (6) industries that are integral to the projects rolling out the latest 5G networks. Like all previous country's economy, namely agriculture, The government and wider public sector have a generational advances in mobile technologies, 5G m a n u f a c t u r i n g , o i l a n d g a s , vital role in driving early demand. In our effort to arrives with much touted potential and economic telecommunications, transportation and spur the development of the 5G ecosystem and prospects. To do its part in turning potential into tourism, that contribute to 58.3% of the catalyse industry participation, a Call for reality, MCMC has stepped forward to increase country's GDP. 5G could also enhance Collaboration (CFC) was issued on 28 June awareness of 5G technology through the 5G everyday consumer experience through 2019, inviting interested holders of Network Malaysia Demonstration Projects (5GDP) initiative. seamless connectivity and advances in AI and Facility Provider (NFP) and Network Service The surge in popularity of ISDs is not unique to both virtual and augmented reality applications. Providers (NSP) licenses to submit their Malaysia. Similar YouGov consumer research has Within each sector, we expect to see a number proposals for 5G Malaysia Demonstration been undertaken in other South-East Asian countries of different use cases emerge as well as Projects (5GDP). The 5GDP was envisaged to where high levels of ISD usage was also found: 15% applications and services that will sit alongside be a platform that facilitates,builds and nurtures of Singapore consumers, 20% of Hong Kong them. 5G could also support significant development of early promising 5G Malaysia consumers, 28% of Filipino consumers and 34% of efficiencies in public service delivery. use cases in a live but controlled environment Taiwanese consumers use a TV box which can be for used to stream pirated television and video content. For example, application in the health sector such as wearable sensors could help monitor a period of 6 months, at nationwide locations The 5g promise people with health conditions, predicting if identified by industry through demand. To kick With 5G, the promised improvements in speed, someone is likely to suffer a heart attack or in start the initiative, we undertook various reliability and latency means that it has the potential monitoring elderly people. This can significantly engagements with both industry and ministries to be an even greater transformative technology- help to reduce the pressures of primary care to identify use cases. This journey included enabling new markets to develop and reshaping and A&E. In addition to that, 5G networks will briefing sessions to create awareness of 5G others, as well as supporting research and require a step change in infrastructure and its potential, syndication sessions with development for economic and social benefit. GSMA investments. 5G is still a technology in government ministries to develop use estimates that 5G technologies are expected to development and markets need time to cases relevant to Malaysia's needs and contribute USD2.2 trillion to the global economy over understand how to deploy infrastructure at workshops for ministries to present to industry the next 15 years, with key sectors such as commercial scale and invest in 5G applications players their use cases. Ministries that manufacturing, utilities and professional/financial and services profitably. contributed use cases were the Ministry of services benefiting the most from the new Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA), technology. We are at the onset of the Fourth We believe 5G will take the business case for Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Housing Industrial Revolution which melds advances in the mobile infrastructure investment significantly and Local Government (KPKT), Ministry of digital, physical and biological spheres, and brings beyond the scope of today's consumer driven Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Water, with it breakthroughs mobile broadband services, towards support Land and Natural Resources (KATS). In in artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, virtual for a diverse range of use cases across different

14 ASIA

parallel, engagement sessions were also done with Sdn Bhd, Edotco Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Maxis industry players (Telcos, SMEs, startups) to provide Broadband Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Digital Healthcare guidance on the use cases, technical requirement Berhad, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Petroliam Nasional The Digital Healthcare sector saw collaboration and facilitate linkages between ministries, digital Berhad and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd. between Digi and the Sultanah Maliha Hospital. solution providers, startups, SMEs, and telcos. On 15 Image 1 provides a snap shot of the use cases The hospital's first responder ambulance was July 2019, at the close of the CFC, a total of 100 use within each vertical of the 5GDP. Every use equipped with 5G, enabling transfer of data on cases both from industry and government sector case is uniquely Malaysian and premised on the move from the ambulance to the hospital for were identified under nine (9) verticals namely solving issues and challenges currently faced in medical specialists to be on standby. Another agriculture, education, entertainment, healthcare, each vertical, leveraging on the key capabilities use case was by U Mobile and their digital manufacturing and processing, oil and gas, smart that 5G can deliver. solution partner, MEDCOM, that demonstrated city, transportation and tourism. Ministries that remote consultation between Sultanah Maliha contributed use cases were the Ministry of Hospital, Langkawi and Sultanah Bahiyah Agriculture and Food Industry (MOA), Ministry of Agriculture Hospital, Alor Setar. This involved the Energy and Natural Resources (KETSA), Ministry of Looking at the agriculture sector, an industry transmission of real-time video, voice and Health (MOH), Ministry of Housing and Local that is integral to Malaysia with GDP clinical data through a high speed, low latency Government (KPKT) and the Ministry of Transport contribution of 7.3% in 2018, we believe there is communications (MOT). The proposals were evaluated in multiple a need to make agriculture more profitable and network. Trauma patients will benefit from engagement sessions between the 5G Testbed attractive to entrepreneurs. This will reduce our specialist care across long distances. Working Group and applicants, covering both food imports, lift Malaysians out of Surgeons in a rural hospital will be able to business and technical deliberations. Once a unemployment and boost the country's perform life-saving surgery on a patient with the proposal was approved, the Radio Spectrum revenue. Through the 5GDP, four use cases aid of an expert located far away in another Assignment Department conducted a site recce for were proposed in the area of Precision Farming hospital in the capital city without having the commissioning the 5G Site. In facilitating and Smart Farming by Maxis and TM, working patient transferred. U Mobile had also development of use cases, MCMC waived the trial with their greater ecosystem partners - MARDI, partnered with DoctorOnCall to demonstrate licence fee on approved proposals. BoomGrow and BaoSheng Farm. For the unlimited potential of 5G in healthcare example, the use of precision agriculture through remote GP consultation via a DOCpod, Projects enabled by the Maxis NB-IoT, allowed MARDI a mobile diagnosis pod powered by 5G On October 2019, MCMC launched the 5G Malaysia Langkawi to remotely monitor the condition of connectivity. It enables a patient to have a Demonstration Project for a demonstration period grapes. The system receives pre-emptive alerts virtual face-to-face medical consultation with a ending 30 June 2020. It covers 9 key verticals with on the possible detrition of environmental qualified medical doctor in real time and in total industry investment amounting to RM131 variables, enabling farmers to take pre-emptive complete privacy. million. Partnering companies in the 5GDP are action to maximise yield value attained from the Celcom Axiata Berhad, Digi Telecommunications planted crop.

15 ASIA

Education In the Education vertical, Digi set up a 5G powered Virtual Maker Space (Collaborative VR) in Cyberjaya that connected users from multiple locations to learn, collaborate and create together in a safe environment. There was also an underwater augmented reality (AR) experience powered by Maxis 5G featured at Aquaria, Malaysia's largest aquarium. The Maxis 5G Aquaria Experience is a one-of-a-kind experience where visitors are brought closer to the ocean floor though AR, allowing them to witness the current ocean conditions up close. Through this engaging experience, Maxis gave everyone a glimpse of how 5G technology can be fun, immersive and educational. In addition to the above, Maxis via its eKelas flagship digital learning program for the community conducted Virtual Reality (VR) Biology classes for a focused group of students at Pusat Internet Kg Padang Wahid. The curated playlist allowed students to virtually immerse into living cells, DNA, human anatomy and organs, all remotely guided by a teacher based in Kuala Lumpur. The curriculum is brought to life by letting students virtually explore, for example, the DNA strand or hold the human heart in their hands. Students were equipped with a VR headset complete with a unique student-friendly interface, gesture controls, embedded educational resources and simple-to-use teacher controls. This VR experience is designed to raise engagement and increase knowledge retention in Biology.

Entertainment attractions that are difficult to reach the world In the Entertainment vertical, we had U Mobile over. Another use case by Edotco focused on Oil and Gas demonstrate the unlimited potential of 5G in VR the concept of Smart Airport, whereby it In the O&G sector, 5G will be a major Gaming. U Mobile along with HTC Vive showcased showcased a fully connected, mission-critical technology breakthrough for growing oil and a first person arcade VR shooter game called Front communications network in an airport that gas industry digitalisation and automation in the Defence Heroes. Front Defence Heroes is a highly support the requirements of the operator, operation and maintenance aspects. Petroliam polished arcade-style room VR shooter game set in airlines, passengers, retailers and other service N a s i o n a l B e r h a d ( P E T R O N A S ) i s the final days of WWII. In order to showcase the providers. It also enables prompt proactivity and demonstrating 5G use cases at their training power of 5G and its low latency, a multiplayer setup reactivity to real-time situations. institute, INSTEP located in Kuala Terengganu, is required and the server is hosted in Taipei, Terengganu with the aim of improving Taiwan. Gamers are able to immerse and operations and production, improving worker experience the exhilaration of VR gaming with zero Manufacturing safety and security, and remote monitoring and lag time. In the Manufacturing sector, the use of diagnostic. With the development of the Smart autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to move Plant system and AnyMal use case, the plant is production components from one line to another able to use the real-time and historical data for Smart City line autonomously was explored using 5G. predictive analysis to improve operational The Smart City vertical witnessed multiple Augmented with surveillance cameras placed in efficiency and high productivity. This can be collaborations. In Langkawi, Telekom Malaysia set strategic areas in the production line, achieved through big data collection and up a 5G Command Center (5GCC) located in the supervisors can remotely monitor, negating the analytics to detect anomalies and predict compound of Pejabat Daerah dan Tanah Langkawi, need to be on site at the production line; freeing unforeseen machine upset. Massive IoT Kuah, Langkawi. The 5GCC is furnished with up their time to do other things of higher value, applications are used for Remote Platform advanced integrated security features to serve as a such as analytics and planning. These make the Monitoring and Control that provide real-time security monitoring centre through closedcircuit manufacturing facilities more efficient and monitoring and mobile inspection of systems, television (CCTV) cameras installed at hotspots productive. We also had a use case that devices and processes, especially in remote along Jalan Pantai Cenang, Pantai Cenang and explored the concept of AIbased Computer and dangerous areas. It can lessen the risk Jalan Persiaran Putera, Kuah. Use cases like Smart Vision Inspection to enable cameras to be taken by identifying potential issues before they Traffic Light Solutions, Geolocation People Safety, deployed across the assembly line to accurately become actual problems or safety hazards. Smart Parking Solutions, Smart Retail Analytics inspect, detect, mark, and classify PCB (printed Further use cases like facial recognition, on- (ACE), Smart Safety Helmet, Smart Vehicle circuit board) defects. With the low latency, high body sensor devices and CCTV video Management System (CONVES), Smart Water capacity links of 5G, the various video streams streaming will improve worker safety and Management System (SWIMS) are integrated to will be transmitted real-time to a private cloud security. the 5GCC, which allowed for real-time surveillance where machine learning algorithms will be Some of the use cases have already completed for large scale monitoring by local authorities to applied to find anomalies and flag the issues their demonstration period while some are still cater for various needs backed up by analytics, proactively. Compared to traditional techniques work in progress. As the demand to extend the Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) that use human operators for inspection, this demonstration period was encouraging, the and data-driven insights. system can remove arbitrary judgmental errors Commission had decided to further extend the and analyse complex images without fatigue, 5GDP period till 31 December 2020. The Tourism improving the accuracy of inspection, and Commission hopes more industries will take The Tourism vertical saw 11 use cases. At the conduct automatic classification of defects. As this opportunity to join and submit their Langkawi International Airport, through the use of this is an AI-based system, we expect that the proposals to be part of the 5GDP. The 5GDP VR, Digi enabled visitors to experience a 360- machine learning algorithm will improve with would be helpful towards the government's degree view one of the island's attractions via live continuous use to a point where the system will preparation to implement the 5G technology streaming. Users could see a teaser of the match the performance of senior technicians. commercially in Malaysia. attraction of choice prior to signing up for the actual This will free up the job duties of technicians to trip. This solution could also potentially serve to help drive continuous improvement and By Mamini Ramalingham and Muhammad enable people with disabilities (OKU) to experience innovations for the factory of the future. Rosni

16 INDUSTRY REVIEW

30 years since the Earth observation satellite ERS-1 was launched

The European Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (ERS-1) was launched on 17 July 1991 and was in operation until 10 March 2000. This was one of the first Earth observation satellites developed and launched by the then young European space agency ESA. Several Norwegian research and technology environments participated in the development and validation of ERS-1. It became very important for these environments and for Norway's activities in space later. The success of ERS-1, and the later twin satellite ERS-2, led, among other things, to the development of the Earth observation satellite Envisat and the current operational environmental monitoring satellites in Copernicus and weather satellites in the Eumetsat program. It was also the start of public and commercial service development for the use of satellite data. Radar monitoring from the room The preparations for ERS-1 started in Norway already in 1983. At that time, NOU 24 had studied that Norway needed remote sensing to monitor sea ice, shipping, oil spills and other things at sea, and that satellites would be useful for such tasks, says Guro Dahle Current. She led the work on ERS-1 at the Norwegian Space Center. This also contributed to Norway joining ESA's process it quickly, and get it to users in Norway coastal and sea areas around Haltenbanken in development of ERS-1 and the planned sequel much faster than this went in other countries, the autumn of 1991 to check whether the satellite ERS-2, before Norway was a full member of the says Dahle Strøm. could detect electricity, waves, wind and oil spills space organization. The usefulness of ERS-1 meant that at sea. This campaign was supported by the Since ERS-1, among other things, had an imaging politicians saw the value of becoming a full Norwegian Space Center, the Research Council radar instrument and thus could see through clouds member of ESA, which provided opportunities and ESA, as well as the Office of Naval Research and darkness, and went in polar orbit, it would see to create their own national Earth observation in the USA. These validation campaigns were a Norwegian waters often, and both sea ice, ships, oil programs in order to use satellite data in the very useful and valuable experience for us, and spills and other things, says Dahle Strøm. best possible way, says Dahle Strøm. provided the opportunity to improve the methods Other instruments on board could measure wave for processing the data from ERS-1. Both parts height, ocean currents, wind speed and directional Validation supported by the were of great importance for Norway's work with speed and sea surface temperature. This was later satellites, says Johannessen. interesting for the weather forecast. Norwegian Space Center For Norway, it was especially important that the "Even before ERS-1 was launched, we had a See the world with new eyes validation campaign with ships and aircraft satellite data could be used not only for research, but Based on what we learned from the validation of with similar instruments as on the satellite, to also be preoperative, so that they could both be used the data from ERS-1 in the autumn of 1991, FFI see what we could measure with them," says for monitoring the Norwegian sea areas and through started real-time monitoring of oil spills in 1992, Johnny A. Johannessen, interim director at the it secure more data for research, says Dahle Strøm. says Terje Wahl. Nansen Center for Environment and Remote At the time, he was a researcher at FFI. Today, Sensing (NERSC). ) In Bergen. Wahl is department director within Earth Data in near real time This provided useful experience. Following observation at the Norwegian Space Center. We gathered several research environments, the launch of ERS-1, the data from the satellite With ERS-1 we could see the earth with including the Norwegian Defense Research were thoroughly analyzed and verified completely new eyes, and with this new E s t a b l i s h m e n t ( F F I ) , N a n s e n C e n t e r, through a validation campaign in the Fram technology we also had to learn to understand Meteorological Institute, and submitted to ESA a Strait between Svalbard and Greenland. what the satellite actually looked like, says Wahl. large validation and research program that ensured "Since the download, processing and access There were many research articles and master's us early access to data, says Dahle Strøm. to the data from ERS-1 via Tromsø satellite and doctoral theses for students. But it was not just the right data that was important to station was so fast, we were able to lead ships get from ERS-1. They also had to be read down and and planes towards special structures in the From pioneering work to processed quickly so that demonstration to the sea ice only a few hours after the satellite industry users could be done in near real time. m a p p e d t h e s e s t r u c t u r e s , " s a y s Here came what was then called Tromsø satellite Johannessen. Much of what started as research with ERS-1 station to good use. They could read the data often, They also had a validation campaign in the was taken on to practical environmental

17 ASTRONOMY

Astronomy festival Picturing summer sky

The Moroccan town of Ifranel in a beautiful and popular, and the internet particularly Instagram is Photographing the summer starry sky is home to one of the largest cultural full of stunning images of star fields and the Milky events in Morocco on space sciences for the Way. They may look like highly polished images Star general public; The Ifrane Astronomy Festival. taken by photographers with years of experience, The campaign was open worldwide. Anyone This festival is organised by Ai Akhawayn but it's actually advances in modern cameras that interested can take photos, choose the best University of ifrane; it aims to popularise and are the main reason for the genre's sudden sunrise/sunset photo, sign up for a free AWB promote science and scientists to young people popularity. membership, and upload via our online in order to stimulate their interests in science and Because almost all astronomical objects are low submission form, according to Astronomers technology. During the events, festivals-goers brightness, the camera must have the ability to Without Borders. had access to a variety of scientific cultural take time exposures. As long as the shutter has a B activities; workshops, conference, exhibitions, setting, the lens focuses on infinity, and you can In order to go wide, an iPhone or Galaxy with training, planetarium, competitions, observation set the aperture diaphragm yourself, you're ready multiple lenses its wide camera, can get the most nights amongst others. This festival is to shoot the sky. Any of the older SLR cameras will detail and best low light rendering. The Pixel only particularly aimed at highlighting the importance meet all these conditions. generally has one lens, so use that one. However, of space exploration, and its contributions to The standard 50mm focal length lens is quite camera shake from your finger can ruin the shot, humanity. sufficient to photograph wide fields of the sky, as so put the camera on timer mode, to 3 or 10 required when shooting constellations, star trails, seconds, and let the camera automatically snap The city of Ifrane has a nickname that is very meteors. For more detailed views of certain areas the shot. Apple iPhones can actually detect if it is specific to her in Morocco: Little Switzerland. of sky, then a lens in the focal range of 200-500mm propped onto something and extend the maximum Better! In 2013 this small town of 30,000 is required. exposure time to 30 seconds, which will produce inhabitants, located in the High Atlas, was In Africa, Astronomers Without Borders more stars photographs. ranked second cleanest city in the world. Capital coordinated the celebrations of the June Solstice of the province of Ifrane in the administrative and advised enthusiasts to capture that feeling of Both the new iPhone 12 models, as well as the region of Fez - Méknes. Its tourist potential is oneness with nature by taking a photo of your iPhone 11, have Night Mode, which is an enormous as the sites and other sublime places sunrise or sunset and sharing it with the world. automatic feature that kicks in when things get which surround the city are exceptional and of During the summer event beachgoers use digital dark. The trick to Night Mode is easy when the rare beauty. camera to take your own artistic portrait of the phone is steady, or the image will be blurry. Elsewhere in Africa, hundreds of photographs sunrise or sunset anytime between June 16 and Beyond automatic, the new iPhone 12 can offers a are received by the Astronomers Without June 23. 30 second long exposure, providing more time to Borders for publication in the yearly solstice Photographing cloud or weather have much bring in those stars. photo album. This year, contributors range from more to do with art than science or the technical At the end of the campaign, all the photos will be those who may contribute that lucky photograph content. Most enthusiasts have used a added to our special Astronomers Without that they have captured to the keen dedicated smartphone to capture what is promised to be the Borders Photo Instagram channel for anyone to photographer who seems to spend much of the closest visible conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in browse and share. After June 23, submitted time with Camera at hand. 800 years. The planets are expected to appear as pictures will be used to create a photomosaic that Across the world, the season for Solstices one large star, lighting up the sky. forms a unifying image which represents our officially began last June and photo enthusiasts "Shooting a night sky is one of the most amazing global community. The more photos are have captured a spectacular view of our planet things you can witness," says travel photographer. submitted, the more complex and detailed the final passing the annual milestone. During the The 2020 and 2019 editions of the iPhone, 11 and mosaic will be. summer solstice, the sun appears to shine 12 series offer "Night Mode," for making dark shots farthest to the north of the equator, over the more possible for smartphone hotographers, while The resulting photomosaic will be available to Tropic of Cancer, and begins its trip southward. the Google Pixel introduced "Night Sight," in the download free as a wallpaper, and will be available The event marks the longest day of the year in Pixel 4 and 5 series. Samsung too can do for purchase as a ready-made print on various the Northern Hemisphere and the start of awesome night photos on recent Galaxy S edition Astronomers Without Borders merchandise summer. phones, and shows off examples on its website. where all proceeds will directly support our non- Today’s night-sky photography is getting very profit's STEMed work around the world. 18 INTERNATIONAL EVENT Europe's biggest startup and tech event

The fifth edition of VivaTech, Europe's biggest In 2019, the event reached 231 million people Startups Challenges with startup and tech event, was held last June in worldwide, bringing together 124,000 visitors Paris at Expo Porte de Versailles, and online. It including more than 13,000 startups, 3,000 African Partners was an augmented event experience that venture capital firms and 2,500 journalists from exudes innovation and advancements in 124 countries. With thousands of visitors, this Some Startups Challenges hosted on VivaTech's technology. year's edition of VivaTech provided hybrid platform are powered by our African partners. From top speakers and exhibitions to Labs and experience, in person in Paris and online Seedstars Africa Ventures is looking to fund and live experiences, VivaTech is a celebration of worldwide, that will bring together an even larger support African champions who are making value today's innovations and tomorrow's community of innovators. chains more efficient. The International Trade possibilities for everyone who believes in the Many existing inefficiencies in Africa are Center is adressing the problem of affordable and power of technology to transform business and opportunities waiting to be filled by entrepreneurs. reliable internet connectivity in Africa through society. The event was co-organized by African inovation is effervescent and while it is innovative and resilient technology solutions. Publicis Groupe and Groupe Les Echos and getting an increasing attention from the World, VivaTech is also hosting a challenge launched by dedicated to the growth of startups, digital resources, funding and support available to early- The Presidential Council for Africa for its transformation and innovation. stage entrepreneurs are still scarce, hampering Pass'Africa. their vision and their growth. Seedstars Africa One of the participating company is Seedstars Thousands of visitors attended the event, and Ventures is looking to fund and support these Africa Ventures, and its goal is to identify the this year builds on that success as startups, African champions who are making value chains African innovations that will disrupt their market, or business leaders, investors, academics, more efficient, providing bottom-of-the-pyramid create new markets altogether. These solutions students, and media from around the world access to basic products and services or serving can be tech/digital based or non-tech and concern descend on Paris and connect online for four the fast growing middle class. product, process, marketing or organizational adrenaline-fueled days. The first three days This year's program is enriched by many features. innovation.The Company must be active in any was dedicated to professionals while on the Around 10 African countries will take part in the market verticals, including financial services, fourth day VivaTech opens its doors to the event in Paris and online. AfricaTech, to promote health, education, agriculture, energy, logistics, general public. both initiatives, is partnering with AfricArena, AG mobility, telecommunications, enterprise services, VivaTech breaks down the traditional barriers Partners, The Presidential Council for Africa, the consumer products.Seedstars Africa Venture is a between grassroots innovators and global International Trade Center, Seedstars Africa pan-African venture capital fund positioned as the leaders. For the fifth year, the Labs match Ventures and the Sommet Afrique France.. missing link between the earliest stage investors startups with established companies for According to the organisers, AfricaTech is about such as business angels, accelerators and local themed, high-energy open innovation. highlighting African innovation, and about funds and later stage funds growth capital and VivaTech is also a unique opportunity to showcasing specific initiatives from this booming private equity with initial tickets ranging from preview the future by experiencing new tech ecosystem. Startups in the rest of the world $250k to $2mn.. Seedstars Africa Ventures products and demos such as autonomous can certainly draw inspiration from the way focuses on African innovation and is looking to vehicles, connected factories and shopping emerging African companies have leveraged fund and support the Continent's next champions. experiences. Innovators will bump into others frugal innovation and leapfrogging. AfricaTech is In addition to investing in digital and tech startups, with complementary or contrasting ideas in also about awards for African startups, and it's a the fund also supports high growth offline models. every business sector. Great things happen way to highlight outstanding European initiatives With an existing footprint across 25+ countries in when you meet the right people, and it's no for Africa. In 2019, VivaTech welcomed more than Sub Saharan Africa, the fund is pro-actively pan- exaggeration to say the future will emerge from 1000 startups from Africa. This year, the number of African, not focusing only on the largest this melting pot of colliding ideas. start-ups is doubling. economies.

