It’s been quite some time since we last shared with our readers what we have been reading, and we’ve even heard that this irregular feature has been missed! So, without further ado, here’s what has caught our attention over the past few weeks: The Wall Street Journal published an interesting …
Read More »China To Contribute Funds to Egypt’s Space Programme
China has agreed to contribute U.S.$64 million to the Egyptian earth observation satellite programme, EgyptSat, as part of a new cooperation agreement between the two counties signed on March 21, 2017. The funding will be contingent on a feasibility study on the EgyptSat programme, but is thought to be a …
Read More »Israel’s Netanyahu Visits China, Discusses Cyber, Science, and Technology Cooperation, Investments
Following immediately on the heels of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading a delegation to China, arriving on March 19, 2017, in order to discuss and enhance strategic and economic ties between the two countries. Among the various topics to be discussed between Israel and …
Read More »Saudi Arabia To Contribute To China’s Chang’e-4 Moon Mission
As part of his six week-long tour of Asian countries, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has presided over a major space agreement between his Kingdom and Asia’s leading space power, China. This prominent agreement is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the King Abdulaziz City of Science …
Read More »UAE’s Thuraya subject of Chinese bid, but denies any talks are underway
Peter B. de Selding, the former international correspondent of Space News, reports in his new venture SpaceIntelReport.com, that Hong Kong-based company China Trends Holdings Ltd. is considering buying Dubai-based satellite communications company Thuraya for U.S.$201 million. Within days of the announcement by China Trends Holdings Ltd., Thuraya issued a statement …
Read More »The astropolitics of Iranian-Turkish competition in Central Asia
As both Iran and Turkey look to Central Asia to enhance their diplomatic and economic prospects and standings, space cooperation will become a more important and useful tool for gaining relative geopolitical advantage in the region for both countries. Who is better able to exploit the opportunities for space cooperation …
Read More »Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: A Golden Opportunity for Space?
ThorGroup’s Chairman and President, Dr. John B. Sheldon, explores the role of space in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 recently announced economic and social reform programme. He argues that Vision 2030 is a golden opportunity for Saudi Arabian space. Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman and Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, …
Read More »Iran signs space launch agreement with Kazakhstan
Iran and Kazakhstan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing access for both countries to each other’s space launch and satellite facilities. Kazakh Minister for Investment Aset Isekeshev visited Tehran on Tuesday, 12 April 2016, and signed the MoU along with Iranian Vice-President for Scientific Affairs Sorena Sattari. According …
Read More »