19 BROADCASTING

Trends affecting media landscape in sub Saharan Africa by Maxwell Loco

Let us begin with a simple question; Dose a fish know it is wet '' The answer of course is NO. This because the fish's existence is so dominated by water that only when water is absent is the fish aware of its condition. We can make an analogy of the above ''fish and water'' situation with people and mass media. The media so fully saturate our everyday lives that we are often unaware of their presence. Media informs us e entertains us. We live in a golden age of communication technology keeps everybody connected 24/7 and makes information immediately available anytime and anywhere. The emergence of the internet has created a new channel for machine- assisted mass communication. Instagram, Wechat, Whatapp, e- mail, twitter, blogs etc are example of machine assisted communication via the internet and data. A single individual can create and maintain a web site for a relatively small sum. The affordability of this channel can give anybody be you a publisher, a broadcaster, etc access to a potential of millions of followers, viewers or listeners. This leads to popular assumptions that the traditional media as we know it today, is going into extinction. Right or wrong, this is subject to debate. As media continues to evolve, several trends are already apparent including Convergence, Multiple Creating content at facebook or myspace, twitter, an operating system capable of running general platforms, Increased Audience Control , Social youtube is ridiculously simple. purpose applications. A feature phone is one that Media, and Mobile phones. The present media ecosystem enables incorporates features such as the ability to consumer to control his or her media . the access the internet and store, play music, but dizzying array of mobile devices and technology lacks the advance functionality of a smart phone. Convergence has handed the public the power to choose the A basic phone generally has two main Convergence generally refers to the process of exact nature of more entertainment and the capabilities; voice and SMS. coming together or uniting in a common interest or power to choose their information. Generally The mobile phone, particularly for those in the key focus. The term is often used outside the media to speaking, audience members are more in charge demographic, are quickest to adapt technology refer to several different processes, hence a of what they want to see and /or hear, and where changes, the 18-35years old -is with them from difficult term to discuss Technology convergence and when they want to do it . A typical example is the moment they get up in te morning to the however, is a synergy of two or more technologies television . for so many years, viewers were moment they get to bed at night. These designed to perform overlapping functions which compelled to watch programmes broadcast by categories of people are commonly referred to as hitherto, was exclusive to other. Simply put, local stations and major networks according to the “Zero- TV -homers'. They consume content convergence occurs when owners of several the media's schedule. Today however, satellite on the go, restless, highly mobile and hardly sit at media properties in one market combine their and pay TV channels offer hundreds of new home to watch TV in the traditional family fashion. separate operations into a single effort. For viewing opportunities. If an audience member Is Most content providers including TV owners, example, it is common nowadays to see not contented with the traditional news outlets, radio and news print, now target these Zero -TV- telecommunications companies performing the she or he can read one of the hundreds of blogs homers on their devices. roles of broadcasting and vice versa. Device that discuss news events. The point to be emphasized form this trend is that, convergence also is manifesting itself in another increasing numbers of Africans own or have way. All media seem to be converging on the Social media access to a device that is either a media carrier, a internet as a major channel of distribution. Over the past decade, facebook has grown from mobile with a radio or TV receiver] or a medium in Newspapers and magazines have online editions; practically no users in sub-Saharan African to its own right [a mobile device accessing the networks are making their episodes available for become the most widely used social media internet and social media. downloading as well as starting their own platform. Although, social media platform are broadband channels. much more guarded about data on their users in Africa, it is clear the four social media platform Conclusion Multiple platforms that are wide in Africa are WhatApp, twitter, It appears that emergence of a new Instagram, and facebook. Blogs are widely communication technology changes, but does The mantra at many media organization now is written and read, particularly in country where not necessarily make extinct those advances that “Everything Everywhere”. This is a way by which government place limits on what traditional came before it. The telegraph and the telephone media organization is try to adapt to the changing media can cover. In Nigeria for example, many did not kill the printed word, it took centuries to get world of the media landscape. The strategy is to people depend on social media for information from language to writing. The jump from writing to make content available to viewers or consumers than the traditional media. printing took about 5000 years, the telegraph and using a number of delivery methods to a number of telephone cropped up only 300 years later, receiving devices [or multiple platforms in the followed quickly by photography and motion industry jargon]. FOR EXAMPLE, NTA can now Mobile phones pictures. Radio was invented only a few years be watched on startimes, DSTV ,GoTV, Free TV One of the most widely used devices on the after that as was TV. The computer followed on [DTT], and BSKYB in UK and even streamed live continent is the mobile phone. Sub- Saharan the heels of television .Television did not make on YouTube and through various free Apps. User- Africa's mobile phone users are split between 3 radio extinct, but it did cause major change in the generated content [UGC] has been the most board categories of handset use; smart phones, way the medium was used. in the way, the celebrated trend over the past few years. Much of feature phones , and basic phones. A smart computer, the internet and the smart mobile the popularity of UGC is due to user-friendly phone is a mobile phone that is able to perform devices will probably not cause any of the technology. A person with just minimum of many of the functions of the computer, typically traditional media to 'die', but they will definitely technical skills can use blogging program. having a large screen [ often a touch screen] and change the way we use those “old' media.

20 BROADCASTING

Delivering content to any screen

“Broadcast quality” is something that every viewing experience strives for, but in a world where 4K screens are racing towards ubiquity, the hallmark of broadcast quality is its consistency. Paired with the capabilities and image quality of today's devices, as consumers we've really got an embarrassment of riches to choose from. For video service providers, that translates into a desire to connect more meaningfully with viewers at every playback, with repeatable, reliable, more personalized experiences of the highest quality. As technology advances, more and more individuals each year have access to multiple video services, whether served through an online subscription, or over a set-top box or game console which means that one program might be accessible by one consumer in multiple ways like a new movie that's just been wide-released for download / streaming. If a show is buffering, lagging, or of otherwise poor quality on service A, but can be watched with reliable quality on service B, it has a definite impact on future viewing decisions. Consistent quality is a huge factor in maintaining audience relationships, especially as more premium services enter the market. Television viewers have acquire more of a taste for and an ability to play video and audio of increasingly high quality, every touchpoint in the Having being technology partners, SES delivery workflow is more heavily taxed by having recently announced it will continue delivering provide continuity of service well into the to compress, store, transcode, and deliver files Comcast Technology Solutions' Managed future for Comcast Technology Solutions that are up to four times bigger than those Satellite Distribution service, formerly known and its Managed Satellite Distribution previously handled. That makes for a lot of as Headend in the Sky (HITS), that reaches affiliates. change that needs to be managed all at once, hundreds of multichannel video programming “SES has been integral in providing especially when the premium prices for premium distributor systems across the US. SES continuity of service to our Managed content create premium expectations. It's no recently renewed its long-term relationship Satellite Distribution customers in the midst wonder that 92% of our respondents in the same with Comcast Technology Solutions, a division of great change. The current transition of survey said that meeting or exceeding broadcast of Comcast Cable that provides media and satellite services in order to free up C-band quality and reliability is still important. entertainment technology to advertisers, spectrum represents a huge change for us agencies and content providers. and our partners. SES has been IP-based delivery is light-years ahead of where it As part of a new, multi-year extension collaborative and hands-on, participating in was just a few years ago, but as more and more agreement, SES will be transitioning Comcast webinars and outreach efforts to maximise consumers develop an appetite for “higher and Technology Solutions's Managed Satellite response time for businesses, solve for higher quality” video, the widening data stream Distribution service from SES-11 at 105 problems before they occur, and provide continues to push the performance limits of every degrees West to AMC-11 at 131 degrees clear transition paths for every impacted platform. Advertisers and investors understand West. This is part of SES'S plan to clear the C- operation,” said Allison Olien, Vice President the value of reaching a gargantuan audience, but band spectrum in the US to accommodate the and General Manager, Communications they also rightly seek assurances that viewers deployment of 5G services in the coming and Technology Provider Suite for Comcast are getting an experience that supports their years. Technology Solutions. brand objectives. For more than two decades, Comcast “Comcast Technology Solutions has been a Since 1996, Managed Satellite Distribution, a Technology Solutions's Managed Satellite critical customer and partner for SES for Comcast Technology Solutions service has been Distribution service has enabled multichannel decades, and our relationship has a leader in digital cable content aggregation and video affiliates to transition to digital services, strengthened further as we jointly re- distribution. We started with 64 QAM and reduce costs and reclaim valuable bandwidth engineer the Managed Satellite Distribution advanced to 256 QAM SD and HD digital for new services. SES is using advanced service to ensure that millions continue to technologies to help you get the most for your compression as part of the transition to AMC- receive radio and TV programming across bandwidth. 11 and is working with Comcast Technology the US. Our focus throughout the C-band Satellite delivery remains the best way to reach Solutions to ensure its Managed Satellite clearing process has been to support our viewers anywhere in the world including Distribution affiliates have a seamless customers in delivering state-of-the-art geographically diverse areas that don't have the transition, deliver a high-quality experience to services while freeing up spectrum for the terrestrial infrastructure of more metropolitan their subscribers and ensure no interference US market. We are using the best areas. Comcast Technology Solutions provides from 5G transmissions on the cleared technologies, processes and people to do the reliability, quality, and experience for both. spectrum. this, and our partnership with Comcast SES and Comcast As part of its C-band clearing plan, SES will Technology Solutions is a great testament to also be launching new C-band satellites to that,” said Steve Collar, CEO of SES. 21 BROADCASTING

MultiChoice delivers strong results in Q1

MultiChoice Group, Africa's leading video “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us more about In addition to compelling local stories, entertainment company, has carefully navigated the art of the possible,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group continues to broadcast the COVID-19 challenges to deliver strong results for Chief Executive Officer. “We started the year best of sport. This year, the group renewed the the year ended 31 March 2021 confronted with severe disruptions to our rights to the English Premier League and UEFA According to the latest company's report, the programming schedules, bleak macro- Champions League and also secured group increased its 90-day active linear pay-tv economic forecasts for many of our markets and broadcasting rights to the FIFA World Cup 2022 subscriber base by 1.4m to reach 20.9m sharply weaker currencies. In the face of these in Qatar. On the international content front, it households, split between 8.9m in South Africa challenges, our teams rallied together – this maintains mutually beneficial relationships with and 11.9m in the Rest of Africa. This represents helped us deliver on all our key performance its studio partners, and has successfully added an accelerated 7% growth year-on-year, driven metrics and provide more value to our access to Netflix, Amazon Prime and more by heightened consumer demand for video shareholders by declaring a R2.5bn dividend.” recently YouTube on its DStv Explora Ultra entertainment products, continued penetration of The group continued its differentiation strategy decoder. the mass market and an easing of electricity by stepping up its investment in local content. In addition to the new products and services shortages in southern Africa. Despite production stoppages and travel launched during the first half of the year, The report said, revenue was resilient, growing restrictions brought about by the pandemic, it including Showmax Pro, DStv Communities, by 4% to R53.4bn. This performance, coupled produced 19% more content than last year – a DStv Rewards and ADD Movies, the Group with a firm focus on cost containment and a sizeable 4 567 hours. As a result, the total local expanded its financial services portfolio, going R1.5bn (R2.7bn organic) reduction in trading content library now exceeds 62 000 hours. beyond offering pure decoder insurance to losses in the Rest of Africa translated into a 28% Some 42% of the group's general entertainment include funeral cover, subscription waiver and increase in trading profit to R10.3bn. spend was on local content and it remains on debt waiver products. Core headline earnings, the board's measure of track to reach its target of 45% by FY22. “We have a highly engaged base of 20.9m sustainable performance, was up a meaningful To help manage US dollar-based costs, two subscribers and with an average of five people 32% YoY to R3.3bn, while free cash flow grew a major international content agreements and per household, this helps us reach solid 10% to R5.7bn. several smaller ones were renegotiated into approximately 100 million people. We see great The group reported R8.5bn in cash and cash South African rand (ZAR). The group also opportunity to keep enriching the lives of our equivalents at year-end. Combined with R4bn in launched 11 new local language channels customers by expanding our entertainment undrawn facilities, this provides R12.5bn in across sub-Saharan Africa, completed five new ecosystem with innovative offerings that will financial flexibility to support dividends and co-productions with global content producers also enhance our revenue prospects,” growth initiatives. and sold 16 of its series to international buyers. commented Mawela.

22 BROADCASTING

The Group made a 20% investment in pan- The report said. revenue was up 11% (14% in Nigeria. Of the reported cash balance of African sports betting business BetKing and organic) to R17.2bn, supported by solid R8.5bn, holdings of R2.5bn (FY20: R1.7bn) in subsequent to year end has announced its subscriber growth and inflationary price Nigeria, Angola and Zimbabwe remain intention to increase this investment to 49%. This increases implemented in most markets. exposed to weaker currencies. investment will increase the group's shareholding While material currency depreciation in the To improve the group cost of capital and in BetKing from 20% to 49% for a consideration of Angolan kwanza (47%), the Zambian kwacha reinforce the statement of financial position, $282m (R4.0bn). This investment offer remains (25%) and the Nigerian naira (7%) affected the an amortising working capital loan of R1.5bn subject to preconditions being met. segment's financial results, the business was concluded in November 2020. The loan made significant progress towards its has a three-year term and bears interest at an According to Multichoice Group, the South medium-term breakeven target. Trading all-in fixed rate of 5.75%. African business held up well in a tough losses narrowed by a sizeable R1.5bn consumer climate, delivering subscriber growth (R2.7bn organic) or 52% (91% organic) driven Technology segment of 6% YoY or 0.5m linear pay-tv subscribers on a by a combination of revenue growth, effective 90-day active basis. The impact of COVID-19 and The Group revealed that the technology cost control and lower content costs with segment, comprising Irdeto, had a solid year. the associated lockdowns saw consumers sports events being delayed. prioritise video entertainment services, but the Despite the non-recurrence of USD8m in once-off revenues in the prior year and cancellation of live sport events combined with Liquidity challenges continued in Nigeria the inability of commercial subscribers to trade customers deferral of certain projects due to throughout the financial year, and although COVID-19, it contributed R1.8bn in revenues, and a weak advertising environment impacted being actively managed, cash balances in negatively on revenue generation, especially an increase of 5% Year on Year. The trading Nigeria increased R0.8bn to close at R2.3bn. profit margin normalised to 31%. early in the financial year. The Rest of Africa business enjoyed several operational successes including delivering the During the year, Irdeto gained further market Revenue increased 1% to R34.3bn, while trading strongest festive season growth in history, a profit increased 9% to R11.1bn, representing a share in providing digital security services in significant ramp up in digital self-service the video entertainment sector, winning six margin of 32%. This higher profitability can be usage and the roll out of online payments in 36 attributed to the non-recurrence of three major tier-one customers, and integrating its markets, with digital payments more than watermarking technology with IBM's cloud sporting events expensed in the comparative doubling Year on Year. prior period, a strong focus on the group's cost platform to enable easier deployment by optimisation programme, lower operational costs operators. Beyond video, it expanded its in a COVID-19 environment and a temporary shift Financial overview gaming security platform to include in content costs as a result of delays in sporting Both advertising and commercial subscription Steamworks, the largest digital distribution events. revenues were significantly impacted by platform for PC games, and Sony for the COVID-19. Advertising revenues were down PlayStation 5. Irdeto continued to expand its In addition, connected Video users on the DStv 34% YoY (R0.6bn) at the interim stage but deployment of connected vehicles with the app and Showmax continue to grow as online recovered well in the second half as COVID Hyundai group shipping 200 000 vehicles consumption increases. During the year restrictions eased, ending 11% down YoY at embedded with Irdeto's KeyStone Showmax launched Showmax Pro, the group's R2.8bn. Similarly, commercial subscription technology. Irdeto also added new projects to first standalone online sport offering, as well as revenues started to recover in the latter part of secure high-speed rail networks and capital- DStv Streaming, which allows customers to the financial year but finished 35% lower than intensive construction equipment. subscribe to an online-only service. Local content the prior year. The hospitality industry is is also proving to be a key differentiator on expected to take some time to return to normal Future prospects Showmax, with local content viewership up trading. Subject to a stable regulatory environment significantly this year, and four of the top five titles and the unknown impact of the COVID-19 on Showmax being local productions. A record The group achieved its target of generating pandemic, the group will continue scaling its number of Showmax originals were launched positive operating leverage by keeping video entertainment services across the during the year, including the first Kenyan and revenue growth ahead of the growth in costs. continent, focusing on both traditional linear Nigerian original series. Organic revenue growth of 4% combined with broadcasting and streaming services. In a 3% organic reduction in operating costs addition, it plans to further increase its A number of innovative, customer-centric resulted in improved operating leverage of investment in local content to a target 45% of products launched in this past year. The new 7%, 2 percentage points higher than the prior total general entertainment spend and pursue DStv Explora Ultra decoder allows subscribers to year. A focus on tight cost controls and the new growth opportunities that will enhance seamlessly shift between satellite and online early implementation of cost cutting initiatives customer experiences and revenue platforms, with a single billing platform. DStv underpinned an expansion in the group's prospects. Rewards leverages the group's supplier trading margin from 16% to 19%. Cost savings relationships to reward customers based on their amounted to R1.5bn for the year, exceeding “We are enjoying good momentum and are behaviours, DStv ADD Movies was the group's the group's stretch target of R1.4bn. Savings excited about our prospects for the year first meaningful foray into genre add-ons, while were largely fixed in nature with more than half ahead. Our advertising business is DStv Communities allows collective payments to relating to content and the balance to a broad recovering, and we have plans to further improve active days and retention. Although range of initiatives such as sales and enhance our entertainment ecosystem. We these products are new to market, early signs are marketing and lower decoder unit costs. look forward to an exceptional slate of local promising, with performance tracking either content and the meaningful return of live sport ahead or in line with expectations. Capital expenditure (capex) of R1.6bn was as we catch up on the events missed in this R0.7bn up on the prior year, primarily due to a past year,” says Mawela. “We are however However, the rest of Africa business grew its 90- multi-year investment programme to upgrade cognisant of ongoing consumer pressure in day active linear pay-tv subscriber base by 8% the group's customer service, billing and data what remains an uncertain COVID-19 YoY or 0.8m subscribers, despite a challenging capabilities. As one of the largest taxpayers in environment, continued macro-economic macroeconomic environment and ongoing Africa, MCG paid direct cash taxes of R4.1bn, volatility in our markets and the need to consumer pressure. The closing subscriber base slightly more than the prior year driven by absorb deferred content costs in the new is now 11.9m. Much needed rainfall reduced higher group profitability. year. We will look to counter potential electricity shortages in southern Africa, resulting headwinds through tight cost control and by in a recovery of customers in Zambia and The strength of the balance sheet remains driving operational excellence. Our strong Zimbabwe. The group also improved its critically important given the uncertain longer- balance sheet positions us well to withstand Ethiopian local product offering, which includes term economic impact of COVID-19 and these uncertainties and deliver value to our localised billing, more Amharic content and funding requirements for the Rest of Africa, customers and shareholders.” SuperSport local language commentary. which is also impacted by liquidity constraints

23 FOCUS

Living in the Dawn of a Golden Era of Space Exploration

There is a lot of traffic around Mars these days. The United States, China, the European Space Agency, ESA, India and the United Arab Emirates all currently have probes orbiting the red planet. And while the United States is currently the only one with rovers operating on the surface (and, as of last week, the first interplanetary helicopter, Ingenuity), China plans to land its own vehicle sometime next month. The multiple missions are part of a new golden era of space exploration. Unlike the first one, which captured the imagination of a generation in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and played out against the backdrop of the Cold War competition between the United State and the Soviet Union, the current space race is not confined to national space agencies with deep pockets.

Indeed, much of the activity, at least in near- and low-earth orbit, is now being driven by commercial and private enterprises like SpaceX, the company started by Elon Musk. Experts agree that it is the involvement of these new players, which are finding new, cost-efficient ways to use technology, that is behind the renaissance in space exploration and that is rapidly turning what a few years ago was science fiction into science possible and science fact. kilogram by 1970, but it remained fixed there until Public-private partnerships Less costly, more accessible 2010. Since then it has fallen to $2,000. Public-private partnerships are also flourishing. The falling cost has made space exploration much Earlier this month, NASA, which is already technology more affordable, even for countries that have not relying on SpaceX to ferry its astronauts to the Dr. Robert Zubrin, president of Pioneer historically been associated with such endeavors, International Space Station, announced that Astronautics, an aerospace research and including South Africa and Nigeria, which has when the United States returns to the moon development company in Colorado, who is also launched three satellites. What is making space later this decade, it will use SpaceX's new the founder of the Mars Society, an organization more affordable is that space agencies and Starship spaceship to take its astronauts from dedicated to promoting the exploration and companies no longer have to develop their own lunar orbit to the moon's surface. The value of settlement of Mars, explained that private one-of-a-kind technology, which is prohibitively the contract is $2,9 billion. companies have been extremely efficient in expensive. ESA has a program called Downstream developing their programs. Gateway, which it started in 2019, to create Referring to Mr. Musk, Mr. Zubrin said, "What he Dr. Tanya Harrison, a scientist and manager at partnerships between itself and private has shown is that it is possible with a well-led Planet Labs, an earth imaging company based in enterprise. Its next online workshop is later this entrepreneurial team to do things in space that San Francisco, who worked at NASA, the United week on “Space for Finance: How space was previously thought required the efforts of States space agency, on three rover missions -- Technology Can Support Digitalisation and major powers and to do them in a third of the time, Opportunity, Curiosity and Perseverance – Greening of the Financial Sector.” at a tenth the cost, and even do things they had explained that technology is no longer a barrier to There are already several prominent private deemed impossible, such as reusable launch space travel. enterprises building space vehicles or vehicles that come back and land at the landing “Instead of having to build these expensive, launching satellites other than SpaceX. They site.” exquisite pieces of technology that can never fail, include Blue Origin, which is owned by Jeff the space industry is using more commercial, off- Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and which has The result has been to sharply reduce the cost of the-shelf parts that are not necessarily designed already managed to take some payloads into space flight. As an example, Mr. Zubrin cited the for a single mission or specifically designed to suborbital space, and Virgin Galactic, which cost of taking a kilogram of payload into space. work in space," said Dr. Harrison. "Through that, was started by Richard Branson, the founder of The cost was astronomical when Sputnik blasted they are able to get all the components cheaper.” Virgin Group. There is also Rocket Lab, an off in 1957. It declined to about $10,000 per American company with a New Zealand

24 FOCUS

He explained how space travel can help. "If, by subsidiary that has been successfully putting working together, we can open up new planets, take that with a certain amount of salt and say commercial satellites into earth orbit for about a there is no need to fight over provinces. The next year. But he's going to do it." decade. issue is not that we are going to get oil from There are a lot of other current or future projects Mars, the issue is that resources are defined by beyond Mars and a return to the moon, on both human creativity and by exercising this together, the public and private fronts. The payoff we can enormously enhance the resources and - NASA and ESA are planning to send a While it clearly captures the imagination, space prospects and opportunities of the human spacecraft crashing into a binary asteroid exploration also has pragmatic benefits for species." called Didymos and Didmoon that will pass everyone back on earth. Dr. Harrison mentioned Indeed, one of the core missions and raisons close to earth next year. The idea of the that the most direct was in near-earth orbit, d'être of ESA is that it promotes international mission, which is called Double Asteroid pointing out that satellites provide communications cooperation and understanding. Among the Redirection Test (DART), is to see if the for cell phones, GPS positioning for air, ground and agency's priorities for 2025 are improving trajectory of the asteroid can be changed, as a sea transportation, and are essential in tracking relations and integration in the European Union dress rehearsal for deflecting a bigger object and analyzing what is happening to the through trans-European space cooperation; should it approach the earth, just as Dr. Zubrin environment. Satellites also monitor human helping companies and startups adapt green said may one day be necessary; activities, allowing the world to see human-rights technology, environmental solutions and - NASA has an orbiter around Jupiter and is problems and abuses, such as Uyghur internment digitalization by using the resources of ESA; and working on a mission to Europa, one of the giant camps in China, the United States-Mexico border, promoting safety and security by providing vital planets moons, for later this decade to explore and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. information, such as weather forecasts and the oceans on its surface, oceans that are "You are constantly interacting with GPS satellites, reliable communications systems. covered in ice ; even if you are not using it for navigation," Dr. Harrison said. "It is used in ATMs for giving you - In addition to returning astronauts to the time stamps on your banking receipts. Utility Mars and more moon, NASA also has a multinational plan to companies even use it for certain timing issues. It is Of course, there are challenges to space build a Lunar Outpost, which would actually be much more widespread than people realize." exploration, particularly over long distances. between the earth and the moon and would be The benefits to deep space missions are harder to People need food, water and fuel to travel long a place for running space experiments: Japan quantify, she admitted, but pointed to inspiration as distances, though water seems to no longer be a has a mission that is in orbit around Venus, one of them. problem as orbiters traveling to other planets China plans to build a massive space station in Dr. Zubrin agrees, but believes that there are, in and moons in the solar system have found it earth orbit; India will make a second attempt to fact, also pragmatic reasons for missions beyond everywhere, even on the dark side of Mercury, land a rover on the moon after a first mission in our planet, reasons that he has laid out in his most which is covered in ice. 2019 failed; At least two companies that have recent book, The Case for Space. Perhaps the There are also the physiological challenges of plans to build private space stations; and most important one is survival. space flight. Spending long periods in low- or no- among the more fanciful ideas, earlier this year, “By survival, I am talking about being able to deflect gravity environments affects muscle and bone a company called Orbital Assembly asteroids," he explained. "The earth is in space strength and density. A mission to Mars, for Corporation announced that it plans to build a and everything in space is moving around and example, would take about six months of travel space hotel to open later this decade. The periodically crashing into each other. The earth is time, followed by having to stay on the planet for group has already raised more than $1 million. always crashing into stuff and these have caused about 18 months to wait for it to approach the In about 300 years, Dr. Zubrin believes that mass extinctions. We have to control this flight earth at a close enough distance to make the six humans will have traveled to and even be living traffic. If you know about an asteroid on a collision month voyage home. Altogether, that is at least in other nearby star systems, each developing course with earth far enough out, you can deflect it two-and-a-half years away from the gravity of its own distinctive society. "There will be with the smallest nudge." earth. thousands of new nations, new cultures, new Space exploration is also essential to combat what Dr. Zubrin does not think that will be a problem, literatures, new languages, new traditions, he calls a plague of bad ideas that have brought saying that spaceships can be designed to contributions to technology and invention, and death and ruin time and again. The bad ideas rotate to reproduce the one-G environment of a vastly richer human experience. And that is revolve around the concept that there are not earth and so, too, can an installation on Mars. "I truly something grand and wonderful," he said. enough resources for everyone, so people think think we will have people on Mars by 2030," he How is space exploration going to strive they need to fight each other for what there is said. "I think that Starship will probably reach towards these goals? According to Dr. available. orbit by next year. Musk is saying this year, I'll Harrison, "I think that it is going to become more and more of a public-private partnership."

25 AFRICA

Unlocking Africa's full EO potential with EU Space synergies

The Europe-Africa Space Earth Observation High- Level Forum held earlier in June examined the evolving roadmap for enhancing EU-Africa cooperation in satellite-based Earth Observation; the European Union Agency for the Space Programme Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa was there to highlight the role of the agency in unlocking the full potential of EO in Africa through EU Space synergies.

Africa is a vast continent with a diverse geomorphology, a rapidly growing population and a home to a broad range of ecosystems. Experts have been looking into space-based solutions over the past decades, and in particular Earth Observation (EO) data, enabling solutions that help manage natural resources and better assess the impact of human activities on natural habitats.

Africa's EO community is blossoming, benefitting from geospatial data (EO and GNSS) deriving from regional space infrastructures but also relying on international cooperation initiatives. It was within this context that EUSPA Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa, joined the “Europe-Africa Space Earth Observation High-Level Forum” earlier in June, to speak about the role of the Agency and developments and work of their respective DGs use of the infinite opportunities offered by the how the EU Space Programme can help Africa in the field of EO. The panel was completed by EU Space Programme, all under the same sky. unlock its full potential. EUMETSAT Director General Phil Evans who noted that EUMETSAT had been collaborating The Europe-Africa Space Earth Observation EU Space Programme for more than 20 years with the European High-Level Forum is a hybrid event that will Synergies to the front Commission and multiple African institutions to take place in Lisbon, on 10-11 June 2021, ensure access to satellite data and strengthen organised in the framework of the Portuguese While talking about the role of the Agency in African capacities to exploit these data and Presidency of the Council of the European fostering applications and the use of EO and provide added-value services to various socio- Union and the Ministry of Science, Technology navigation data, da Costa emphasized “the need to economic sectors. and Higher Education of Portugal, with the involve users in the design of sustainable support of the European Commission. solutions,” to enhance EU-Africa cooperation from a space point of view”, adding that EO combined EUSPA successfully linking The Forum, the theme of which is space as an with satellite navigation and telecommunication users' needs in Africa enabler for digital and green transitions, with offers a huge potential to develop innovative space As regards the role of EUSPA, he said that the earth observation fostering sustainable products based on synergies between these. “Just Agency, with the support of the European development, new skills and job creation, has to give you one example, Copernicus can provide Commission, could help Africa accelerate its EO as its aim to foster European-African soil moisture and fertility information on a given downstream industry. “EUSPA has a successful cooperation on advanced earth observation piece of land. With the accuracy provided by track record of working with stakeholders in (EO) and data processing systems and their Galileo, farmers everywhere – and of course also in Africa and more specifically with the Agency for applications in a user-driven approach. Africa - can seed precisely where the soil is the Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar most fertile, and that contributes to a more (ASECNA). Together we are developing the nd sustainable farming”, he concluded. 14 years after the 2 EU-Africa Summit (held in “SBAS for Africa and Indian Ocean” based on Lisbon in December 2007) and the launching of EGNOS technology. This was a first step to The session gathered high-level space actors such the GMES & Africa process, substantial make African airports more accessible and progress has been achieved in the use of EO as Mahama Ouedraogo from the African Union create more commercial opportunities for Council who set the tone by saying that Africa- data and in the development of applications and airlines and new flight routes at a regional and services. In light of the opportunities offered by Europe EO cooperation should go further and international level, with minimum costs for consider the new paradigm brought by New Space. new technologies and by the new political ground infrastructure and its maintenance,” he context, the renewal and fostering of European The European Commission was represented by said. DG INTPA Director General Koen Doens, Patrick and African cooperation in this domain is of paramount importance to pursue the Child Deputy Director General of DG RTD and EU leaders and policy makers are ready to Augusto Gonzales, Advisor to the DG DEFIS Sustainable Development Goals and the green strengthen cooperation between the European transition. Director General all of which presented the latest EO and Africa, and are looking forward to making

26 EUROPE

A day without space travel

What would happen if all of the satellites orbiting our modern life. If, for example, the satellites of keyword greenhouse gases such as ozone. our earth were to fail? In short, there is global the European Galileo system were to fail, we We would also lack important information in chaos. “Satellites have long become an integral would lose their highly accurate timestamps. order to quickly create a reliable picture of the part of our everyday lives. They provide Financial transactions are no longer possible situation for the helpers in an emergency - for indispensable information for mobility on land, without these precise time signals. There example in the event of environmental water and in the air, for all power and would be no more money from the ATMs. disasters such as earthquakes, floods or communication networks, for internationally Stock trading would come to a standstill. A forest fires. networked payment transactions, global weather global financial collapse would be the result. In Space travel in a global forecasts and the energy transition. If these addition, electricity would no longer come out satellites fail, our modern world would be thrown of the socket, because all energy networks environment back decades from one second to the next, also depend on the high-precision time Space travel is closely networked ”explains Dr. Walther Pelzer, board member of signals. Furthermore, land and water traffic internationally. Space projects are human the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and head would be severely impaired, and air traffic projects - across national borders. “As the of German space agency at DLR based in Bonn. would no longer be possible German Space Agency at DLR, we work The German Space Agency at DLR is closely with partners in Germany, Europe and implementing the German space strategy on If communications satellites were to fail, our around the world. This happens within the behalf of the Federal Government. This cellular networks would be severely impaired framework of the national space program and concerns above all the German involvement in and live broadcasts on television would no with the German contributions for the the European space agency ESA and the control longer be possible. And the fast broadband European Space Agency ESA as well as for and implementation of the so-called national internet will also be transmitted more and the European organization for the use of space program. "We have around 1.2 billion mo re b y sa te l l i te s i n th e fu tu re . meteorological satellites EUMETSAT. euros available for this every year," says DLR Communication satellites are also needed for Board Member Walther Pelzer. A new animation, the new 5G mobile communications standard. We are also the point of contact for space entitled “A day without space travel”, shows in a The elimination of the European Copernicus- issues in the European Union - especially for few minutes how strongly our modern life is Earth observation and METEOSAT-Weather the future EU agency EUSPA (European already linked to technologies and services from satellites would result in a failure of the Union Agency for the Space Program) and in space travel. “Space travel is the driving force weather forecast and the delivery of climate the upcoming EU research framework behind the development of future technologies. and environmental data - with far-reaching program Horizon Europe. We are committed Preserving and protecting our space consequences for all areas that depend on to ensuring that important space contracts - infrastructure is already vital. reliable weather and environmental data. nationally and internationally - are awarded to German companies in order to strengthen Satellites set the pace for our Without earth observation satellites, we would know-how and innovations in Germany. We have no precise and complete weather also have small and medium-sized modern life forecast and no global and continuous data companies and start-ups in mind, Navigation satellites set the pace for the pulse of series on the condition and change or ”emphasizes Walther Pelzer, who is also the destruction of our earth and our climate - head of the German delegation at ESA.

27 EUROPE

Celebrating new milestones

The antenna of the German Aerospace Center Observation operates the Inuvik Satellite technology, explained: “I would like to enjoy (DLR) in Inuvik went into operation eleven years STATION Facility and set up its own systems the extraordinarily good and, above all, long- ago: A station near the pole was necessary to for earth observation missions there in the term cooperation with the Canadian Center receive the TanDEM-X data - this was set up in the following years. for Mapping and Earth Observation and the Northwest Territories in Canada. Together with the national Canadian institutions and the Canada Center for Mapping and Earth Long-term cooperation Canadian aerospace industry. This became Observation and the Canadian Space Agency the basis for access and operation of the (CSA), the German Remote Sensing Data Center between international partners antennas in Inuvik. The eleven years in celebrated the anniversary on June 10, 2021. Due honored operation are a great obligation for us to to the corona situation, the event could not take At the celebration, Prof. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, continue our successful cooperation. “ place for the tenth anniversary as originally Chairwoman of the DLR Executive Board, Canadian Center for Mapping and Earth planned. The celebration with international commented on the longstanding collaboration: Observation Director Eric Loubier discussed partners was now carried out virtually. “Our success would not be possible without our the decades-long relationship between The satellite station in Inuvik complements the international partners. I really appreciate the NRCan and German Aerospace Center and DLR central station in Neustrelitz and the Antarctic cooperation with our partners from Sweden was optimistic about the future. German O'Higgins station. Earth observation satellites and Canada. ”The DLR antenna in Inuvik has Remote Sensing Data Center, Director Prof. such as the satellite duo TanDEM-X orbit the globe now recorded more than 30,000 passages from Dr. Stefan Dech mentioned the logistical in polar orbits. The earth rotates under the satellite the TanDEM-X satellites. Since 2018 it has also challenges that exist in the construction and orbit. After a few orbits, the satellite covers the been receiving data from the Sentinel-5P operation of ground stations. As early as entire earth. In each of these 90-minute rounds, satellite for the European Earth observation 1991, German Aerospace Center founded the satellite crosses the north and south polar program Copernicus. The location of Inuvik and the German Antarctic Receiving Station regions: This is why there are good prerequisites the possibilities of the ISSF are also interesting O'Higgins station. It is located on the for calling up the recorded data as often and as for new, commercial satellite constellations. northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and is quickly as possible or sending new commands to "The station has developed into an important still in operation today. "After we were able to the satellite. The data and commands travel on international center for earth observation, set up a second polar station in Inuvik in the special frequencies in the microwave range. They which Germany was able to welcome as the Canadian Arctic, we have continuously are received on the ground with large, movable first member," said Luc Brûlé, Canadian Space expanded our technological capabilities in parabolic antennas. Agency Vice President for Science and both polar regions for the benefit of earth In 2009, DLR was able to build a first 13-meter Technology. "This milestone marked a new observation," emphasized Prof. Stefan antenna on the Inuvik Satellite STATION Facility. chapter in the close partnership between Dech. The Canadian Space Agency and the Canadian Canada and Germany in the field of space As part of the virtual event, the 50th Center for Mapping and Earth Observation activities. “ anniversary of Canadian-German scientific supported the project. After the DLR built the Prof. Hansjörg Dittus, German Aersoapce and technical cooperation was recognized Swedish Space Corporation also has an antenna. Center board member for space research and once again. The Canadian Center for Mapping and Earth

28 APPOINTMENT

the Director-General of the National Partners. Mr. Heller was a partner at Steel Hector DataPath appoints Mike Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The & Davis in Miami, Florida. He received a Antonovich Vice president of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern Mohammed, announced the appointment in a University and a Juris Doctorate from International Sales and statement issued in Abuja by the Presidency. Georgetown University. Business Development He said Mr. Ilelah's appointment is for a tenure of five years in the first instance. The National Scott Wisniewski has joined as Executive Vice Broadcasting Commission is a parastatal of President and Chief Strategy Officer overseeing DataPath, Inc., a leading provider of mission critical the Federal Government of Nigeria corporate development, treasury, investor solutions and services in the communications established by Section 1 of the National relations and public relations. Previously, Mr. industry, announced today the appointment of Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. NII, laws Wisniewski was Managing Director of Michael “Mike” Antonovich to the position of Vice of the Federation, 2004 and vested with the Technology, Media & Telecommunications President of International Sales and Business responsibilities of, amongst other things, Investment Banking at Barclays, advising clients Development. regulating and controlling the broadcasting on raising capital and M&A for over a decade. DataPath's Executive Chairman & CEO, David Industry in Nigeria. While at Barclays, he advised AST SpaceMobile McDonald, said, “We are excited to have Mike join on the $110 million private investment in 2019 the DataPath team as he brings a wealth of Iridium Names Greg and the recently closed business combination knowledge and experience in leading international transaction, which raised $462 million in gross sales in the satellite and communications Pelton As New Chief proceeds. Earlier in his career he was a industries. His track record in results-driven management consultant focused on supplier leadership is what we were looking for as we Technical Officer development and a mechanical design engineer. continue our global expansion.” Mr. Wisniewski received a Bachelor of “DataPath enjoys a great reputation for exquisite Iridium Communications Inc. announced that Engineering degree from Dartmouth College and engineering of satellite network solutions designed Greg Pelton will join the company as Chief a Masters in Business Administration from The for the most demanding communications Technical Officer (CTO), effective June 17, University of Chicago Booth School of Business. customers operating in the most extreme service 2021. Reporting to Iridium Chief Operations environments”, commented Mike Antonovich. “I am Officer Suzi McBride, Pelton is taking over for really looking forward to opening doors and opening retiring CTO Hermon Pon and will lead Paul Horstink to head new markets for DataPath”. Iridium's world-class technology and system Aerostructures Switzerland Antonovich comes to DataPath after serving as the engineering teams both internally and with Chief Executive Officer for Eutelsat Americas, Inc. Iridium's vast partner ecosystem. at RUAG International Prior to that assignment, he held the position of Pelton joins Iridium from Pryon, an AI company Senior Vice President of Global Sales for Japan- focused on augmented intelligence for the RUAG International's aerostructures business is based Media Global Links, Inc. Antonovich began enterprise, where he served as Chief Product getting reinforcement. As of August 16, 2021, his career with ESPN Sports Network, Group W Officer. In this role he was responsible for all Paul Horstink will take over as Head of the Swiss Satellite and PanAmSat/Intelsat where he rose aspects of the company's augmented organisation. His goal: to lead Aerostructures from Manager of Broadcast Services to Executive intelligence product portfolio, leading the into the future at the Emmen site for customers Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. He engineering team and product development like Pilatus, Boeing and Saab. also has served in senior leadership roles in a efforts. Prior to this, Pelton was Vice President As a Dutch aeronautical and industrial engineer, variety of industry leading companies including The of Collaboration and Devices at Avaya, where he started his career at KLM in various Spaceconnection, Global Crossing/Genesis he managed a portfolio of voice and video leadership roles, worked for Stork Fokker Networks, Roberts Communication Networks and endpoints, soft clients and collaboration Aerostructures and was technical director of ATEME. services. Before Avaya, he served as CTO Martinair. Then he left for the UAE to work for Abu and Vice President for Infrastructure Dhabi Aircraft Technologies. After coming back to Engineering at Polycom and led Cisco's Europe he set up and lead the group Ola Ehrstedt new Chairman of corporate Technology Center where he worked maintenance organisation of the Thomas Cook the Board in Aranya on the Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) Airlines across Europe. In 2015 he went to SRT program consisting of developing a router for to transform the component business. The last 5 use in satellites and transitioning of satellite years he has had various roles (Line Aranya is one of Sweden's leading companies in ground networks to multiservice IP networks. Maintenance, Heavy Maintenance, Commercial network communication and security-related and business development) at Iberia MRO, services has welcome Ola Ehrstedt, as the new driving major improvements on all areas of Chairman of the Board in Aranya, succeeding AST SpaceMobile customer excellence. Now the 50 year old Håkan Helin. The business is based on aviation leader is looking forward to utilise his implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, Expands Management aviation experience in the road to customer operation and service deliveries of business-critical Team with Key New Hires excellence for RUAG Aerostructures networks and security environments, as well as Switzerland. related consultants and product services. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. the company André Wall, CEO of RUAG International, says: During his years in the IT industry, Ola has held building the first and only space-based cellular "With Paul Horstink, we have an experienced several roles such as CEO, manager and leader in broadband network accessible directly by leader lined up who is very familiar with the needs various positions. Among other things, Ola founded standard mobile phones, today announced the of our customers in the aviation business. the company Knowit ICE within the Knowit Group in addition of two executives to its senior Combined with the technical expertise of the 2012, and drove this to a turnover of up to SEK 80 leadership team. team in Emmen, I am confident that we will million and 40 employees in 2016. Prior to this, he “I am delighted to welcome such talented accelerate the transition we have started and has held roles such as Head of delivery at individuals to the AST SpaceMobile team,” lead the business into the future for the benefit of Capgemini, CEO at Mainone Sourcing AB, said Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of AST our customers." Regional Manager at Enfo Zipper and Head of IT SpaceMobile. “Both of these executives bring Ralf Drees, who started at RUAG International in Client Infrastructure at E.ON. It is with great joy and extensive expertise to our company, including March 2021, will focus on managing the Airbus anticipation that we welcome Ola. His knowledge in valuable public company experience. business in Germany and Hungary. In focus: business management and strategy work, ramping up production recovering from the combined with his experience of the industry, is very Brian Heller has joined as Executive Vice unprecedented aerospace collapse, while valuable for Aranya in the expansive phase we are President, General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. ensuring quality and driving innovation for Airbus now in, says Emil Persson, CEO of Aranya. Heller brings over 20 years of public company in engineering projects. experience to AST SpaceMobile. Before RUAG International's aerostructures business Nigeria's President appoints joining AST SpaceMobile, he served as will be structured into two operating units with General Counsel of Castle Brands, Inc., a immediate effect: the Airbus business with high Ilelah as NBC Director- publicly traded spirits company, until its sale to rate assembly at the Oberpfaffenhofen General Pernod Ricard, and as Senior Vice President - (Germany) and Eger (Hungary) sites, and the Business and Legal Affairs at Ladenburg Swiss aerostructures business with small rate President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr. Thalmann Financial Services, a publicly traded assembly for customers Saab, Pilatus and Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, a veteran broadcaster, as financial services company, until its acquisition Boeing at the Emmen site. by a portfolio company of Reverence Capital

29 AFRICA

South Africa’s space journey

South Africa has been an active participant in the exploration of space since the dawn of the Space Age. From the 1950's to the 1970's satellites were tracked to determine the effects of the upper atmosphere on their orbits. Lunar and interplanetary missions were supported from a tracking station at Hartebeesthoek (about 50 km northwest of Johannesburg). This station received the images of the planet Mars taken by the Mariner IV spacecraft - the first close-up images of Mars and also the first close-up images of another planet to be received on Earth. South African ground-based facilities have continued to support various space missions ever since. South Africa initiated its first space programme in the 1980s. The objective of this programme was to develop an Earth observation satellite and a launcher, and all the necessary facilities to support these activities. Satellite integration and testing facilities were constructed at Grabouw in the Western Cape, about 70 km west of Cape Town. The launch facility was established at Arniston, on the Cape South coast, about 180 km west of Cape Town. This allowed for east to polar launches. Considerable capabilities were developed in South African industry to support this programme. This programme was discontinued in 1994, before any satellites were launched, and the facilities were redirected towards other uses. South Africa has a variety of institutions that play a significant role in the scientific study, Committee on the Committee on the Peaceful In February 1999 South Africa's first satellite, Sunsat- exploration and utilisation of space. These Uses of Outer Space. South Africa is one of the 1, was launched. This 64-kg microsatellite was built institutions, situated in academia, the science co-chairs of the Group on Earth Observations by staff and students at the University of councils and industry, have broad (GEO) and the 2007 chair of the Committee on Stellenbosch. The satellite was launched as a competencies in satellite applications, satellite Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). secondary payload on a United States launcher. The engineering and space science, and all their Space activities in South Africa are regulated in satellite operated successfully for 2 years in low earth supporting technologies. A recent audit of the terms of the Space Affairs Act (Act 84 of 1993). orbit and took numerous multispectral images at 15 South African industry shows that the annual The South African Council for Space Affairs, meter GSD of our planet from space. The team that turnover for industry and public sector established under the Act, is responsible for built Sunsat-1 established the Sunspace company to institutions involved in space activities is of representing South Africa in international further develop and market some of the microsatellite order $20M. Some 180 – 200 people are intergovernmental fora dealing with space affairs technologies pioneered with Sunsat-1. The company currently involved in space-related activities of and for the authorisation, licencing and has supplied a number of satellite subsystems and one sort or another. The existing infrastructure supervision of space activities in South Africa. also complete satellites to various clients. In July and skilled workforce, both inside these The South African National Space Agency was 2013 the capabilities and intellectual property of facilities and in wider industry supporting them, established in 2010 to coordinate and implement SunSpace were transferred to Denel Dynamics, with allow South Africa to position itself as a regional the national space programme. SANSA falls the creation of a new entity in the Denel Group, hub of space science and technology. This can under the Department of Science and SpaceTeq. be used as a basis for strengthening ties with Technology. SANSA is the lead agency for In 2005 the Department of Science and Technology industry in established space-faring nations, establishing and implementing agency-level initiated a three-year satellite programme. The main and for developing links with other emerging space cooperation agreements with the space goal of the programme was capacity building in all national space initiatives, particularly in Africa. agencies of other countries. aspects of a typical space mission. The University of The hub of space activities in South Africa is the Civil society is also playing an increasing role in Stellenbosch was appointed to manage this Western Cape. This region hosts the facilities the development of the space arena in South programme and Sunspace was appointed as developed for the previous space programme, Africa, with a growing number of academic and contractor to provide the satellite. The satellite was as well as a number of universities, government research institutions and private sector entities designed, built and tested in South Africa by more research laboratories and many high-tech becoming involved in space-related activities. than 40 local companies, demonstrating the companies. The universities in the region have The University of Cape Town has a Space and capability of South African industry to support a competencies in satellite engineering, satellite Astronomy Society that promotes space national space programme. This satellite, named operations, optical instrumentation design and awareness among students and the local youth. Sumbandila (meaning "Pathfinder" in the local Venda testing, synthetic aperture radar systems and The South African National Space Policy language_ was launched in September 2009 and data processing, as well as space policy and provides the overarching guidance for the was operated until mid-2011. Sumbandila produced space law. conduct of space activities, which are to be over 1100 high-quality images of the Earth, which carried out in support of national priorities, have been made available to local researchers. South Africa is active participant in the particularly with regard to issues of poverty However, the principal and enduring legacy of the international space arena. South African space reduction, economic opportunity, technological Sumbandila mission is the human capital professionals participate in numerous specialist empowerment and improved quality of life. development in all the scientific, technical, policy and and political forums, such as the United Nations regulatory aspects of conducting a space activity. 30 AFRICA

Reducing risk to space systems

Today, space is becoming 'contested, congested and competitive', and although it has traditionally been seen as a peaceful global common, increasingly this perception is being challenged. Space has been 'militarised', that is, used for military tasks to support terrestrial military operations, since the dawn of space age. There is now a greater risk of space becoming 'weaponised' and contested due to the development of counterspace (anti-satellite) capabilities. There are also concerns about the growth of a congested space domain, including increasing amounts of space debris. This trend is set to sharpen as commercial space actors begin deployment of 'mega-constellations' of small satellites to provide a range of terrestrial services. Space is becoming more competitive, as more actors, both state and commercial, can take advantage of lower-cost access to orbit and cheaper space technology. Space is no longer a domain solely open to the great powers.

Despite these downside, space domain has been facilitating a range of vital terrestrial capabilities essential for a modern society and economy. These include directly supporting economic growth and prosperity as well as monitoring climate events, supporting increasingly challenging logistics and traffic management and facilitating better social development and ensuring public health. With these These are core capabilities for the ADF, and under attack, and the threat of such costs should benefits in mind, it is vital that the peaceful use of they could be significantly reduced if states change the decision calculus of adversaries in a space as a global common continues to grow. were to successfully challenge them. Space manner that reduces the incentive for any Interference could lead to economic instability, presents a lucrative target for those who would aggressive use of counterspace capabilities. This particularly if there were an effect that undermined threaten Australia's defence and national approach represents a traditional military role. In the efficacy of global navigation satellite systems security, and space is a warfighting domain this regard, it is also important to balance (GNSS) such as 'GPS'. The importance of space is whether we like it or not, particularly given imposing costs with denying benefits. The latter is such that any interference in critical space emerging counterspace capabilities. often overlooked. If the ADF develops its military infrastructure could lead to increasing global capabilities to be critically reliant on space, then instability, including a potential risk of nuclear With these warnings in mind, it was there is inherent benefit for an adversary to attack insecurity. The integration of space technology is so emphasized that it is important to note that our space capabilities. However, if the ADF can vital that the preservation of space as a global space will be a place which supports invest in resilient space capabilities so that it is common is of great importance and all countries warfighting, but it does not mean it has to be a harder to attack, then a 'deterrence by denial' enjoy the benefits of space capabilities – a loss of place where warfighting takes place. There is approach will reduce the incentive for an space access would affect the entire international an important distinction between the two. Most adversary to threaten those capabilities. In simple system.. people do not understand the devastation that a terms, if attacking a satellite had absolutely no war in space would mean given that access to benefits or effects on the outcome of military However, space is 'not a 'wild west' environment in space is critical to everyday life. There was a intervention then there is no incentive to do so. which there are no rules, and in which anyone can do strong point made that the 1.5 Track process There is a case for reducing dependency on whatever they want'. There is a clear legal and will help shape international behaviour and space or to ensure greater space resilience to regulatory framework that underpins contemporary action in space and preventing conflict from reduce vulnerabilities. space activities. However, how actors will behave in happening. space is yet to be determined, particularly as the The international community must focus on space domain becomes more competitive and Against this background, making a judgement shaping, deterring, and responding to complex in nature, and the current rules in space about what is responsible is one thing but how irresponsible behaviour. No one wants conflict in have yet to be tested in times of real conflict; it is to set those standards, and how to enforce space, given the global impacts that such an especially unclear how states might behave in those stands is another challenge. That will event would generate, and we must be aware to space, particularly in times of conflict. demand holding actors who violate responsible the challenge of a crisis – perhaps in the grey zone behaviour standards to account, and it's – that could lead to conflict. We need to avoid Given the critical dependency on space capabilities, important that states should seek to attribute slipping into a strategy of hope and instead be the prospect of irresponsible behaviour or even malign behaviour and call it out. The challenge clear-eyed about the world we live in, including conflict in space is a sobering thought which is how to decide what is acceptable and how do emerging power dynamics between major actors. demands deeper consideration. From the we hold actors to account. Above all, we must recognise that space is a perspective of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), warfighting domain, and we need to understand space is a key part of surveillance and intelligence In addition, there needs to be a global how to work together to maintain the peace, capabilities and early-warning communications, as deterrence framework. This would require according to Australian department of defense. well as positioning, navigation, and timing services. imposing costs when our space capabilities are

31 ASIA

India’s Chandrayaan-2 Solar X-ray monitor unravels mysteries of the Solar Corona

Our Sun, being the primary source of energy for our solar corona. For the first time, absolute flares, where each class is 10 times more solar system has a significant influence on our lives, abundances of elemental Mg, Al, Si in the quiet intense than previous), and hence these are and has always instilled a curiosity in humankind.. solar corona are derived. The team discovered termed as “sub-A class microflares”. Using Though we have a fairly good understanding of the and characterized around 100 “sub-A class” the X-ray spectra of these microflares origin of energy and other various aspects of the microflares in the quiet corona providing new obtained with the XSM and contemporary Sun, several potentially life-changing phenomena insight into coronal heating puzzle. images in Extreme Ultra-violet obtained with still remain a mystery. Being the nearest star, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) of understanding the Sun also allows us to learn about The XSM, designed and developed by PRL NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory other distant stars better. with support from various ISRO centres, (SDO), the energy content of these flares provides measurement of soft X-ray (1-15 keV) could be estimated. This was the first Some of these mysteries are related to the hot outer spectrum of the Sun. The XSM also supports observation and statistical study of such a atmosphere of the Sun, known as 'corona', which the quantitative measurements of elemental large sample of microflares in the quiet Sun, emits profusely in ultra-violet and X-ray abundances of the lunar surface using the supporting the hypothesis of the presence of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. We companion payload CLASS (Chandrayaan-2 even smaller scale flares everywhere on the know that the corona consists of ionized gas at Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer) solar corona that could be responsible for the temperatures exceeding one million Kelvin, which is developed by URSC, Bangalore, which coronal heating. much higher than photospheric temperature of 6000 measures the X-ray fluorescence spectrum K, the visible surface temperature of the Sun. from the lunar surface. At present, XSM is the The X-ray emission over these 76 days, However, this observation is against the natural only instrument that provides soft X-ray excluding the durations of the microflares, is expectation that the temperatures should reduce as spectral measurements of the Sun, i.e., unusually constant. This is the lowest we go away from the source of energy, and this is measures the intensity of X-ray in different intensity of X-ray emission observed from known as the 'coronal heating problem'. From energies over the 1 to 15 keV. More importantly, the Sun since space-borne observations observations, such as the presence of even hotter XSM provides such measurements with very began. Analysis of the XSM spectra of the corona, called active regions above the Sunspots good energy resolution at every second, the quiet Sun, excluding the microflares, (dark patches seen in visible images of the Sun) highest cadence for any instrument so far. provided the measurement of abundances where the magnetic fields are known to be stronger, of various elements. The abundances of the it is suggested that the magnetic fields have an XSM started observations of the Sun in low FIP elements Mg, Al, and Si were important role in the coronal heating. While there are September 2019, during the period of solar estimated and found to be lower than the different theories regarding the actual mechanism, minimum when typically there were very few abundances seen in active region corona but one of these relies on the occurrence of a large Sunspots and active regions on the Sun. The higher than that in the photosphere. This is number of small solar flares called 'nanoflares'. solar minimum of 2019-2020 was even more the first report of measurement of peculiar as the Sun was extremely quiet, and its abundances as well as reduced FIP bias in Another puzzling observation about the corona is activity was at the lowest level over the past the quiet Sun. Our observations of FIP bias that certain elements are found to have abundances century. This provided a unique opportunity for in the quiet Sun provides significant inputs three to four times higher in active regions than in XSM to observe the quiet corona without active towards understanding the FIP bias and the photosphere. This happens for elements which regions for long periods. The solar X-ray flux as suggests that it arises due to the presence of are easier to ionize, or require lesser energy to observed by the XSM during this period is Alfvén waves in the closed magnetic loops. ionize. In more technical terms, these elements shown in the figure. Intervals highlighted with have their First Ionization Potential (FIP) lower than blue color correspond to a period of 76 days These outstanding science results on the 10 eV, and hence this phenomenon is generally when no active regions were present on the solar corona and heliophysics obtained termed as 'FIP bias'. The exact reason behind the solar disk, and XSM was observing the quiet during a unique solar extremely quiet period FIP bias and its origin remains an open question. corona. using a sensitive instrument XSM aboard Chandryayaan-2 observations are A team of scientists from the Physical Research A remarkable and surprising observation is the published in two companion papers in the Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, used observations detection of a large number (98) of extremely May issue of the Astrophysical Journal of the Sun in soft X-rays with Solar X-ray Monitor small flares in the quiet corona (see Figure Letters. Both the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and (XSM) onboard ISRO's Chandrayaan-2 mission below). These flares are so small that their the XSM instrument are performing during the deepest solar minimum of the past intensity is well below the standard scale to extremely well, and expected to provide hundred years to learn exciting details about the classify solar flares (i.e. A, B, C, M, and X class many more exciting and new results.

32 BUSINESS Sateliot, Spanish MoD promotes first Nanosatellite constellation

Sateliot, the satellite telecommunications standard, compatible with more than 70 mobile demonstration of both technologies on two operator, is preparing with a dozen companies operators, will also ensure secure communication satellites that will be tested gradually over the and the Spanish Ministry of Defense -as a by introducing an end-to-end encryption device coming months. potential user- the deployment of a constellation using QKD (Quantum Key Distribution), the first According to Jaume Sanpera, founder and of low-orbit nanosatellites that, in addition to the quantum technology that could be widely applied. CEO of Sateliot, “With this consortium, we are democratization of IoT with 5G coverage, will also In this way, this constellation will allow cost taking a step forward to provide not only global enable a secure information exchange system savings by sharing the infrastructure originally connectivity but also unconditional security. using QKD quantum keys. designed with this innovative system that will be Thus, with the development of 5G and QKD This is a cross-cutting project led by Sateliot, key to guarantee the secure exchange of sensitive technologies, we will build a unique which will involve an investment of more than 176 information between organizations located constellation in the world that will enable the million euros and has just been submitted to the thousands of kilometers away, protecting digitization of the Spanish industrial sector; a Spanish Ministry of Industry as part of the vulnerable data such as money transfers, fundamental advance towards its recovery Program for the Promotion of Industrial commercial transactions, private data or the after the pandemic.” Competitiveness and Sustainability projects that remote control of critical infrastructures from all Sateliot is the first satellite telecommunications will serve as a guide for the allocation of European types of external interference. operator to provide global and continuous Next Generation funds. With this project, the connectivity to all the elements that will make consortium seeks to position Spain as a world Thus, this project will respond to two of the levers up the Internet of Things (IoT) universe – such reference in 5G IoT constellations and secure considered key to economic recovery: as the connected car or the connected home – global communications, enabling the Spanish digitalization and sustainability, as it will allow the under the 5G protocol. Thanks to a industrial sector to digitize as a priority. Internet of Things to be deployed in all productive constellation of state-of-the-art nanosatellites, sectors with a positive impact on the efficiency and located at low altitude and acting as mobile Sateliot is the first satellite telecommunications profitability of economic activities such as towers, Sateliot is the perfect complement to operator to provide global and continuous agriculture, livestock, fishing, mining, large telecommunications companies by connectivity to all the elements that will make up construction, energy, transport and tourism. It will providing them with the necessary the Internet of Things (IoT) universe under the 5G also respond to pressing challenges such as infrastructure where terrestrial technologies do protocol. Thanks to a constellation of state-of-the- depopulation or the emptying of Spain. not reach. art nanosatellites, located at low altitude and acting as mobile towers, Sateliot is the perfect It will also have direct applications in the Public A nanosatellite, called 3B5GSAT, was the first complement to large telecommunications Administration, ensuring the secure exchange of of three in which Sateliot will test the IoT companies by providing them with the necessary information in Ministries that work with extremely service with 5G coverage, and it comprises an infrastructure where terrestrial technologies do sensitive data, such as the Ministry of Defense, innovative small technology, smaller than a not reach. which is actively participating in the project, but microwave and weighing no more than 10 kg, also between ministries, city councils and areas made up of 10x10x10 cm cubes whose An evolution of the original such as Education, Health, Ecological Transition, standards are adapted to the function to be Transport and Justice. performed. constellation Currently, Sateliot has already launched the first of Moreover, unlike large geostationary satellites Precisely, this technology is part of the European the nanosatellites that will offer IoT coverage with that are almost 36,000 kilometres high, it will Quango project that opens a new business 5G connection, marking a milestone and be in a low orbit, flying at only about 500 avenue for Sateliot and stands as an evolution of positioning itself as a benchmark in the satellite kilometres to ensure global IoT connectivity. It the original constellation proposed by the telecommunications industry. The overall project, will travel at a speed of about 7 km per second, company. This network of 96 nanosatellites, in which will be fully operational by 2023, is divided circling the Earth once every 90 minutes. addition to connecting IOT elements on the 5G into nine phases. The first of these will include the

33 SPECIAL REPORT The rise of underwater drones in maritime environment

In earlier times, the ocean's depth limited people's lowering an AUV into the ocean, researchers to prevent the need for communication. The ability to explore the ocean. Unassisted, humans program it, telling it where to go and what to do. UN has already issued a report the can't dive to profound depths, as the water's The remotely operated vehicle might collect weaponization in the Maritime Environment pressure and weight quickly become too much. The data or capture images or video. After raising concerns about the implication of this risk of physical injury to divers becomes more likely completing its assigned tasks, the remotely development. starting at depths around 40 meters. That's where operated vehicle makes its way to a meeting underwater research vehicles come into play. In the point, where researchers on the ship bring it out The UN report observed that the marine 1960s, scientists, including naval researchers, of the water. environment, both on the high seas and developed the first underwater vehicles. These underwater, has been the proving ground of autonomous underwater vehicles have both Remotely operated vehicle s are better suited many increasingly autonomous technologies. revolutionized deepwater exploration while keeping for collecting data in the water than collecting Humans are exploring previously human scientists and researchers safely above the physical objects or water samples. Though unreachable depths and locations, as well as surface. crew members program autonomous constructing ever-greater amounts of Remotely operated vehicles and Autonomous underwater vehicles before lowering them into infrastructure in the marine environment from vehicles are both submersibles that can explore the the water, some can change their programming deep sea oil rigs to underwater cable depths of the ocean without a human on board. A or adapt their missions on the fly, based on the networks. Technological advances have remotely operated vehicle, simply called ROV is a conditions they encounter in the water. Usually, permitted development of the tools to do so: submarine that a researcher operates from above an AUV has sensors that allow it to detect water robots and systems to help build, maintain, the water's surface. An ROV remains attached to a temperature and other conditions. monitor and repair these objects in one of the controller by a tether. The tether allows the crew most physically challenging environments on aboard the ship to reel in the remotely operated Compared to traditional methods, the drones Earth. Remotely operated at sea and vehicles at the end of a day's exploration. It also have a relative small cost: the need for underwater vehicles are already well limits how far from the research vessel the remotely personnel and infrastructure is reduced to its developed. In the maritime environment for operated vehicles can travel on its own. minimum and the vehicle is able to work around both the private sector and the military the Once they are in the water, remotely operated the clock and around the calendar. It works very restricted nature of human capacities and vehicle can send video and images to the surface, well: in November 2012, an autonomous glider related costs render the replacement of shining a light on the equipment conditions that set a Guinness World Record by traveling over m a n n e d s y s t e m s b y i n c r e a s i n g l y might be underwater. If the ship is investigating 14,000 kilometers on an autonomous journey autonomous ones very attractive. hazardous materials that somehow made their way of just over one year duration! In addition, many of the world's conflict into the ocean, the remotely operated vehicle 's Underwater drones face two big hurdles flashpoints are on coastal or contested video can provide a clear picture of what's going with however including power and communication. waters. With rising seas, changing weather those materials without a diver having to put It is not possible to communicate remotely with patterns, and other consequences of global themselves at risk. drones through the ocean in the same way that warming, access to previously impassable While a remotely operated vehicle remains tethered is possible with aerial drones. While various areas will render the maritime environment an to a ship and remotely operated by a person aboard, innovative ways are being suggested to deal increasingly strategic battle space for an an autonomous underwater vehicle, simply AUV with the power problem, autonomy is seen as ever-growing number of States. gets to roam the ocean somewhat freely. Before the way forward for underwater drones in order

34 SPECIAL REPORT

naval ships than all other types of attacks, the U.S. In Africa, Ghana's maritime security unit, Navy began developing an unmanned underwater Watchwood Resources Ltd., has been leading There are environmental factors: the harshness of vehicle that could dive 10,000 feet (rated depth) the charge in cracking down on piracy. They have the environment related to weather, ocean and function for four straight hours. In the increased investment into policing the waters for currents, temperature, underwater pressure and succeeding decades, the Navy developed under piracy, illegal fishing, drug and human trafficking. other features as well as the vast areas to be watwer vehicles that could retrieve lost equipment These efforts will not only limit illegal activity, it monitored and potentially controlled. Economic such as torpedoes or a missing atomic bomb, save will enable trust and security in the economies of factors include increasing fuel prices and the high submarine crews lost at sea, or locate shipwrecks, not just Ghana, but all of Northwest Africa. costs of deploying and maintaining human crews at sea for extended periods. The limits of human including the Titanic. At the beginning of the 21st century, under water vehicles increasingly became Drivers of maritime autonomy personnel: autonomous technologies are a faster, cheaper, and safer alternative than According to the report published by Allied attractive for assignments that humans find sending humans and trained animals to defuse sea Market Research, the global underwater drone physically or mentally unpleasant or unsuitable, mines. market was estimated at $3.59 billion in 2019 and such as extended submarine missions. The is expected to hit $7.39 billion by 2027, difficulty or impossibility of maintaining active A wide range of increasingly autonomous military registering a cumulative annual growth rate of communication with systems operating systems are already deployed in the maritime 11.7% from 2020 to 2027. underwater makes increasingly autonomous environment, for a variety of missions including The report said the increase in deep-water operations attractive, particularly when combined mine-countermeasures, and intelligence, offshore oil and gas exploration, surge in with the desire to benefit from the covert nature of surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). These demand for underwater drones for defense and operating in a communication-denied systems enable States to monitor activities of security applications, and growth in demand for environment. interest and potentially hostile actions over areas that could not be easily covered by human operators. Today, unmanned surface vehicles can be deployed on missions such as mine- countermeasures, port surveillance, fleet protection and supply delivery. Recent developments in swarming capabilities open realistic possibilities for automated ship protection and area denial, where autonomous surface vessels operate in defensive postures yet could have offensive capabilities. Increasingly autonomous military systems are also of interest for coastal monitoring, anti-piracy and counter- narcotics operations, as well as wide area searches, such as for Malaysian Airlines flight 370. Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 saw the first use of autonomous underwater vehicles for mine warfare operations in Umm Qasr Harbor. Most unmanned underwater systems require some level of autonomy due to the fact that standard methods of navigation such as GPS do not work underwater. Research is underway to increase autonomous functions for more complex operations. For example, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency programme “Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel” known as Sea Hunter attempts to detect and track quiet diesel electric submarines for several months at a time. In order to perform this mission, the system will need to demonstrate several facets of advanced autonomous operation, including oceanographic research drive the growth of the “autonomous compliance with maritime laws and global underwater drone market. On the other conventions for safe navigation, autonomous hand, communication problems associated with Civil applications of underwater drone system management for operational reliability, and autonomous vehicles impede the growth to Unmanned marine objects have captured the autonomous interactions with an intelligent certain extent. Nevertheless, advent of energy- public's imagination, offering a glimpse into a adversary.” efficient underwater drones and rise in adoption previously unimagined and inaccessible world. Some might be concerned about whether of underwater drones in emerging economies While the unmanned devices used by Jacques “autonomous interactions” might include selection pave the way for lucrative opportunities in the Cousteau and James Cameron introduced more and engagement of targets. In the specific case of coming years. than one generation to the underwater world, it is Sea Hunter, US Department of Defense Directive The global underwater drone market is analyzed now possible for any amateur to buy a small, 3000.09 permits semi-autonomous weapon across type, application, propulsion system, remotely operated unmanned submersible at systems that do not “autonomously select and product type, and region. Based on type, the relatively low cost. No longer limited by a physical engage individual targets or specific target groups Remotely Operated Vehicle (segment tether to a human operator, today increasingly that have not been previously selected by an contributed to the highest share in 2019, holding autonomous systems are widely used as authorized human operator.”12 However, when nearly three-fifths of the global underwater drone unmanned survey platforms, carrying sensors to considering the intentions of research programmes market. The Autonomous Underwater Vehicles gather data for a variety of applications including of other States, it should be noted that Directive segment, on the other hand, is projected to oceanographic survey, environmental monitoring 3000.09 has the advantage of being a public manifest the fastest CAGR of 15.0% from 2020 to and sampling, mapping, oil or gas exploration and document and one that has received considerable 2027.Based on application, the defense and exploitation, and shipping safety, as well as tasks study and scrutiny; few other States have yet to be security segment accounted for two-fifths of the such as inspection, construction, maintenance, so forthcoming on their intentions and restrictions total market share in 2019, and is expected to and repair of underwater objects. on development and use of increasingly rule the roost throughout the forecast period. autonomous weaponized technologies. Simultaneously, the commercial exploration Military applications segment is anticipated to showcase the fastest Military and police forces that protect our world cumulative annual growth rate of 12.3% by the count on having robust tools to ensure their Oil and gas applications assignments can be completed as safely and end of 2027.Based on a recent release by the Oil and natural gas drilling rigs can operate in quickly as possible. Some of their tools include UN, a number of factors have driven the water depths of two miles. Many of these land robots, aerial drones and high-tech night- development of sophisticated, increasingly deepwater wells and pipeline systems have come vision devices. In the 1950s, in response to sea autonomous marine technologies for to rely on unmanned underwater vehicles to help commercial, scientific and military purposes. mines that would go on to destroy or damage more 35 SPECIAL REPORT

perform installations, inspections and repair and are installed on it can vary from USD 5,000 to USD The inspection of underwater areas can maintenance. But these unmanned vehicles 100,000 each. The operational cost of an AUV at nowadays be conducted in easier, faster and typically need to be transported to the offshore site, sea is ~USD 1,000 per day. So if a 30 days mission cheaper ways thanks to the use of underwater which can be 100 or more miles out to sea, and then is being considered, the cost of its operation drones. Various areas of application are due to remotely operated from there, often via tether. This becomes USD 30,000. Hence, high operational use submarine shootings: submerged common scenario requires a manned vessel costs of AUVs act as a restraint for the growth of infrastructures, dam, pipeline, maritime expertise topside. the UUV market. of boats (hull), underwater surveys, aquaculture, The oil and gas sector is adopting these amongst others. technologies to enhance operations, reduce cost, Search and rescue mission Many bridges for example, act as homes for enable responsiveness, and guarantee the safety electrical, gas, high-speed data and other utilities. Korean technology firm, Hanwha Systems has and integrity of employees and industrial facilities. The inspection and maintenance of those utilities reported that it will develop autonomous Many of the Earth's oil and gas resources lie is critical to maintain service and avoid hazards to underwater drone swarms for search and rescue beneath its oceans. Although drilling operations are navigation. Today, a survey and imaging system missions by 2025. According to the defense down dramatically due to lower demand and lower can be mounted on an autonomous underwater business unit of Hanwha Group, it has formed a oil prices, worldwide surpluses, and now the effects vehicle to inspect the deepest structures and consortium with partners including the Korea of the pandemic and other uncertainties, of the bridges. Underwater drones can supply better Advanced Institute of Science and Technology for 1,000-plus active oil rigs around the world, nearly methods for acquiring and recording data that the 25 billion-won project $22.4 million 200 of the active rigs are offshore. improve quality, cost-effectiveness and safety of commissioned by the Korea Institute of Marine According to industry reports, the global energy traditional inspections. Science and Technology Promotion. demand has tripled in the past 50 years owing to “In bad weather conditions, human divers can't be several technological innovations in emerging Underwater drones offer a fast and efficient deployed due to poor visibility. Also, divers economies. As traditional onshore reserves are survey of technical infrastructures such as wind themselves can be put in danger due to strong continuously depleting, offshore resources are turbines, offshore platforms or pipelines. currents. The swarm of underwater drones will playing a key role in meeting this growing energy Autonomous underwater vehicle, remotely have enhanced searching capabilities supported demand. This has led to the shifting of oil & gas operated robots, permits real-time underwater by precise detection abilities and real-time control production facilities to subsea regions. For instance, images to diagnose any failure or to give a precise technologies,” a Hanwha Systems official said. In the state-owned offshore oil & gas company, and complete analysis of the submerged the project, Hanwha Systems will be responsible CNOOC of China, has announced an increase in infrastructures. In addition, wind and maritime for developing algorithms for the navigation and capital expenditure from USD 12.3 billion to USD energies constitute an increasingly popular the control of the underwater drone swarms and 13.7 billion (CNY 85.0 billion to CNY 95.0 billion) in alternative in a context of energetic transition. the sonar system for wide-area coverage and 2020. The company aims to drill 227 exploration Surveying the submerged structures of offshore precise detection. According to Verified Market wells and acquire a 27,000-square kilometer of 3D oil platform or pipeline can reveal itself costly and Research, the market size of maritime seismic data in the same year. Rapid technology laborious. Underwater drones are thus an autonomous unmanned vehicles and remotely advancements in unmanned underwater vehicles in interesting alternative, allowing to analyze every operated vehicles is expected to reach 15.6 trillion terms of improved communication and increased inch of the platform or infrastructure by taking won by 2027, from last year's 5 trillion won. depth accessibility are expected to continue pictures or videos recreating the underwater Search efforts for missing aircraft and wreckage promoting the use of unmanned under water reality. are common jobs for AUVs, such as the search for vehicles in the oil & gas sector. The advent of smart Also, the water industry is a domain within which the Malaysian Airline flight 370 that disappeared in devices has led to improved operational the inspection of infrastructures can be 2014. This new technology has demonstrated that management and risk management. Advanced complicated. Indeed, reaching the base of dams, it can cover wide seabed areas at a higher navigation and imaging systems are deployed for bridges, breakwaters or tanks and water pipes resolution over shorter periods of time compared safe operations in difficult environments. used for human consumption require specific to conventional sonar systems. Unmanned under water vehicles are used for equipment. pipeline inspections, platform inspections, and Furthermore, dams can represent a potential risk bathymetric surveys, as well as search and rescue Envirnmental study and for local population, in the event of a brutal water operations in the oil & gas industry. purge or rupture. In this context, yearly visit- Unmanned underwater vehicles have emerged as a conservation inspections of dams are important and necessary. cost-effective substitute for deep water drilling Underwater drones have opened a whole new The visit-inspection purpose is to control the operations as they eliminate the requirement of world of undersea exploration. With these facing of the dam (joints between plots) and surface vessels and can operate autonomously. underwater vessels scientists can get a glimpse of everything that is related to the good functioning The use of small and portable Unmanned what lies below the surface without ever venturing and the security of the dam including intake pipes, underwater vehicles has increased significantly into the water themselves. Today, not only flood draining, bottom draining. Such inspections over the past 5 years in the oil & gas sector. For scientists and engineers, but anyone with the were before conducted while the dam was instance, the ECA GROUP (France) entered into a interest can explore the depths of the ocean with drained: a really costly and binding method. partnership agreement with Petrus Resources commercial underwater drones. Professional and Nowadays, thanks to autonomous underwater (Canada), a global oil & gas services group, to offer amateur archaeologists alike can explore exciting vehicle technology geared with powerful lighting inspection and survey services using an A18D marine wildlife, shipwrecks, lost artefacts and system and video cameras, it is possible to autonomous underwater vehicle. Thus, the increase much more without ever leaving the operation conduct those surveys in faster and more in offshore oil & gas production is one of the key deck, and with minimal impact on the sites. economic ways. drivers for the growth of the unmanned underwater Underwater drones are helping scientists to Besides, collecting underwater images have also vehicles market globally. explore and understand the undersea world, but permit us to analyze the marine ecosystem and they're also protecting it. They're helping save the identify the species living within. It is as well useful The report revealed that Autonomous underwater underwater environment, particularly in areas that to get an overview of the invasive flora dangerous vehicles are expensive maritime systems. For are inaccessible and too deep for divers. From for the ecosystem. Underwater robots can then instance, A18 autonomous underwater vehicles, cleaning the oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico to realize a rapid video footage, usable as part of with a depth rating of up to 3,000 m, manufactured monitoring Great White Shark near Guadalupe, documentaries or movies about the underwater by ECA GROUP in France, has a cost ranging from underwater drones are helping to protect our life.In the field of the identification of underwater USD 2 million to USD 6 million. The deployment oceans. species, the use of ROV technology becomes costs of AUVs used in exploration or surveying really handy as it is a non-intrusive way to film and activities add to the actual cost of exploration and take pictures of marine floraand fauna. Thus, surveying missions. Moreover, high costs of Infrastrucutre surveys according to your very own project, it is possible to maintenance, manufacturing, research & Routine inspections are the key to the long term get diverse footage and recordings of the development, and system complexity associated care and success of any infrastructure. However, underwater life. This kind of inspection provides with AUVs also lead to their slow adoption, although inspections of underwater infrastructure are as well a mean to detect and monitor the invading they are being used increasingly in simple missions historically strenuous and difficult, and often species that might have a negative impact on the such as environmental monitoring. The average dangerous. Underwater drones can now protect biodiversity, economic activities or even the health selling price of an autonomous underwater vehicle divers from these situations and make routine is USD 70,000, while the costs of instruments that inspections and repairs possible.

36 SUBORBITAL FLIGHT

Human Spaceflight: The coming war of space tycoons

Source: CNN

The private space flight industry is taking a new wealthy persons. In 2004, a concrete step announced plans to begin flying tourists by shape with a lot of players rising to benefit from towards realizing suborbital space tourism was 2022 from its spaceport in New Mexico, but its the profitable market for public sub-orbital flights. achieved. During the $10 million Ansari X Prize operations have been delayed by the virus, To name a few, these players are Burt Rutan of challenge, private companies competed with according to securities filings. Scaled Composites, Paul Allen, Elon Musk both each other to launch a reusable manned . of SpaceX, Sir Richard Branson founder of Virgin spacecraft twice within two weeks. On October In May, 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. Galactic, Jeff Bezos, CEO of Blue Origin, the 4, 2004, Virgin Galactic and Burt Rutan of completed its third spaceflight and the first ever Ansari family, founder of Ansari X Prize, and Bob Scaled Composites won the X Prize with their spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Bigelow of the Bigelow Aerospace , and David successful SpaceShipOne and opened the new Mexico. As the spacecraft roars into space,the Thompson, CEO of Orbital Sciences. Like the era of commercial manned spaceflight. flight sees New Mexico become the third US space race for prestige that took place between state to launch humans into space. Tagged, countries in the Cold War era, now these private Although while these safety regulations are still VSS Unity, the spaceflight achieved a speed of companies are engaging in “the capitalist's space in their early stages of development and Mach 3 after being released from the race” to claim the honor of first reaching implementation, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin mothership, VMS Eve, and reached space, at technological breakthroughs, as well as reaching Galactic has already sold more than 625 seats an altitude of 55.45 miles before gliding the moon and beyond. at $200,000 per ticket for its 2.5-hour suborbital smoothly to a runway landing at Spaceport space tourism flights on SpaceShipTwo. America. The year 2001 marked the beginning of space SpaceShipTwo was officially disclosed to the On VSS Unity's flight deck were CJ Sturckow tourism, as a wealthy California businessman, public in December, 2009 in California and is and Dave Mackay, while Kelly Latimer and Dennis Tito, became the first paying passenger tentatively scheduled start its operations in Michael Masucci piloted VMS Eve. CJ, who for space flight. He paid $20 million to be 2014. flew as pilot-in-command, becomes the first launched by Soyuz TM-32 via arrangements person ever to have flown to space from three made between an American company called As of February 2020, Virgin Galactic reportedly different states. The crew experienced Space Adventures and a Russian company received more than 8,000 reservation requests extraordinary views of the bright, blue-rimmed MirCorp, which oversaw the Mir space station. for travel aboard its rocket. The company says it curvature of the earth against the blackness of The ticket sale was to fund the maintenance of the has received down payments from 600 of those space. New Mexico's White Sands National Mir space station; however, a premature deorbit customers. Its planned flight profile consists of Park sparkled brilliantly below. Their decision diverted Tito's destination to the ISS. For an aircraft and a second-stage vehicle that experience today gives Virgin Galactic's Future 8 days, Tito enjoyed a unique vacation in orbit and detaches once the main craft reaches a certain Astronaut customers a glimpse of what lies spent seven days on board the ISS. Many other altitude and uses a rocket to propel it to ahead. laypersons followed Tito's footsteps: Mark suborbital space, an altitude at which “Fifteen years ago, New Mexico embarked on a Shuttleworth, a South African technology passengers will temporarily experience journey to create the world's first commercial entrepreneur in 2002; Gregory Olsen, an weightlessness without entering orbit. To date, spaceport,'' said Sir Richard Branson. ''This American entrepreneur-engineer-scientist in no paying customer has flown aboard a day, we launched the first human spaceflight 2005; Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian American suborbital spacecraft. Prior to the COVID-19 from that very same place, marking an businesswoman in 2006; and several other pandemic, the company had publicly important milestone for both Virgin Galactic

37

SUBORBITAL FLIGHT

and New Mexico. I am proud of the team for their to secure a license from the Federal Aviation began developing the software for the site. hard work and grateful to the people of New Mexico Administration (FAA) in order to perform orbital Named after the South American river, Amazon who have been unwavering in their commitment for launches, since its existing license only covers sold its first book in July 1995. commercial spaceflight from day one. Their belief suborbital flights. The FAA is currently in Amazon quickly became the leader in e- and support have made today's historic achievement process on reviewing the requirements for that commerce. Open 24 hours a day, the site was possible.” license, including an environmental impact user-friendly, encouraging browsers to post Also, Space Perspective, a private company created review of what it would mean for the their own reviews of books and offering in June 2020, proposes to use high-altitude balloons surrounding area. discounts, personalized recommendations, and to transport tourists to the edge of space. Space searches for out-of-print books. In June 1998 it Perspective plans to launch a football-field-sized The most ambitious of the pack is Blue Origin, a began selling CDs, and later that year it added balloon with an attached pressurized capsule, privately held company controlled by videos. In 1999 Bezos added auctions to the initially from a base in Florida, to float passengers to Amazon.com chief executive Jeff Bezos, that is site and invested in other virtual stores. The altitudes of nearly 19 miles. During the balloon building a passenger rocket and capsule to success of Amazon encouraged other retailers, flights, passengers will not experience send a crew of up to six tourists to space for including major book chains, to establish online weightlessness but can expect to view the curve of several minutes from a launch site in West stores. the Earth and blackness of outer space from far Texas. The company has tested the rocket, New above the altitudes at which commercial airplanes Shepherd, a dozen times with a dummy 8 normally fly, according to report. The company onboard covered in sensors to determine how Accommodations in Orbit envisions the balloons will descend to Earth after a trips might affect future human customers, According to NASA reports, prospective space several-hour journey by gradually releasing gas, like based on a latest report. Blue Origin has not tourists may have several destinations to traditional hot air balloons. The company has said it released information about when tourists might choose from. The providers of accommodations plans to launch its first uncrewed test flight in 2021. be able to fly on the rocket, what tourist training in space may not be the same entities that might be required, or the anticipated price of a provide space transportation, the report said. Space Exploration Technologies, simply SpaceX, a flight. One early destination is likely to be the ISS, private company controlled by Tesla Motors founder Last month, Bezos, has announced that he which is controlled by NASA. In June 2019, Elon Musk that is known for launching satellites intends to embark on a sub-orbital flight, which NASA changed a long-standing policy when it aboard reusable rockets, announced in March 2020 means reaching space without entering an orbit announced plans to allow private citizens to fly that it would fly three tourists on a 10-day trip to the around the Earth, which includes several to the ISS for short visits. It did not, however, International Space Station in 2021. The price of the minutes of micro-gravity levitation. The Amazon offer to provide transportation. It is unclear single trip is reportedly $55 million, according to the founder Jeff Bezos has said he will fly to space whether NASA will insist that private astronauts founder, Elon Musk. SpaceX intends to fly these with his brother on the first human flight and space tourists visiting the ISS meet the tourists on its Crew Dragon spacecraft, the same launched by his space company, Blue Origin. In same medical and training requirements as craft that transported two NASA astronauts to the an Instagram post, Mr Bezos said space flight NASA astronauts aboard the ISS. ISS in May 2020 from American soil for the first time was something he had wanted to do "all my life". However, Axiom Space, a private company that since the U.S. space shuttle program ended. Unlike Blue Origin is also auctioning off a seat in the has several agreements with NASA, will provide other spacecraft that are in design and production for capsule, for someone who will join the pair on training to private astronauts and plans to send tourist transport, the Crew Dragon will be rated and the inaugural crewed flight. the first fully private human spaceflight mission certified against NASA criteria that will formally deem “Ever since I was five years old, I've dreamed of to the ISS. This mission is expected to include it safe for human flight. SpaceX is also working with travelling to space,” Bezos said in an Instagram three astronauts launched aboard a SpaceX Space Adventures to send up to four private citizens post announcing his plans last week. “I want to rocket in 2021. According to Axiom, private into orbit around Earth with a projected date of late go on this flight because it's a thing I wanted to astronauts will go through initial physical and 2021. In 2018, a billionaire from Japan placed a do all my life. It's an adventure. it's a big deal for medical checks, and training modules will down payment with SpaceX for a privately chartered me.” include 15 weeks of “expert training” in robotics, tourist flight around the moon in a small vehicle that As early as July 20, Bezos, and two guests are suborbital spaceflights, preparation for extreme would be launched by a SpaceX rocket. SpaceX has set to climb into a capsule on top of the environments, and high performance jet flights, said it hopes to launch the excursion in 2023. company's New Shepard rocket. One of those according to NASA The crew scheduled to passengers won the seat in an auction, bidding launch in 2021 will perform research in support This year, SpaceX is hoping to fly its in-development US$28 million that will go to Blue Origin's of developing modules for a new, privately spacecraft Starship to orbit for the first time in July, foundation, Club for the Future. Following the funded space station Axiom plans to construct according to company president Gwynne Shotwell. auction, Blue Origin said it would announce the and deploy to replace the ISS after its expected Shotwell as he shared the timeline at the fourth person in the coming weeks. The retirement in 2024. The new station is intended International Space Development conference during upcoming flight would make Bezos and his to be open to visitors from space agencies and a virtual speaking engagement. companions the rocket's first passengers. If all the paying public. Under an agreement with Starship has been in development for the past goes according to plan, New Shepard will lift NASA, the company plans to build the craft in several years, and it has been making shorter test off from Blue Origin's West Texas launch stages as a modular attachment to the ISS that flights, but remaining within Earth's atmosphere, pad and carry Bezos and his companions to will be released as a free-floating station in orbit since last year. Its most recent flight also included its the edge of space. The force of the climb and once complete. first fully successful landing, which is a key ingredient the pull of Earth's gravity which will feel three In addition, Gateway Foundation, a California in the development of the Starship launch system, times stronger than normal will pin the Bezos organization, announced design plans last year which is designed to be SpaceX's first that is fully brothers and their guests into their seats. Then for a space hotel that could accommodate reusable. the rocket booster will separate from the hundreds of passengers. The Von Braun July, accordi gf to him, is an ambitious timeline for passenger capsule and fall back to Earth. Station design plans look like a giant wheel making the first orbital flight attempt of Starship, but While still in high school, Bezos developed the rotating in space that could provide Earth-like in May SpaceX filed its planned course for the flight, Dream Institute, a centre that promoted creative gravity to passengers on board. Construction is which would lift off from the company's Starship thinking in young students. After graduating yet to start, but the company says it expects to development site in south Texas near Brownsville (1986) summa cum laude from Princeton complete the orbiting hotel by 2027 with the known as 'Starbase' and then eventually return to University with degrees in electrical engineering support of space construction company Orbital Earth with a splash down in the Pacific Ocean and computer science, he undertook a series of Assembly. Gateway's website states that somewhere off the coast of Hawaii. jobs before joining the New York investment individuals can increase their chances of This first flight won't end with a controlled landing, bank D.E. Shaw & Co. in 1990. Soon named winning a free trip to its spaceport and will have and the focus will be on reaching orbit and testing the senior vice president the firm's youngest, Bezos priority right to purchase shares in an eventual spacecraft component through that part of the flight. was in charge of examining the investment public offering by becoming “crew members.” Later tests will include a controlled landing of the possibilities of the Internet. Its enormous Orion Span has also announced a plan to build Starship spacecraft, with the goal of eventually potential—Web usage was growing by more a luxury hotel in orbit. The hotel, Aurora Station, making the entire system, including the Super Heavy than 2,000 percent a year—sparked his would be able to accommodate four booster that will help propel it to orbit, fully reusable. entrepreneurial imagination. In 1994 he quit passengers and two crew for 12-day stays.23 While Shotwell seemed to indicate high confidence D.E. Shaw and moved to Seattle, Washington, The company has been plagued by financial that SpaceX is pretty much technically ready to begin to open a virtual bookstore. Working out of his difficulties but claimed in February 2019 to have orbital test flights of Starship, the company still needs garage with a handful of employees, Bezos a seven-month waitlist.

38

IN THE NEWS ASIA

China's relay satellites aid designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft, also USA and Australia providing “follow-the-sun” spoke of the complex megaproject and its space mission operations and space traffic clear, smooth space-ground potential value day earlier. Both Long and Qi services. communication however note major challenges including economic feasibility and manufacturing India Among Top 10 FDI costs, as well as the efficiency and safety of A space-based measurement and control energy transmission. Destinations in the World system composed of multiple relay satellites Space-based solar power projects have has guaranteed clear and smooth previously been considered by countries In the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, while communication between ground control and including the United States and Japan. China global investments depict a decline in Foreign Chinese astronauts in space. listed space-based solar power as a key Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, Indian The relay satellites Tianlian I-03, Tianlian I-04 research program in 2008, according to prospects are bright owing to its sustained and Tianlian II-01 have been providing stable Xinhua. The China Academy of Space long-term growth trend. According to the measurement and data relay support for the Technology (CAST) in 2019 began building a United Nations Conference on Trade and complex consisting of Tianhe core module, the test base in Chongqing Municipality for Development (UNCTAD), India's large market cargo craft Tianzhou-2 and the Shenzhou-12 researching high-power wireless energy and positive economic growth in the post- spaceship, according to the Beijing Space transmission. pandemic period will draw investments to the Information Transmission Center. country. “It is the first time China's independently India was the 9th largest recipient of FDI in developed Tianlian II-01 relay satellite has Saber joins new network 2019 according to World Investment Report served one of the country's manned space awarded Australian space 2020 by UNCTAD. India is also the biggest FDI missions,” said Zheng Yonghui, general host in South Asia and contributed largely to the engineer of the center, adding that the satellite payload qualification grant overall FDI growth of 10% recorded in the accelerates video and audio transmission to region. achieve both improved call quality and longer A u s t r a l i a n s p a c e i n n o v a t o r s a n d The report also stated that professional duration. entrepreneurs will gain more infrastructure to services and digital economy, which are among Engineers at the center developed the voice ensure space access, mission viability and the most sought-after industries in India, may and image analysis software and timed alert success with the establishment of a network show a speedy rebound owing to the interest software to improve the stability and reliability of space payload qualification facilities. shown by venture capital firms and technology of communication. Saber is joining a partner network led by a companies in India's market through The Shenzhou-12 spaceship was launched successful Australian National University acquisitions. atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket on June (ANU) bid for the Australian Space Agency's The total FDI (Equity inflows, Re-invested 17. The three Chinese astronauts aboard Space Infrastructure Fund grant worth earnings and Other capital) into India increased Shenzhou-12 entered the core module Tianhe $2.5M. ANU is leading the program to create from USD 62 Bn in FY 2018-19 to USD 73.45 after the spaceship conducted a fast a national network for next generation flight Bn in FY 2019-2020 showing a growth of 18%. autonomous rendezvous and docking with test services so spacecraft can survive high Major deals and investments in India in 2019 Tianhe the same day. Tianhe was sent into orbit radiation environments. include USD 7 Bn acquisition in the Steel sector on April 29, and the cargo craft Tianzhou-2 was The network also includes The Australian and USD 2.7 Bn investments in internet launched on May 29. N u c l e a r S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y companies. Moreover, deals concluded in the Organisation (ANSTO), Nova Systems, The first quarter of 2020 include USD 650 Mn deals, New super heavy-lift rocket University of Wollongong, and Steritech. mostly in the Digital sector and USD 800 Mn to aid China's space-based Saber Astronautics' role is to integrate acquisition in the Energy sector. qualification with their space mission control solar power station centre program, called the Responsive India pushes for domestic construction Space Operations Centre (RSOC). The RSOC will link space weather and data control of Navigational infrastructure, supporting the new satellites China plans to use a new super heavy-lift systems after adopting that go to the test facility to find appropriate rocket currently under development to space environment profiles for qualification indigenous digital codes construct a massive space-based solar power testing. The RSOC, also a recipient of an station in geostationary orbit. Numerous designed by ISRO and IISc Australian Space Agency's Space launches of the upcoming Long March 9 rocket Infrastructure Fund grant last year, went live would be used to construct space-based solar The India's Space Research Oranisation is last March and is preparing for a range of power facilities 35,786 kilometers above the determined to strengthen Government of new flight customers in the USA and Earth, according to Long Lehao, chief designer India's initiative of indigenous control and Australia. of China's Long March rocket series, speaking administration of its space assets as its adopts Dr Jason Held, CEO of Saber Astronautics during a presentation Thursday in Hong Kong. indigenous digital codes designed by ISRO and noted the benefit the community gets by The project would aim to establish a large IISc. The agency said, ISRO and IISc have joining ANU's program, “This program, and collecting area receiving solar energy near jointly designed innovative spreading codes the strength of the partnership, gives constantly, without the atmosphere or seasonal having better even-correlation. This exceptional benefit to the community. It links changes affecting energy levels. Converted development according to ISRO is a significant spacecraft testing directly with mission energy would be then transmitted to Earth via achievement in the navigation signal domain. operations, closing the loop between a microwaves or lasers. The project would ISRO said, patent has been filed and reviews company's mission plans and the conditions provide large-scale renewable energy and help are encouraging. they will experience before they even get off tackle energy resource scarcity. Navigation with Indian Constellation the ground. This is exactly the testing facility The project, according to Long, would begin (NavIC) is a satellite based navigational Australia needs to produce the next with a small-scale electricity generation test in system, developed and maintained by Indian generation of satellites that can survive in 2022, leading to a megawatt-level power Space Research Organization (ISRO). NavIC space.” generation facility around 2030. Commercial, is developed to give position information to The partner network will be supplying end-to- gigawatt-level power generation would be users in Indian region and area extends up to end payload testing services such as realized by 2050. This would require more than 1500 km from its border.. internationally standardised radiation testing 100 Long March 9 launches and around 10,000 The IRNSS is an independent regional facilities and pyroshock testing capabilities. tons of infrastructure, assembled in orbit. The navigation satellite system being developed by “This funding will help transform Australia into complex project calls for a solar energy India. It is designed to provide accurate position a world-leading space qualification collection system with an area on the order of information service to users in India as well as ecosystem with reach across the Indo-Pacific square kilometers and a large microwave the region extending up to 1500 km from its region.” said Professor Anna Moore, Director power transmission sub-system. boundary, which is its primary service area. An of the ANU Institute for Space. Qi Faren, another senior space figure and chief Extended Service Area lies between primary Saber's RSOC program operates labs in the

40 IN THE NEWS ASIA

service area and area enclosed by the in six residential locations in Jakarta and in performance of the commercial network in the rectangle from Latitude 30 deg South to 50 parts of eight other cities, making it the first in future. deg North, Longitude 30 deg East to 130 deg the country to do so. NEC leveraged its industry-leading product East. development based on its advanced telecom and IRNSS will provide two types of services, IT expertise to maximize CPU utilization and fast namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) Huawei lost on appeal, will memory access. This is fueled by the utilization of which is provided to all the users and not be able to sell 5G in Intel's latest high-performance infrastructure, Restricted Service (RS), which is an including 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors encrypted service provided only to the Sweden with built-in AI acceleration and Dual-port 100Gb authorised users. The IRNSS System is Intel Ethernet Network Adapter E810-2CQDA2 expected to provide a position accuracy of The Chinese company Wavi lost an appeal to with Dynamic Device Personalization (DDP). better than 20 m in the primary service area. the Swedish Administrative Court, revoking Rakuten Mobile, Intel and NEC have collaborated IRNSS-1A spacecraft provides messaging the telecom regulator's ban on the sale of 5G on high-speed processing of containerized UPF, service to users in the Indian region. The equipment and technologies. The regulator which plays a significant role in this initiative, and Signal-in-Space Interface Control Document explained the ban due to security concerns achieved a performance of 640 Gbps per server. (ICD Ver. 1.0) for Messaging services (IRNSS raised by the Swedish Security Service. High-speed processing in a containerized 1A) is released to the public to provide the “Sweden's security is of paramount environment on Rakuten Mobile's RCP enables essential information to facilitate the use of importance, and the administrative court has instant and flexible deployment of UPF from edge IRNSS1A Signal-in-space for development of taken into account that only the security to central locations based on traffic receiver and associated application. police and the armed forces have an overall characteristics, leveraging RCP's full automation picture of it, and of the threat to the country,” features. Indosat Ooredoo launches the court said in a statement issued by “Rakuten Mobile has successfully designed and Reuters. Kenneth Fredriksen, the company's built a fully containerized mobile network based 5G services in Solo, vice president in the Nordic countries, told the on open standards,” commented Tareq Amin, Indonesia news agency that the company “will continue Representative Director, Executive Vice to fight for its right to be part of the Swedish President and CTO of Rakuten Mobile. “With market.” NEC and Intel, we have demonstrated that Indosat Ooredoo launched its first commercial Europe is beginning to re-examine its policy extremely high-speed processing is possible on 5G services in the Indonesian city of Solo. The towards the Chinese giant and other containers. We aim to continue to pursue launch is part of a partnership with the companies, largely due to pressure from the performance improvements in the core to Surakarta (“Solo”) Municipality and includes a Biden administration – which continues in line achieve higher throughput and reduce cost and focus on micro and small-medium-sized with its predecessor Trump, who described it energy consumption in the rollout of network enterprise (MSME) empowerment, digital as a threat to American national security, as technology in Japan and worldwide.” talent education and smart city development. part of the broader struggle for China's “We're proud that Rakuten Mobile, Intel and NEC Future plans involve extending 5G to other hegemony. Earlier this month, Biden signed a were able to demonstrate industry-leading UPF major cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, presidential decree banning U.S. investment performance,” commented NEC Executive Vice Surabaya and Makassar. in 59 Chinese companies, including Wawi. At President Atsuo Kawamura. “NEC has been According to the operator, its 5G offering will NATO and G7 summit meetings last week, developing high-performance and highly reliable provide higher internet speed for consumer the leaders discussed at length the dangers 5G systems by leveraging our vast experience and business customers and create new inherent in China's technological that includes more than 25 years in mobile core opportunities for innovation that will “enrich empowerment. networking. Our strong track record, technical the quality of life for the people of Solo and capabilities and expertise in both network and stimulate the economy.” computing domains, allowed us to bring high- More specifically, Indosat Ooredoo will Rakuten Mobile, NEC and quality 5G core to virtualization and cloud-native provide tools and training for 10,000 of the Intel demonstrate industry- technology. NEC and Intel have a long-term city's micro-businesses on how to digitalize relationship in the hardware business, including their operations, as well as content creator leading performance in CPUs and NICs (Network Interface Cards), and training and coaching to 2,000 of Solo's youth containerized 5G Core lab have jointly enhanced the acceleration and main youth-leading communities and technology for virtualization, represented by the Augmented Reality (AR) training for 500 trial DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit). NEC young developers in Solo. performed significant optimization and In addition, the operator is establishing a Rakuten Mobile, Inc., NEC Corporation and improvements to pursue higher performance for smart information hub at the City Hall that Intel Corporation announced that they have the cloud-native UPF. In the future, we will connects the city's command center to more achieved a performance of 640 Gbps per continue to contribute to society through 5G in than 2,700 RT community residents to provide server for the containerized User Plane Japan and around the world leveraging the real-time information across the entire city. Function (UPF) on the containerized 5G SA results of this project.” “We believe 5G technology will help core network jointly developed by Rakuten “ accelerate the digital transformation of Mobile and NEC running on the Rakuten Indonesian society and stimulate innovation Communications Platform (RCP). China successfully launched in businesses across all industries,” said the Containerized UPF performance is crucial to first astronauts to its space President Director and CEO Indosat Ooredoo maximize the value of 5G deployment. This is Ahmad Al-Neama. “Today's launch marks the because the control plane (C-plane) and user station beginning of our journey in powering the 5G plane (U-plane), which were historically revolution in Indonesia, helping to move the collocated, are completely decoupled in the Three Chinese astronauts flew to an unfinished nation towards a 5G-enabled future.” disaggregated 5G architecture. This enables space station in China's first crewed mission Notably, Huawei Indonesia CEO Jacky Chen an independently scalable UPF which is key since 2016, expanding the country's already attended the launch event, making clear that to private networks, edge computing, hybrid growing near-Earth presence and challenging Indosat Ooredoo is using the Chinese cloud and to accelerate a variety of U.S. leadership in orbital space. The astronauts vendor's 5G equipment. Chen confirmed this deployment scenarios. Rakuten Mobile has rode to Tianhe – the module that will be the living later in a press release, commenting simply adopted 5G architecture from the launch of its quarters of China's completed space station – on that Huawei is “glad to become part of the network, including a CUPS (Control and User Shenzhou-12, or “Divine Vessel”. The crew will historic milestone, together with […] partner Plane Separated) packet core for its 4G LTE live on Tianhe for three months, the longest Indosat Ooredoo and the people of Solo, to network. sojourn in low-Earth orbit by any Chinese build a more intelligent and connected The 640 Gbps performance per server for the national. Indonesia.” containerized UPF on the 5G SA core China's space station, due to be finished by end- Competitor Telkomsel beat Indosat Ooredoo network was achieved in a laboratory 2022, will be the only alternative to the two- to the punch, launching its 5G services in May environment in Tokyo. This represents a decade-old, U.S.-led International Space Station significant opportunity to drive high 41 IN THE NEWS ASIA

(ISS), which may be retired in 2024. If the ISS this MoU, PTCL will offer students, alumni and G7 Leaders and Astroscale – backed mainly by the United States, Russia, staff members with exclusive discounted Japan, Europe and Canada – is packages for premium ICT services including Share a Vision for Space decommissioned, China would be the seamless telephone and internet services. operator of the only active space station. That On the occasion, Nauman Durrani, Executive At the G7 Leaders' Summit in Carbis Bay, would potentially give it greater power in Vice President (EVP) Sales, PTCL, said, “We are Cornwall, UK, delegates from Canada, shaping future norms and regulations for glad to partner with GCU and contribute to the France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the near-Earth space, which is already teeming education sector by providing students and staff USA, and the EU released a joint statement with Chinese satellites. members with discounted packages to enjoy pledging to take action to tackle the growing “At this current stage, we haven't considered seamless ICT service. With this collaboration hazard of space debris and highlighting their the participation of international astronauts, PTCL strives to provide cost-effective commitment to the safe and sustainable use of but their future participation will be connectivity solutions equipped with the latest space to support humanity's ambitions now guaranteed,” said Zhou Jianping, chief ICT services that will empower students to focus and in the future. The statement also designer of China's manned space on their ideas and execute them for a better emphasized the importance of developing programme. “I'm aware that many countries future of Pakistan. Through such partnerships, common standards, best practices and have expressed their wish in this regard,” we endeavor to further strengthen educational guidelines related to sustainable space Zhou told foreign reporters at the Shenzhou institutions across Pakistan such as GCU that operations alongside the need for a launch site in northwestern Gansu province. play a pivotal role in grooming of the students for collaborative approach for space traffic Shenzhou-12 is the third of 11 missions – four nation-building.” management and coordination. of which will be crewed – needed to complete On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi (T.I), Vice “Yesterday's G7 joint statement recognizes the China's first full-fledged space station. Chancellor, Government College University, urgent need for debris removal and on-orbit Construction began in April with the launch of Lahore, said “We are delighted at this partnership servicing activities to protect our orbital Tianhe, a cylinder-like module slightly bigger with PTCL that will enable our education system environment as an international asset,” said than a city bus. to efficiently serve all stakeholders with access to Nobu Okada, Founder & CEO of Astroscale. The Shenzhou-12 astronauts Nie Haisheng, quality ICT services. With advancement in “Global cooperation among all stakeholders is 56, Liu Boming, 54, and Tang Hongbo, 45, will technology, better connectivity has most critical to turn international guidelines into test out technologies on Tianhe including its certainly become a prerequisite for academic common practice and commercially viable life-support system. They will also be excellence. Tapping into PTCL's vast services. Our ELSAA-d mission will monitored for how they fare in space infrastructure and expertise, it will certainly demonstrate the technology to dock and physically and psychologically. An upcoming support our increasing demand for internet and remove space debris this year, and we mission to the space station will last six telecom services that would most certainly embrace the opportunity to work in partnership months. benefit our students and teachers in a with space-faring governments and industry multifaceted way.” going forward.” Barred by U.S. law from working with NASA PTCL has always been at the forefront to provide The growth in large satellite constellations and by extension on the ISS, China has spent latest and innovative solutions to cater to the presents tremendous opportunity for global the past decade developing technologies to ever-growing demand for best-in-class internet connectivity and growth, but also build its own space station, in addition to services in Pakistan. environmental concern if congested orbits planning missions to the moon, Mars and remain unmanaged. Latest figures from the other planets. China plans to allow Hong How rheticus ground motion European Space Agency suggest there are Kong astronauts to join future missions, Zhou over 128 million debris objects larger than also said. mapping services support 1mm in space, including the most hazardous “This will be the first crewed flight in the space indonesian authorities after objects such as defunct satellites and upper station (construction) phase, and I'm lucky to stage rockets. be able to have the 'first baton',” Nie told earthquake “We're delighted that space sustainability is reporters a day before the launch. The receiving high level attention with G7 leaders,” veteran astronaut has been hailed by his On 28 September 2018, a 7.5 magnitude said John Auburn, Astroscale UK's Managing team as a bastion of stability and a teacher earthquake, follwed by a tsunami hit the island of Director and Group Chief Commercial Officer. figure who constantly challenges others with Sulawesi, Indonesia. The natural disaster killed “Space debris is a very real challenge for tough questions. over 2,000 lives, left 100,000 people in need of governments and large constellation satellite emergency assistance, destroyed buildings, companies, and tackling the problem requires “As long as we have him in our hearts, we infrastructures, and farmland in several districts. national support for globally agreed norms of have nothing to fear,” fellow astronaut Wang A joint program of ESA and Asian Development behavior, political leadership and partnership Yaping, who is part of the Shenzhou-12 Bank called EO4SD is ongoing to help the between the private sector and governments backup team, told state media previously. “In Indonesian government develop a master plan to protect space for future generations and our crew, elder brother Nie is like the needle for recovery and reconstruction. In this start cleaning up space now.” that stills the sea,” she said. Liu Boming, like framework, Indra and Planetek Italia contributed Astroscale is developing numerous services Nie, was from the first batch of astronauts to the implementation of this plan with Earth that respond to the global challenge of space selected in the 1990s for China's space observation-based services. sustainability. ELSA-d, the world's first end-to- programme. Known for his intellect,China Liu launched is T twohe satelliteinfor mfora itsti oGPSsystemn provid (Source:ed wa Chinas te Dailyrrain end demonstration of orbital debris removal, often addressed by his colleagues as “Little deformation mapping (before and after the was successfully launched on March 22, 2021, Zhuge”, the renowned military strategist who earthquake) and reconstruction monitoring for from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in lived in China two millennia ago. On the the characterisation of the movements of the Kazakhstan. The spacecraft will be operated Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008, Liu famously wide areas and of each single building, based on from the In-Orbit Servicing Control Centre in used a crowbar to pry open the hatch after it the PSI ground motion map, and to retrieve Harwell, UK, and will demonstrate the refused to open. reconstruction and rehabilitation statistics based technologies and capabilities necessary for on the interpretation of the VHR satellite images. debris capture and removal this summer. PTCL signs MoU with GCU Planetek's Rheticus platform, was the business Last month, Astroscale UK announced a intelligence visualisation tools used to process funding award from partners Oneweb, the for providing premium ICT and deliver ground motion and building motion global satellite communications network, to services maps and geonalytics. mature Astroscale's satellite end-of-life This enabled Indonesian Authorities to watch technology and capability towards a over the reconstruction and keep under control commercial service offering by 2024. Other Pakistan Telecommunications Company and mitigate the risks related to the instability of future missions include Phase I of the Japan Limited (PTCL), signs a Memorandum of reconstruction areas, which still have to settle Aerospace Exploration Agency's Commercial Understanding (MoU) with Government after the earthquake and the subsequent Removal of Debris Demonstration project, College University (GCU), during a ceremony tsunami. scheduled to launch in early 2023, and organized at GCU campus in Lahore. Under Astroscale U.S., and its subsidiary, Astroscale 42 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Israel, are working to launch the company's customers over a period of more than 30 years. 100 “sub-A class” microflares in the quiet corona first satellite life-extension platform in TrueColour is an evolution of SSTL's DMC providing new insight into coronal heating puzzle. geostationary orbit. satellite, and has been innovatively designed to The XSM, designed and developed by PRL with “We applaud G7 leadership for this combine a number of colour bands with a 5m support from various ISRO centres, provides commitment to space sustainability, and we resolution and a wide swath width in a small measurement of soft X-ray (1-15 keV) spectrum hope to see governments around the world satellite mass of just 130kg. TrueColour's 9 of the Sun. The XSM also supports the turn this intent into action by committing spectral bands have been selected to quantitative measurements of elemental resources to achieve tangible outcomes,” complement ESA's Sentinel imaging bands. abundances of the lunar surface using the said Ron Lopez, President and Managing companion payload CLASS (Chandrayaan-2 Director of Astroscale U.S. “Societal services Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer) developed and benefits, exploration beyond our planet, by URSC, Bangalore, which measures the X-ray and the growing space economy all require a A team of Indian scientists fluorescence spectrum from the lunar surface. At safe, secure, and well-managed orbital used observations of the present, XSM is the only instrument that provides environment, and Astroscale is excited to soft X-ray spectral measurements of the Sun, work with global partners to make that Sun in soft X-rays onboard i.e., measures the intensity of X-ray in different environment a reality.” ISRO's Chandrayaan-2 energies over the 1 to 15 keV. More importantly, In addition to developing the technologies, XSM provides such measurements with very Astroscale is defining business cases and mission to study exciting good energy resolution at every second, the working with policymakers to ensure debris highest cadence for any instrument so far. issues are addressed and servicing details about the solar opportunities for sustainability are realized. corona Fleet Space Technologies is Philippines “MULA” Earth Our Sun, being the primary source of energy for Launching their Sixth our solar system has a significant influence on Observation satellite our lives, and has always instilled a curiosity in Nanosatellite Complete with passes Qualification humankind.. Though we have a fairly good World First Digital understanding of the origin of energy and other Status Review at SSTL various aspects of the Sun, several potentially Beamforming Technology on life-changing phenomena still remain a mystery. Board Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and Being the nearest star, understanding the Sun the Advanced Satellite for the Philippines also allows us to learn about other distant stars Adelaide nanosatellite manufacturer for the and Know-how Transfer for the Philippines better Internet of Things (IoT) Fleet Space (ASP) Project of the Space Technology Some of these mysteries are related to the hot Technologies will launch their sixth nanosatellite, Applications Mastery, Innovation and outer atmosphere of the Sun, known as 'corona', Centauri 4, aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 this coming Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program which emits profusely in ultra-violet and X-ray Saturday morning, Adelaide time, taking off from are pleased to announce that the newly- wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. US launch site Cape Canaveral. named MULA (Multi-spectral Unit for Land We know that the corona consists of ionized gas Delivered into orbit at 450km above earth, Assessment) satellite has passed its at temperatures exceeding one million Kelvin, Centauri 4 is only the size of a shoebox, and in a Qualification Status Review at SSTL – a key which is much higher than photospheric world first, has been integrated with digital Design phase milestone. The project is temperature of 6000 K, the visible surface beamforming technology, making this Fleet implemented by the University of the temperature of the Sun. However, this Space's most advanced payload yet. This is a Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the DOST- observation is against the natural expectation major achievement to incorporate this tech in a Advanced Science and Technology Institute that the temperatures should reduce as we go nanosat payload due to their power and volume (DOST-ASTI) in coordination with the away from the source of energy, and this is constraints, and will allow substantial increases Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). known as the 'coronal heating problem'. From in throughput of customer data, service a higher SSTL is providing a Know-How Technology observations, such as the presence of even number of customer portals at once, and Training Programme to develop the design hotter corona, called active regions above the increase data reliability and security by reducing of the MULA satellite, an Earth Observation Sunspots (dark patches seen in visible images the impact of interference. small satellite based on SSTL's new 130kg of the Sun) where the magnetic fields are known “Space is no longer the sole domain of TrueColour spacecraft. MULA will provide to be stronger, it is suggested that the magnetic governments and multi-billion dollar satellites. 5m resolution imaging with a wide swath fields have an important role in the coronal Space is open for business, and we're only just width of 120km and will utilize 9 spectral heating. While there are different theories starting to tap into what is possible” Fleet Space bands for a range of environmental regarding the actual mechanism, one of these CEO Flavia Tata Nardini. “With our digital applications including wide area disaster relies on the occurrence of a large number of beamforming technology, we are changing management, land use and land cover small solar flares called 'nanoflares'. Another space and making it accessible. change mapping, crop monitoring, and puzzling observation about the corona is that “With a crowded radio spectrum containing all of forestry management. The satellite will also certain elements are found to have abundances the world's wireless communications, bandwidth fly AIS (Automatic Identification System) and three to four times higher in active regions than efficiency is everything. Our engineers have ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance in the photosphere. This happens for elements managed to fit this incredible technology in the – Broadcast) payloads for ship and aircraft which are easier to ionize, or require lesser vacuum of space on a tiny nanosat. This is where detection and tracking. energy to ionize. In more technical terms, these Fleet Space's technology makes it world first” elements have their First Ionization Potential Tata Nardinin said. Phil Brownnett, SSTL's Managing Director, (FIP) lower than 10 eV, and hence this Now with the ability to shape and steer multiple said “I am delighted that we are building on phenomenon is generally termed as 'FIP bias'. beams in their nanosatellites and therefore our existing relationship with the Philippines The exact reason behind the FIP bias and its reduce interference, Fleet Space can perform with this new collaboration for the MULA origin remains an open question. more work, transfer more data and do it in flexible spacecraft. Teaming with the Filipino A team of scientists from the Physical Research and secure ways never before possible at this Customer Engineers, we will be developing Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, used scale. Their nanosatellites are servicing IoT the design of MULA to incorporate our observations of the Sun in soft X-rays with Solar customers who will reap the rewards of collecting powerful and versatile TrueColour imaging X-ray Monitor (XSM) onboard ISRO's and organising vast amounts of data from every technologies – a new benchmark for Earth Chandrayaan-2 mission during the deepest remote corner of the earth. Critical infrastructure Observation capabilities at this mass and solar minimum of the past hundred years to customer use cases include tracking power price point. ” learn exciting details about the solar corona. For outages, receiving alerts of unwanted The new Know-How Transfer Programme for the first time, absolute abundances of elemental encroachments along easements and bushfire the Philippines will be the 21st training Mg, Al, Si in the quiet solar corona are derived. risks, through to applications in defence, mining course delivered by SSTL to international The team discovered and characterized around and logistics.

43 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Fleet Space already has five nanosatellites in Picterra partners GeoSys APSCC, which is headquartered in Seoul, its LEO constellation, and the success of this South Korea and serves eighteen markets launch establishes Fleet Space as a major Hong Kong Ltd. to bring across the Asia Pacific region. Membership player in the Australian space sector. With geospatial insights to the is drawn from private and public companies significant growth in its development of cutting- at all segments of the space industry value edge technologies, the company's capabilities Hong Kong market chain, and includes government ministries of its agnostic hybrid satellite low-powered and agencies, as well as academic and wide area network (LPWAN) are being used for Pictoria, the Swiss-based geospatial research entities. the development of remote massive IoT intelligence platform – today announced an applications, on the Earth, the Moon and Mars, exciting new partnership with GeoSys Hong Mitsubishi Power Receives through their Seven Sisters Lunar Mission. Kong Ltd. Having completed two successful projects together with the Hong Kong Lands Order for 180 MW Class Australian government and Home Affairs Departments, the solidified BFG-fired GTCC Plant for partnership will provide a unique geospatial approves $11m space solution to clients in Hong Kong and Mainland Jiangsu Shagang Group, a grants to boost businesses China. It leverages Picterra's state-of-the-art Leading Steelmaker in AI technology with GeoSys' extensive sector and local jobs expertise and implementation experience for China clients looking to turn geospatial images into Mitsubishi Power, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Neumann Space is excited to be part of the insights. Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received team, under the University of Melbourne, Picterra is an end-to-end geospatial an order to supply a 180 megawatt (MW) which today was awarded a $3.95 million grant intelligence platform that simplifies the class gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) to develop cutting edge space capabilities in process of spotting trends, finding objects, power plant fired by blast furnace gas (BFG) Australia. The funding, provided via the and monitoring changes in geospatial for Jiangsu Shagang Group, a leading Australian Space Agency's International images. Common use cases include gaining Chinese steelmaker. The order, which Space Investment: Expand Capability grant visibility into supplier practices to report on includes an M701SDAX gas turbine as a key opportunity will allow to build a small satellite – ESG goals; optimizing land usage and urban component, was received through Mitsubishi called SpIRIT (Space Industry – Responsive – planning; and assessing the risk profile of Power's local subsidiary. The GTCC plant will Intelligent – Thermal) – to be launched in infrastructural assets. make effective use of gas emitted by the blast space in 2022. “We are excited to bring Picterra to the Hong furnace operated at a Jiangsu Shagang The Morrison Government is backing a series Kong and Chinese markets and introduce it to group company, to provide part of the power of projects designed to grow Australia's space our clients,” says Jack Zhang, General needed to run its factory. Operation of the sector and create local jobs, including Manager at GeoSys Hong Kong Ltd. new power plant is scheduled to commence improving GPS technology and the design of “Picterra's AI technology offers a great in 2023. innovative spacesuits that will make advantage by making it easy to monitor The BFG-fired GTCC power plant will be spacewalking easier. changes from imagery and receive alerts delivered to Zhangjiagang Hongchang Plate Minister for Industry, Science and Technology when the business needs to take immediate Co., Ltd. in Zhangjiagang, a county-level city Karen Andrews said the 10 projects sharing in action.” under the administration of Suzhou, Jiangsu $11 million would boost jobs and skills in the Pierrick Poulenas, CEO & Co-Founder of Province, situated approximately 100km space sector, and contribute to the nation's Picterra said: “Hong Kong is a key market for northwest of Shanghai. The facility will economic recovery from the COVID-19 us. Land is scarce there so we see a great fit comprise a gas turbine, heat recovery steam pandemic. for Picterra to help optimize the use of land generator, steam turbine, generator, gas resources and support smart city initiatives. compressor, and auxiliary equipment. “The space industry is a key growth sector that We are thrilled to be able to offer our Mitsubishi Power will manufacture the will form an important part of our economic technology alongside GeoSys' local expertise M701SDAX gas turbine, the plant's core recovery and help us emerge from the COVID- and track record of helping clients achieve component, at its Takasago Works in Hyogo 19 crisis stronger than ever,” Minister Andrews their business objectives.” Prefecture, and also supply related and said. The Neumann Space thruster will be on- auxiliary equipment. The steam turbine and board! This is our first mission to be APSCC Welcomes AWS as generator will be provided by Dongfang announced. Electric Group, a Chinese manufacturer of “Investment in the space sector not only New Member heavy electric machinery with which supports the creation of high tech jobs here in Mitsubishi Power has a cooperative Australia, but also develops technologies that The Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications relationship. can support other areas of competitive Council (APSCC) announced that global Jiangsu-based Jiangsu Shagang Group is advantage for our nation including agriculture giant Amazon Web Services (AWS) has one of China's – and the world's – leading and mining. joined the trade group, augmenting its steelmakers. Established in 1975, the already-broad reach in the space and satellite company mainly produces iron, steel and “This support will strengthen Australian industry across the Asia Pacific region. rolled steel plates. To date, Mitsubishi Power business and university connections with “APSCC is proud to welcome AWS as our has supplied the company with four BGF international industry and space agencies, newest member, and we are grateful for their GTCC power plants (50 MW class), starting helping our businesses to prove themselves support in our efforts to represent the industry with the first facility inaugurated in 2005. The on the global stage and potentially secure in the region,” said APSCC President Gregg new order was placed in recognition of this more work in the future.” Daffner. “As the only organization dedicated solid track record and Jiangsu Shagang to furthering the mutual interests of the entire Group's high evaluation of Mitsubishi Head of the Australian Space Agency Dr satellite and space industry in Asia, AWS not Power's technological capabilities. Megan Clark AC said the projects showed only strengthens APSCC's membership Amid today's global initiatives to reduce Australia's ability to develop highly advanced base, but also reinforces our association's environmental impact, the steel industry, like technology, diversify our economy and build diverse profile.” other industries, is facing strong pressure to workforce skills to participate internationally. “AWS sees great value in being able to join reduce its carbon emissions. Because BFG- “These outstanding projects demonstrate the with other industry experts to support the fired GTCC systems make effective use of breadth and quality that our small and medium- unique needs of the aerospace community. the by-product gases emitted by steel plants, sized companies and researchers have to We look forward to engaging with our APSCC they both lighten environmental loads and offer, from space suits to advanced chip colleagues,” said Clint Crosier, director of the contribute significantly to efficient energy manufacturing,” Dr Clark said. AWS Aerospace and Satellite business. usage. AWS brings to 73 the number of members in

44 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

varied landscapes through the eyes of those 10-02 while the satellite remained in its Intelsat Disaster Relief who use satellites to explore Earth. We original orbital slot and without interrupting Program Provides challenged 13 organizations from across the service for our customers and their end users. country to create stunning satellite images The two spacecraft completed the Emergency that showcase the natural beauty of a region momentous docking on April 12, 2021, Communications Support to in each of Canada's territories and provinces marking the first-ever in-orbit servicing of a — not a typical order for companies used to live commercial satellite in geostationary Qualified Humanitarian treating satellite data for scientific or orbit. Organizations within 24 commercial use. Yet, like any painter or sculptor, the Hours specialists who process satellite data are What Does this Mean for I visual artists who convey meaning through ntelsat has a long history of lending its support the careful selection of colour, texture, tone, the Future? to first responders and humanitarian shadow and shapes. Browse this unique organizations during times of crisis. In 2020 collection for the story behind each image, as At Intelsat, we see mission extension alone, Intelsat utilized its leading global satellite told by those who created them. vehicles as a valuable and cost-effective tool network, connectivity expertise and partner to help extend the life of healthy, high- relationships to provide on-the-ground satellite performing satellites that are simply running communications relief in the immediate In-Orbit Mission Success: low on fuel. aftermath of Hurricane Laura on the U.S. Gulf Extending the Life of MEVs and similar technology also hold Coast and Cyclone Harold on the Solomon tremendous potential for in-orbit repairs. Islands. Intelsat 10-02 Imagine being able to easily correct a slight Intelsat is also a signatory of the 2019 malfunction of a satellite after it's launched — International Telecommunications Union (ITU) At Intelsat, we pride ourselves on doing a solar array or antenna reflector that is being Crisis Connectivity Charter, a mechanism everything we can to ensure our customers stubborn and won't deploy, for example? In- created between the satellite industry and the receive the best possible service experience. orbit servicing could allow us to repair that wider humanitarian community to make So, when Northrop Grumman first introduced satellite, ensuring it delivers the performance satellite-based communications more readily its Mission Extension Vehicle technology, we it was designed to. Our end goal is always to available in times of disaster. jumped at the chance to use in-orbit servicing be as responsive and proactive as possible to Intelsat provides temporary, no-cost equipment to help extend the life of the satellites in our ensure our customers receive optimal service and on-the-ground disaster communications 50-plus-strong fleet. without disruption, and in-orbit servicing s u p p o r t t o q u a l i f y i n g h u m a n i t a r i a n This marked the first time that two improves our ability to meet that goal. organizations in the aftermath of a natural commercial spacecraft docked, and mission- At Intelsat, we also see MEVs and in-orbit disaster or other such crisis through its extension services were offered, to a satellite servicing playing a key role in mitigating the employee-driven Disaster Relief program. in geosynchronous orbit. Today, MEV-1 is co- growing “space junk” challenge that our entire Based on Intelsat's proven commercial located with IS-901, helping to extend its life industry and its many new entrants are emergency-response capabilities, Intelsat and sustain the services on which our quickly being forced to reckon with. Disaster Relief resources can be deployed customers depend, as well as supporting within 24 hours. their evolving needs well into the future. In 2021, we did it again – docking Northrop AIAB congratulates Satellite network providers, like Intelsat, are Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle 2 uniquely equipped to provide this type of (MEV-2) to Intelsat 10-02 in another AVIBRAS for 60 years immediate, reliable connectivity when electrical innovative and historic first. Come along with grids or terrestrial infrastructure are damaged or us as we recap the historic MEV-2 journey AIAB congratulates the member Avibras destroyed by storms, natural disasters or other and discuss what's in store for the future of Indústria Aeroespacial for its 60 years of crises. Recent advances in satellite hardware commercial in-orbit servicing. contribution to innovation, with the have also made it possible to deploy small, development of critical and strategic lightweight satellite terminals that are user- technologies for Brazil. A pioneer in the areas friendly and easy to connect to Intelsat's Why Did We Do It? of Space, Defense, Aeronautics, Electronics satellite network At Intelsat, we view in-orbit servicing as a win- and Vehicles, Avibras actively participates in Intelsat partners with Kymeta Corporation and win: it's a smart and efficient way to preserve Brazilian technological, industrial and on high-performance satellite terminals, and our customers' high-performing service on economic development and is recognized with Bcom on logistics and delivery support for our existing satellite fleet — the largest and worldwide for the excellence and quality of its its humanitarian Disaster Relief Program. highest-capacity fleet of geosynchronous products, services and systems. Kymeta provides its Kymeta™ u8 terminal, the assets in the world. It also frees us up to world's only commercially available flat-panel invest in advanced, next-generation electronically steered satellite antenna explicitly technologies, like software-defined satellites SpaceX's Starship first built for mobility and designed for the needs of and integrated ground infrastructure, that will orbital test launch emergency response teams. Starwin provides power our customers' long-term needs. two sets of its Auto Portable Terminal FL60P-E scheduled for July and a Starwin Mini Portable Terminal FL30P-M. “At Intelsat, we have a long and proud history of How Did We Do It? SpaceX is hoping to fly its in-development leveraging our leading global network, After the successful launch of MEV-2 (and spacecraft Starship to orbit for the first time in technological expertise and unparalleled Intelsat Galaxy 30) in August 2020, the work July, according to company president industry partnerships to make a positive impact (and real fun!) began as we and Northrop Gwynne Shotwell. Shotwell shared the in the world,” said Intelsat Disaster Relief Grumman prepared for “phase two”: MEV-2's timeline at the International Space Program Lead Gene Kearon. “With 416 global rendezvous and docking with IS-10-02. Development conference during a virtual natural disaster events alone in 2020, there's a During our first docking with MEV-1, we took speaking engagement. need for our services now more than ever; Intelsat 901 out of service temporarily and Starship has been in development for the Intelsat is proud to do its part to connect raised its position about 300km higher than its past several years, and it has been making communities around the world when they need traditional orbital slot during the docking; we shorter test flights, but remaining within it most.” did this out of an abundance of caution Earth's atmosphere, since last year. Its most because it was the very first mission of its recent flight also included its first fully Satellite Art: celebrating kind. successful landing, which is a key ingredient in the development of the Starship launch Canada's beauty from space This time, things were different. In another system, which is designed to be SpaceX's Rediscover the majesty of Canada's vast and historic first, MEV-2 docked and serviced IS- first that is fully reusable. 45 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

July is an ambitious timeline for making the first “This speckle imaging survey illustrates the orbital flight attempt of Starship, but in May Using the `Alopeke and Zorro instruments on critical need for NSF telescope facilities to SpaceX filed its planned course for the flight, the Gemini North and South telescopes in Chile characterize newly discovered planetary which would lift off from the company's Starship and Hawai'i, respectively, the team observed systems and develop our understanding of development site in south Texas near hundreds of nearby stars that TESS had planetary populations,” said National Science Brownsville (known as 'Starbase') and then identified as potential exoplanet hosts. They Foundation Division of Astronomical Sciences eventually return to Earth with a splash down in discovered that 73 of these stars are really Program Officer Martin Still. the Pacific Ocean somewhere off the coast of binary star systems that had appeared as “This is a major finding in exoplanet work,” Hawaii. single points of light until observed at higher Howell commented. “The results will help This first flight won't end with a controlled resolution with Gemini. theorists create their models for how planets landing, and the focus will be on reaching orbit “With the Gemini Observatory's 8.1-meter form and evolve in double-star systems.” and testing the spacecraft component through telescopes, we obtained extremely high- that part of the flight. Later tests will include a resolution images of exoplanet host stars and controlled landing of the Starship spacecraft, detected stellar companions at very small Public Names 'Moonikin' with the goal of eventually making the entire separations,” said Katie Lester of NASA's Flying Around Moon on system, including the Super Heavy booster that Ames Research Center, who led this work. will help propel it to orbit, fully reusable. Lester's team also studied an additional 18 NASA's Artemis I Mission While Shotwell seemed to indicate high binary stars previously found among the TESS confidence that SpaceX is pretty much exoplanet hosts using the NN-EXPLORE “Commander Moonikin Campos” is the official technically ready to begin orbital test flights of Exoplanet and Stellar Speckle Imager (NESSI) name of the manikin launching on Artemis I, Starship, the company still needs to secure a on the WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak NASA's uncrewed flight test of the Space license from the Federal Aviation Administration National Observatory, also a Program of NSF's Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion (FAA) in order to perform orbital launches, since NOIRLab. spacecraft around the Moon later this year. The its existing license only covers suborbital flights. After identifying the binary stars, the team Moonikin received its name as the result of a The FAA is currently in process on reviewing the compared the sizes of the detected planets in competitive bracket contest honoring NASA requirements for that license, including an the binary star systems to those in single-star figures, programs, or astronomical objects. environmental impact review of what it would systems. They realized that the TESS NASA received more than 300,000 votes. mean for the surrounding area. spacecraft found both large and small Engineers use a suited manikin to conduct exoplanets orbiting single stars, but only large vibration testing at Kennedy Space Center on Some exoplanet searches planets in binary systems. Orion's seat and energy dampening system – These results imply that a population of Earth- called the Crew Impact Attenuation System – could be missing nearly half sized planets could be lurking in binary systems for qualification ahead of Artemis II. The of the Earth-sized planets and going undetected using the transit method manikin will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft employed by TESS and many other planet- during the Artemis I mission, an uncrewed flight around other stars hunting telescopes. Some scientists had test to launch the Space Launch System rocket suspected that transit searches might be and send Orion around the Moon and back to missing small planets in binary systems, but the New findings from a team using the Earth.Credits: NASA new study provides observational support to international Gemini Observatory and the WIYN The name Campos is a dedication to Arturo back it up and shows which sizes of exoplanets 3.5-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Campos, a key player in bringing Apollo 13 are affected. Observatory suggest that Earth-sized worlds safely back to Earth. The final bracket “We have shown that it is more difficult to find could be lurking undiscovered in binary star challenge was between Campos and Delos, a Earth-sized planets in binary systems because systems, hidden in the glare of their parent reference to the island where Apollo and small planets get lost in the glare of their two stars. As roughly half of all stars are in binary Artemis were born, according to Greek parent stars,” Lester stated. “Their transits are systems, this means that astronomers could be mythology. 'filled in' by the light from the companion star,” missing many Earth-sized worlds. “Our return to the Moon through Artemis is a added Steve Howell of NASA's Ames Research Earth-sized planets may be much more global effort – and we're always looking at new Center, who leads the speckle imaging effort common than previously realized. Astronomers ways to engage the public in our missions. This and was involved in this research. working at NASA Ames Research Center have contest, which is helping pave the way for a “Since roughly 50% of stars are in binary used the twin telescopes of the international human return to the Moon, also honors an systems, we could be missing the discovery of Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF's important individual in our NASA family – Arturo – and the chance to study – a lot of Earth-like NOIRLab, to determine that many planet- Campos,” said Brian Odom, NASA's acting planets,” Lester concluded. hosting stars identified by NASA's TESS chief historian at Marshall Space Flight Center The possibility of these missing worlds means exoplanet-hunting mission are actually pairs of in Huntsville, Alabama. “It is a fitting tribute that that astronomers will need to use a variety of stars – known as binary stars – where the the data gained from Artemis I will help us observational techniques before concluding planets orbit one of the stars in the pair. prepare to fly astronauts – including the first that a given binary star system has no Earth- woman and first person of color – to the Moon, like planets. After examining these binary stars, the team where we will get ready for Mars.” has concluded that Earth-sized planets in many “Astronomers need to know whether a star is two-star systems might be going unnoticed by The Moonikin is a male-bodied manikin single or binary before they claim that no small transit searches like TESS's, which look for previously used in Orion vibration tests. planets exist in that system,” explained Lester. changes in the light from a star when a planet Campos will occupy the commander's seat “If it's single, then you could say that no small passes in front of it. The light from the second inside and wear an Orion Crew Survival planets exist. But if the host is in a binary, you star makes it more difficult to detect the changes System suit– the same spacesuit that Artemis wouldn't know whether a small planet is hidden in the host star's light when the planet transits. astronauts will use during launch, entry, and by the companion star or does not exist at all. The team started out by trying to determine other dynamic phases of their missions. You would need more observations with a whether some of the exoplanet host stars Campos will be equipped with two radiation different technique to figure that out.” identified with TESS were actually unknown sensors and have additional sensors under its As part of their study, Lester and her colleagues binary stars. Physical pairs of stars that are headrest and behind its seat to record also analyzed how far apart the stars are in the close together can be mistaken for single stars acceleration and vibration data throughout the binary systems where TESS had detected unless they are observed at extremely high mission. Data from the Moonikin's experience large planets. The team found that the stars in resolution. So the team turned to both Gemini will help NASA protect astronauts during the exoplanet-hosting pairs were typically telescopes to inspect a sample of exoplanet Artemis I, the first mission in more than 50 farther apart than binary stars not known to host stars in painstaking detail. Using a years that will send crew around the Moon. have planets. This could suggest that planets technique called speckle imaging, the The Moonikin is one of three “passengers” do not form around stars that have close stellar astronomers set out to see whether they could flying aboard Orion to test the spacecraft's companions. spot undiscovered stellar companions. systems. Two female-bodied model human

46 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

torsos, called phantoms, also will be aboard. States Army (Army) to develop a payload to be and from anywhere, in real time. Together with “Zohar” and “Helga,” named by the Israel Space hosted on small satellites that supports its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium Agency (ISA) and the German Aerospace Center navigation systems, guidance and control for delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of (DLR) respectively, will support the Matroshka the global positioning system (GPS) and GPS- reliable solutions for markets that require truly AstroRad Radiation Experiment, an experiment denied precision systems. The new global communications. In 2019, the to provide data on radiation levels during lunar experimental Iridium payload is intended to be company completed a generational upgrade missions. hosted by another Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of its satellite network and launched its new NASA's SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, along commercial satellite constellation, specialty broadband service, Iridium with a commercial human landing system and complementing the Iridium® constellation's Certus®. Iridium Communications Inc. is Gateway in lunar orbit, are vital to the agency's capabilities. headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its deep space exploration plans. Working with Through this contract the Army intends to common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global commercial and international partners, NASA is develop this payload to support the concept of Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM committed to establishing the first long-term a rapidly deployable smallsat constellation to NOAA designates new presence on and around the Moon under provide more effective sensor-to-soldier data Artemis. Using robots and humans to explore transmission when in the field. The national marine sanctuary more than ever before, NASA also will use the development of this new payload is based on in Wisconsin's Lake Moon for humanity's next giant leap – sending the Iridium Burst® technology, a unique service first astronauts to Mars. that can transmit data to millions of enabled Michigan devices at a time from space. Ovzon receives 2 MUSD The NOAA announced the designation of a “Iridium has always been focused on providing 962-square-mile area of Wisconsin's Lake direct order from the U.S. innovative, reliable and high-value services to Michigan as a national marine sanctuary. DoD the U.S. warfighter,” said Scott Scheimreif, Such sanctuaries are protected waters that executive vice president, government include important habitats and, in cases like programs, Iridium. “This program can help add this one, archeological sites. “Preserving this Ovzon today has received a significant order for to warfighter readiness to conduct a full range r e g i o n f u r t h e r s t h e B i d e n - H a r r i s satellite terminals directly from the U.S. of military operations at a tactical level. This Administration's vision of locally-led, Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) to be used includes the ability to enhance effectiveness of collaborative conservation,” said Secretary of with Ovzon's industry-leading Satellite-as-a- military units, weapons and equipment during Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This Service offering. This new order includes both combat against near-peer adversaries.” designation is also an exciting opportunity for On-The-Move (OTM) terminals for simple The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the public to celebrate and help protect this integration on mobile platforms, as well as the Iridium have partnered for more than 20 years, piece of our nation's rich maritime history.” newly released Ovzon T6 terminal for On-The- with hundreds of thousands of U.S. The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Pause (OTP) communications. The order is government subscribers utilizing Iridium push- Marine Sanctuary will protect 36 historically valued at 2 MUSD. to-talk (PTT), voice, IoT, L-band broadband significant shipwrecks and related maritime and Iridium Burst services. The continuing heritage resources, 21 of which are listed on Ovzon's global satellite network enables the growth in adoption of Iridium services also the National Register of Historic Places. Well- highest transmit and receive data rates to and brings increased collaboration between the preserved by Lake Michigan's cold, fresh from the smallest terminals. The Ovzon Satellite- government and Iridium's ecosystem of water, several of the known shipwrecks are as-a-Service offering is engineered to provide partners, that bring their knowledge to help essentially intact and look much like they did unmatched performance and resiliency. Ovzon's further complement and advance the DoDs when they sank. The area also includes ultra-small OTM and OTP terminals have a SATCOM capabilities. For this contract, Wisconsin's two oldest known shipwrecks, successful track record of dependability in the Iridium partners Satelles and SEAKR will bring and archival research suggests there may be most demanding environments.The all new their expertise as subcontractors to assist with dozens more yet to be discovered. Ovzon T6 is the world's smallest, lightest, and development. Spanning the early 1800s through the 20th easiest to use terminal with true broadband century, the shipwrecks represent a cross- capability, providing data rates up to 50 Mbps “This is one of the largest engineering section of vessel types that played critical transmit and 120 Mbps receive. The rugged contracts in Iridium's history, and we're roles in transforming the Great Lakes from a design and robust environmental protection pleased to once again bring the value of Iridium maritime frontier into the nation's busiest provide a compact, fully integrated, solution and our partner ecosystem to the fore at the waterway. The ships carried grain and raw without sacrificing size, weight and power request of the United States Army,” said Matt materials east as other vessels traveled west characteristics. The Ovzon T6's patented, Desch, CEO, Iridium. “It also represents loaded with coal, manufactured goods, and electronically polarized antenna allows an another phase in the evolution of our growing settlers. untrained user to adjust for only azimuth and relationship with the DoD, and we're excited to elevation to establish communications in less engage on this experimental multi- “The designation of this sanctuary is a than two minutes. Weighing only 13.2 lbs, the constellation adaptation of our service.” milestone for NOAA, Wisconsin, and the Ovzon T6's small, lightweight form factor makes nation,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director it easy to transport to any location. This research and development project was of NOAA's National Ocean Service. “This new ”We are excited for this significant direct order enabled through an “Other Transaction sanctuary opens the door to world-class from such an important customer, the U.S. DoD. Agreement” (OTA) in support of the Army and research, educational opportunities, and This order confirms the relevance of our was entered into between Advanced tourism for generations to come.” technology, the upcoming launch of Ovzon's new Technology International (ATI) and Iridium “We're really excited about NOAA's satellite, Ovzon 3, and the value of our high- under the authority of the Aviation and Missile announcement,” said Wisconsin Governor performance global network to the U.S. DoD's Technology Consortium (AMTC). The OTA Tony Evers. “The designation builds on 30 global mission”, says Per Norén, CEO of Ovzon. was developed through the authority of the years of maritime heritage preservation by the Department of Defense to carry out these State of Wisconsin and will create exciting Iridium Awarded $30 Million types of prototype projects and to further new opportunities in education, recreation, Research and Development streamline the process for adopting new and tourism in our coastal communities.” technology solutions from various industries. Contract by the United States “I worked to support state and local efforts on Army the nomination of this area of Lake Michigan Iridium® is the only mobile voice and data as a new national marine sanctuaryand satellite communications network that spans together we are getting the job done,” said Iridium Communications Inc announced it has the entire globe. Iridium enables connections U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. been awarded a research and development between people, organizations and assets to “Our Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National contract worth up to $30 million by the United Marine Sanctuary will protect and preserve 47 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

historic sites, bring new opportunities for Recreational drone flyers should take the test at Industrial Security research, and boost our local tourism their earliest convenience economy. I am thankful for all the hard work Achievement Awards from the that has gone into this effort in Wisconsin, as I U.S. Defense am to have the Biden Administration being a CONAE commences partner that is committed to carrying on the strategic review of its Counterintelligence and strong Wisconsin tradition of protecting our Security Agency Great Lakes.” National Spatial Plan 2021- The area was nominated for national marine 2030 sanctuary consideration by a diverse Between June and July, science and Viasat Inc, a global communications company, coalition of organizations and individuals at technology organizations, users, companies announced that its Germantown, Md. and local, state, regional and national levels. This and academics linked to national space activity Marlborough, Mass. facilities each received a included elected officials, historical societies, are to participate in different meetings called by 2021 James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial businesses, museums, and environmental, CONAE to review the planning for the 2021- Security Achievement Award (“Cogswell Award”) recreational, conservation, tourism and 2030 period. It is a program aimed at boosting from the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and educational groups. Principal cities involved the productive sector and improving the impact Security Agency (DCSA). Viasat's Carlsbad, Calif. in the nomination include Port Washington, on the social and environmental sectors of the headquarters received a Cogswell Award in 2020. Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Two Rivers. country. The Cogswell Award recognizes industrial This is the most recent sanctuary designation This week the first meetings called by the security excellence and is the highest honor the since the protection of Mallows Bay, National Commission for Space Activities DCSA grants to cleared industry partners. Out of Maryland, about 40 miles south of (CONAE) were held within the scope of the the approximately 13,000 cleared contractors in Washington, D.C. in 2019. Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), of the Nation, to review the new National less than 1% are annually selected to receive an FAA Announces Approved Space Plan (PEN), which will guide the award. Cogswell Award nominees undergo a continuity of the projects and actions in competitive, eight-month evaluation by a national Administrators for which the country will enter during the 2021- review team, with DCSA selecting the final Recreational Drone Pilot 2030 period . These meetings, which will last winners. Winning programs must establish and until the end of July this year, include maintain a security program that goes well beyond Safety Test multidisciplinary workshops and surveys, the minimum NISP requirements, while also with the participation of representatives of providing leadership and best practice guidance Sixteen organizations have been selected by the public, private and academic sectors on instituting high security standards. the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to and personalities with a long history in the initially administer the Recreational sector . “Viasat is honored to receive two additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety Test Cogswell Awards in 2021, which build upon our (TRUST). The test was developed to provide The first Space Plan was approved in 1994 2020 recognition,” said Viasat's President and recreational drone flyers with aeronautical by decree No. 2076/94, “Argentina in Space Chief Executive Officer, Rick Baldridge. “This safety knowledge and an overview of the 1995-2006” , where space activity was DCSA acknowledgment is a testament to our rules for operating drones in the National declared as a State policy, aimed at team's ongoing commitment and focus on Airspace System. “These organizations are generating a high impact and benefit for the industrial security excellence and ensuring an key to making this test widely available and social, environmental, economic- environment that provides high levels of critical easily accessible to recreational drone productive, scientific, technological and security and technology protection.” pilots,” said FAA Administrator Steve academic development of our country . The Cogswell Award was established in 1966 in Dickson. “We need pilots of all aircraft, CONAE, as the State body responsible for honor of the late Air Force Col. James S. including those who operate recreational administering and executing the PEN, has the Cogswell, who was the first chief of the Unified drones, to have the training and knowledge mandate to periodically make a call to Office of Industrial Security. Col. Cogswell is needed to operate safely in the nation's referents from the production area, the responsible for the underlying principle of the airspace.” Government, the academic sector and the industrial security program, recognizing the The test may be taken through any of the national Science and Technology system importance of true partnership between industry following approved organizations: where the objectives of the PEN. Thus, two and government to ensure the protection of The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) successive Plans were approved in 1999 and classified information, materials, and programs. The Boy Scouts of America 2005, through Decrees No. 1330/1999 and Chippewa Valley Technical College 532/05, which allowed the continuity of the NSA Funds Development, C o mmu n i ty C o l l e g e o f Al l e g h e n y investments and projects developed to date, County–West Hills Center such as the four Missions of the SAC series, the Release of D3FEND CrossFlight Sky Solutions LLC SAOCOM Constellation , the establishment of Drone Launch Academy LLC earth stations and space centers, facilities for D3FEND, a framework for cybersecurity Drone U the construction of new satellite missions, professionals to tailor defenses against specific Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University training of human resources linked to the sector cyber threats is now available through MITRE. (ERAU) and the development of access to space. NSA funded MITRE's research for D3FEND to HSU Educational Foundation Among the fundamentals of the call for the improve the cybersecurity of National Security Lake Area Technical College current review, stands out the need to provide Systems, the Department of Defense, and the Pilot Institute Argentina with a new National Space Plan, Defense Industrial Base. The D3FEND technical Proctorio Incorporated which not only receives technological and knowledge base of defensive countermeasures Tactical Aviation scientific advances, but also merges with for common offensive techniques is UAV Coach actions already carried out, public policies In complementary to MITRE's ATT&CK, a University of Arizona Global Campus force, economic feasibility, and the new 2030 knowledge base of cyber adversary behavior. Volatus Aerospace Corp global agenda, Transforming our world , of D3FEND establishes terminology of computer The test is administered online at no cost sustainable development. network defensive techniques and illuminates through the approved test administrators. previously-unspecified relationships between After passing the test, recreational drone defensive and offensive methods. This framework flyers will be issued a completion certificate Viasat Receives Two illustrates the complex interplay between which they are required to show if asked by Prestigious James S. computer network architectures, threats, and FAA or law enforcement personnel. The cyber countermeasures. completion certificate does not expire. Cogswell Outstanding

48 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

MITRE released D3FEND as a complement over $1 billion in revenue and the second to its existing ATT&CK framework, a free, consecutive fiscal year it reached more than $1 question marks than aliens globally-accessible knowledge base of billion in contract awards. Viasat also cyber adversary tactics and techniques announced fiscal year 2021 results, ending At the end of months of eager anticipation, the based on real-world observations. Industry March 31, 2021, and noted its Government Pentagon released a brief report summarizing and government use ATT&CK as a Systems segment again achieved revenues the activities of the Special Forces Unit for the foundation to develop specific cyber threat over $1 billion, and closed the year with over Study of Unidetified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) models and methodologies. $1.2 billion in contract awards, an 11% increase established in 2020. The U.S. military task year-over-year. force continues an earlier Pentagon project Complementary to the threat-based “Being recognized within the BGOV report is a between The years 2007 to 2012, in the name ATT&CK model, D3FEND provides a model strong testament to the hard work being of the program to identify advanced air threats of ways to counter common offensive conducted by the Viasat team globally,” said In 2017, articles were published in the New techniques, enumerating how defensive Craig Miller, president, Viasat Government York Times and Politico that revealed a secret techniques impact an actor's ability to Systems. “We are committed to bringing the U.S. military plan to investigate fighter pilots' succeed. By framing computer network best of defense and commercial technology to reports of unexplained phenomena in the sky. defender complexity of countermeasure bear for our defense and federal customers, About three years later, in December 2020, functions and techniques as granularly as understanding their unique challenges and Senator Marco Rubio, then chairman of the ATT&CK frames computer network attacker enabling them to rapidly deliver effective, Senate Intelligence Committee, asked the techniques, D3FEND enables cybersecurity mission-focused communication solutions to Pentagon And advance national intelligence to professionals to tailor defenses against the warfighter.” publish their conclusions from the program. specific cyber threats, thereby reducing a “We're honored to recognize Viasat as one of Now a nine-page report has been released – system's potential attack surface. As a the top federal contractors in a very competitive and media outlets around the world have been result, D3FEND will drive more effective market,” said Kevin Brancato, Bloomberg quick to announce that the Pentagon report design, deployment, and defense of Government's head of product. “Like many of does not rule out the possibility that aliens are networked systems writ large. Bloomberg Government's resources, the 10th behind the bizarre aerial phenomena in U.S. Frameworks such as ATT&CK and D3FEND annual BGOV200 report combines rich data and skies. That is true, but the report does not provide mission-agnostic tools for industry insightful analysis to help government mention the possibility at all This, and nowhere and government to conduct analyses and contractors succeed.” refers to the existence of extraterrestrial c o m m u n i c a t e f i n d i n g s . W h e t h e r Scientists Use NASA intelligent life or the popular theory that this categorizing adversary behavior or detailing intelligent life has visited and criticized us. In how defensive capabilities mitigate threats, Satellite Data to Track Ocean other words, the Pentagon does not rule out frameworks provide common descriptions Microplastics From Space the possibility of visiting aliens as it does not that empower information sharing and rule out the existence of zombies or fairies. operational collaboration for an ever- Scientists from the University of Michigan have evolving cyber landscape. “ B r e a k t h r o u g h a e r i a l developed an innovative way to use NASA N S A a n d M I T R E e n c o u r a g e t h e satellite data to track the movement of tiny technology of a rival country” cybersecurity community to promote the pieces of plastic in the ocean. Microplastics form So what is the report about? According to the adoption of this vocabulary by cybersecurity when plastic trash in the ocean breaks down findings, between 2004 and 2021, and with professionals across government, industry, from the sun's rays and the motion of ocean increasing frequency in the last two years and academia. waves. These small flecks of plastic are harmful since the Navy established an orderly to marine organisms and ecosystems. reporting protocol for unexplained aerial Viasat Named to Microplastics can be carried hundreds or phenomena, fighter pilots reported 143 Bloomberg Government's thousands of miles away from the source by phenomena for which no explanation was ocean currents, making it difficult to track and found, of which 80 included Reliable BGOV200 List of Top remove them. Currently, the main source of measurements of various sensors in the Federal Contractors information about the location of microplastics aircraft.In 18 cases, the phenomena were comes from fisher boat trawlers that use nets to caused with high certainty by advanced catch plankton – and, unintentionally, technology, and were seen flying at surprising Viasat Inc, a global communications microplastics. speeds without any use of visible propulsion, company, announced it has been named The new technique relies on data from NASA's standing stationary in strong winds or one of the top 200 federal contractors Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System surprisingly maneuvering.In a small number of according to Bloomberg Government in the (CYGNSS), a constellation of eight small cases, US Air Force aircraft Radio from the 10th annual BGOV200, based on fiscal year satellites that measures wind speeds above phenomena The aerial phenomena disrupted 2020 data for unclassified, prime contracts Earth's oceans and provides information about the operational flight plans, and in some cases awarded across all U.S. federal government the strength of hurricanes. CYGNSS also uses even endangered the lives of the pilots. agencies. Viasat ranked #106, up 15 spots radar to measure ocean roughness, which is According to the Pentagon, all of these from the previous year. affected by several factors including wind speed phenomena probably do not have one and debris floating in the water. explanation, and the report divides the reports The BGOV200 report is a premier source for Working backward, the team looked for places into five different groups: aerial debris (like government contract practitioners where the ocean was smoother than expected birds, balloons, skimmers and even plastic evaluating the competitive landscape. given the wind speed, which they thought could bags), natural atmospheric phenomena (like Bloomberg Government's analysis found indicate the presence of microplastics. Then ice crystals, humidity and thermal interference that fiscal 2020 marked the fifth straight year they compared those areas to observations and to devices), experiments Of the U.S. military of increased government contract spending, model predictions of where microplastics itself (although the report notes that it failed to with contracting dollars having increased by congregate in the ocean. The scientists found link any secret military test program to pilot $83 billion compared with fiscal 2019. that microplastics tended to be present in reports), advanced systems of rival countries smoother waters, demonstrating that CYGNSS like China and Russia and a fifth group of Looking at Viasat's fiscal year 2020 data can be used as a tool to track ocean phenomena that do not share characteristics performance, ending March 31, 2020, the microplastic from space. like size, shape and movement with other Company's Government Systems business groups. achieved record revenues of more than $1.1 billion. Fiscal year 2020 marked the first year The Pentagon report on While most of the public is looking for Viasat's government business achieved UFOs published: more references to flying saucers in it, the report 49 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

raises a worrying possibility that China or by the scaling down of the fleet after the area the U.S. needs to retain influence in. With Russia have far more advanced technologies Second World War, the fact remains that the Panama having recently withdrawn its than those in the U.S., allowing them to fly in current fleet is woefully inadequate to fulfill the recognition of Taiwan in favor of the PRC U.S. airspace unhindered. “Unexplained aerial needs of the United States Armed Forces without previously notifying Washington, it is phenomena pose a danger to aviation,” the during a time of major conflict, to paraphrase clear that American influence is facing report said, “and may pose a broader danger if General Stephen Lyons, the current challenges over a piece of infrastructure some of the reports stem from a sophisticated commander of USTRANSCOM. indispensable to American strategic goals and intelligence gathering against U.S. military While the United States could simply seize access. In the event of conflict, the possibility of activities conducted by a foreign government ships for use during wartime, as it has done in either indirect military or political obstruction of or a demonstration of groundbreaking aerial the past, it still needs capable crews for such the canal would greatly hinder the transfer of technology by a rival state. “. vessels, rendering this a half-solution to a forces and supplies from the Eastern U.S. to a critical vulnerability in the event of a conflict. A potential conflict zone in East Asia, with ships Although the Pentagon report does not more expensive proposition, though perhaps instead being forced to transit around the explicitly state this, it probably refers to economically beneficial in the long-run, would southern tip of South America, adding long supersonic tools, that is, missiles moving at a be to begin the arduous process of revitalizing delays to any deployment effort. much faster speed than the sound speed that the domestic American shipbuilding sector, The United States must act to confront the China, Russia, and the United States itself jumpstarted by the recapitalization of the waning influence in its own backyard and have been developing in recent years. At sealift fleet. Some estimates of the timetable ensure that a nation with critical infrastructure speeds of Mach 5, 10 and above, no radar for such a feat reach into decades of time remains a friend in the western hemisphere, lest system can detect the missile, and it creates required. Such an effort would feature the canal zone become yet another area of unique aerodynamic phenomena that can challenges, such as maintaining continuity conflict in the event of a crisis in the Pacific. certainly explain the pilots' confusion, such as across administrations and procuring a shock wave layer and the air around the bone sustained funding from Congress. Sealift and China's Maritime turning into plasma. If China or Russia did One option to accelerate this, specifically for succeed in developing operational aircraft the sealift force of the U.S. military, would be Militia based on the new technology without the US the expensive option that has allowed the The issue of the Chinese Maritime Militia must knowing about it, this would be a serious failure Chinese shipbuilding sector to grow so rapidly be confronted. This force operates largely as a of American intelligence. in so little time—heavy subsidies. Though the paramilitary group, able to exert pressure in a practice has noted adverse effects on the given region, often through moving in incredibly Obsolescence, chokpoints, global marketplace, it should be considered large numbers to crowd out other maritime as a serious option for the United States, if it actors while bolstering Chinese maritime and maritime militias wishes to maintain and grow its sealift claims. They can disrupt civilian activities in posing primary threats to capacity in the shortest possible timeframe. other regions, such as by the Galapagos Island A concurrent shortfall in combatant warships off the Ecuadorian coast. In a conflict, these US sea lift lends itself to an escort shortfall for the militia ships may harass, intimidate, or report logistics force. More combatants would need the positions of transiting seaborne logistics Ensuring the strong naval presence and to be diverted from forward combat zones and vessels. Indeed, given the already paramilitary military deterrent of the United States also other hotspots to provide escorts and bolster nature of these vessels and their crews, they means guaranteeing that American troops will logistical survivability, but at the expense of may be equipped with small arms and could get the supplies they depend on, no matter the availability of those combatants. Or the provide a ubiquitous and cost-effective shipping where confrontation may arise. As a key Navy would need a greater volume of sealift harassment force seemingly disguised as provider of surge forces to crisis locations ships to make losses of its precious few civilian vessels lurking among commercial around the world, United States Transportation logistical vessels more tolerable. maritime traffic. Command (USTRANSCOM) must confront With recent Chinese advancement in any and all potential challengers it might face in developing swarms of small suicide drones, Chokepoint Vulnerabilities compact containers could be filled with such an the 21st century, specifically the rising Global chokepoints also place limits on U.S. maritime power of the People's Republic of armament that, while not critically dangerous to sealift and could provide easy avenues of a ship, could be useful in intimidation or general China. Challenges USTRANSCOM could face attack during a time of conflict. Two in this regard are threefold—the aging and disruption of shipping operations. With this, a chokepoints are of particular concern, with the threat would be posed to sealift vessels inadequate nature of the American sealift first being the Strait of Malacca. Being one of force, the vulnerability of said forces to attempting to supply American armed forces in the busiest sea lanes through which a the region. Vulnerable sealift vessels carrying strategic chokepoints in the event of conflict, significant portion of the world's trade pass, and the versatility and strength of the Chinese vital military equipment could be disrupted by a the Strait of Malacca presents a unique swarm of hostile forces able to slip back into the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia geographic chokepoint. Forces belonging to (PAFMM). stream of normal civilian traffic the moment a COMSPRON 2 in the Indian Ocean and threat appeared. transiting materiel into the Pacific theater Reviving the armed merchant vessel could Aging Forces and during conflict may be confronted by a lack of provide a solution. During both world wars, Recapitalizing Sealift escort through what would be a contested merchant vessels armed with basic weaponry region. What makes this even more daunting were far from unheard of. In those days, the The growing age of the ships available to the task is that while the People's Liberation Army U.S. faced the same problem it does today, with United States for sealift operations is perhaps Navy (PLAN) may lack in a large carrier force, more transport ships needing to get to their one of its most obvious and most dangerous it has established sizable continents of strike destinations than there were available navy problems. With an average age in excess of 40 aircraft and missile batteries on islands in the ships to escort them. By developing modular, years, many of these ships are either outdated South China Sea, which could allow for it to containment weapon systems and attaching or would need to be retrofitted to maintain the threaten military sealift vessels across a small crews to handle their operation, the standards of a modern force. To add to this, the broad variety of Southeast Asian maritime problem of a thinly-stretched naval escort force size of the fleet itself has dwindled greatly, such chokepoints. could be somewhat alleviated against the that it is nearly a tenth of what it was during the Seeing as the combined 42 sealift vessels in Chinese Maritime Militia, with logistics ships early years of the Cold War, an era where the Gulf of Mexico and on the East Coast able to defend themselves against similarly similar pressures for a rapid movement of men would need to make use of the Panama Canal lightly-armed vessels. and materiel were an object of much concern. to quickly transport their cargo into the Pacific, While some of that decline could be explained this chokepoint presents a particularly vital

50 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Conclusion Exchange Commission filings. U.S. DOT Renews If the U.S. wishes to remain a global power with US Space Force to Take Commercial Space the ability to project influence anywhere on the Over Operations of Navy, globe, a strong and well-equipped navy, with a Transportation Advisory robust sealift force behind it, is a necessity. While Army Satellites Committee the sealift force faces numerous issues in the event of a hypothetical conflict, solutions can be The U.S. Space Force later this year will begin The U.S. Department of Transportation is found with forward-looking thinking. to take over the operation of 11 Navy r e n e w i n g t h e C o m m e r c i a l S p a c e narrowband communications satellites. It also Transportation Advisory Committee will absorb Army units that currently operate (COMSTAC) through June 2023. COMSTAC military communications payloads, a Space NASA's Search for Life: members lend their expertise to provide Force official said June 23. Astrobiology in the Solar advice and recommendations to the Department and the Federal Aviation The transition, scheduled to begin in October, System and Beyond Administration (FAA) on a host of topics. will create a more integrated U.S. military From safety and technology to operations satcom enterprise which for decades has NASA is exploring the solar system and beyond to and the international competitiveness of the “largely been a loose federation,” said Col. help us answer fundamental questions about life U.S. commercial space transportation Matthew Holston, commander of Space Delta beyond our home planet. From studying the industry, members provide useful and 8 at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. habitability of Mars, probing promising “oceans relevant information. Holston spoke about the upcoming worlds,” such as Titan and Europa, to identifying The committee is currently charged with reorganization at the SMi MilSatCom USA Earth-size planets around distant stars, our proposing updates to FAA's human virtual conference. science missions are working together with a goal spaceflight guidance materials and Space Delta 8 operates communications and to find unmistakable signs of life beyond Earth. recommending a spaceport grant funding Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites Through the study of astrobiology, NASA invests mechanism, among several other tasks. The from Schriever and from Vandenberg Space in understanding the origins, evolution, and limits role of COMSTAC is critical as the pace of Force Base, California. of life on Earth. This work has been important in commercial space operations quickens. In shaping ideas about where to focus search for life 2020, the FAA licensed 41 commercial space With 635 personnel, Space Delta 8 operates efforts. As NASA explores the solar system, our launches and reentries, the most in the 66 satellites: 37 GPS, six Advanced EHF understanding of life on Earth and the potential for agency's history. For 2021, that number could communications, five Milstar, two Enhanced life on other worlds has changed alongside the reach 50 or more. Polar System hosted payloads, 10 Wideband many discoveries. The study of organisms in Global Satcom (WGS) and six Defense extreme environments on Earth, from the polar Satellite Communications System (DSCS). plateau of Antarctica to the depths of the ocean, NASA Helps Map Impact of The operation of the Navy's 11 narrowband have highlighted that life as we know it is highly communications satellites will move to Space COVID-19 Lockdowns on adaptable, but not always easy to find. The search Delta 8. That includes a mix of Mobile User for life requires great care, and is based in the Harmful Air Pollution Objective System (MUOS), Ultra High knowledge we gain by studying life on Earth F r e q u e n c y F o l l o w - O n ( U F O ) a n d through the lens of astrobiology. If there's Early in the pandemic, it was expected that FLTSATCOM UHF satellites. something out there, we may not yet know how to satellite imagery around the world would show recognize it. cleaner air as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. Space Delta 8 also will absorb three Navy But not all pollutants were taken out of satellite control antennas and ground control circulation. For tiny airborne-particle pollution, Comtech stations at Prospect Harbor, Maine; Laguna known as PM 2.5, researchers using NASA data Telecommunications Corp. to Peak, California; and Finegayan, Guam. found that variability from meteorology obscured Transitioning from the Army are two units that the lockdown signals when observed from Present at Singular Research currently are part of the Army's satellite space. Summer Solstice Webinar operations brigade: The 53rd Signal Battalion “Intuitively you would think if there is a major and the SATCOM Directorate. lockdown situation, that we would see dramatic changes, but we didn't,” said Melanie Hammer, a Comtech Telecommunications Corp. a world The 53rd Signal Battalion is the only U.S. visiting research associate at Washington leader in secure wireless communications military unit that controls the payloads of the University in St. Louis who led the study. “It was technologies, announced that it will present at the W G S a n d D S C S c o m m u n i c a t i o n kind of a surprise that the effects on PM 2.5 were Singular Research Summer Solstice Webinar on modest.” constellations. The SATCOM Directorate Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 4:45 p.m. ET. PM 2.5 describes the mass of nose-level supports wideband and narrowband services Comtech management will provide an overview of particles, often produced anthropogenically, that for U.S. Space Command, and oversees the Company and its business opportunities. The are smaller than 2.5 micrometers, or roughly 30 international partner satcom agreements. Company will also conduct virtual one-on-one times smaller than the width of a human hair. PM The consolidation of units is “really an meetings with investors throughout the day. 2.5 is small enough to linger in the atmosphere, opportunity from a space segment Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leader in and, when inhaled, is associated with increased perspective as well as a resource t h e g l o b a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s m a r k e t risk of heart attack, cancer and a host of other management perspective to start moving implications for human health. headquartered in Melville, New York. With a towards an integrated satcom enterprise,” Changes in PM 2.5 concentrations over China passion for customer success, Comtech designs, Holston said. for February 2019 and 2020 derived from produces and markets advanced secure wireless satellite observations.Credits: NASA's Earth solutions to more than 1,000 customers in more Army and Navy satellite operators will not be Observatory than 100 countries. obligated to move over to the Space Force but By combining NASA spacecraft data with can voluntarily transfer. “We're working with ground-based monitoring and an innovative Certain information in this press release contains both our partners in the Army in the Navy to do computer modeling system, the scientists statements that are forward-looking in nature and mapped PM 2.5 levels across China, Europe the service transfers associated with that,” involve certain significant risks and uncertainties. and North America during the early months of said Holston. He said this is one step toward Actual results could differ materially from such the pandemic. The researchers found seasonal accomplishing the Space Force's vision of an forward-looking information. The Company's differences in PM 2.5 between recent years integrated satcom enterprise of military and Securities and Exchange Commission filings were driven primarily by the natural variability of commercial systems. identify many such risks and uncertainties. Any the meteorology, not by pandemic lockdowns. forward-looking information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by the risks and uncertainties described in such Securities and

51

AFRICA

With advert placement, you support the publication of this magazine in Africa. Advertising in Spacewatchafrica will offer your institution/organisation a cost-effective platform to reach your potential clients and business partners. We offer you exclusive contact with your business partners, government officials, academic and industry sectors.

SPACEWATCHAFRICA MAGAZINE MOST CURRENT ADVERTISEMENT RATES

4-color Advertising Rates Colour Dimension Back Cover Full Page $3,000 9.5” x 13” Inside Back Cover Full Page $2,000 9.5” x 13” Inside Front Cover Full Page $2,000 9.5” x 13” Inside Full Page $2,300 9.5” x 13” Inside Half Page $1.250 4.75”x 13” Double Spread $5,000 Special page 2(inside front cover) and 3 $6,000 Two adjoining centre page $5,000 Front page earpiece $1,500 (One third) $750 4.75” x 6.5” Special Report (including editorial) $3,000 Full cover page spotlight (special) $15,000

Advertisement placements on African Satellite Communications Yearbook attracts discounted rates, 20% off the above rates.

Hurry now and book your advert on Spacewatchafrica (onine and hard copy edition) as well as the African Satellite Communications Yearbook and benefit from the industry lowest rates while helping your organization reach the widest audience possible across Africa, middle east and beyond.

An additional 30% discount off the advertising rates above will be given to an advertiser who reserves for a minimum of six months (6 advertisements) or more.

All dimensions are listed as width by depth in millimeters (mm). Build pages to trim size and if bleed, extend dimensions beyond page edge by 10mm. Keep live matter 6mm from trim size. Preferred file formats are EPS, JPG or PDF.

For placement enquiries, please email us at [email protected], or call +2348036471114, 7084706167