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There is no doubt that space matters in today's time. We have become highly reliant on space science and technology; life without it cannot be imagined. No one can deny the significance of space safety. Thus, for the smooth functioning of life, there is a need for safety and security in outer space. So, it would not be wrong to say that we are at the mercy of these new space technologies. Currently, space debris has been facing universal embryonic challenge to the sustainable activities of outer space, and if not coped at the earliest, the world would face titanic catastrophe. From the preceding decades, there have been some crashing episodes that heightened the space debris build-up, and the speed at which myriad space activities have caused the production of debris. Such huge congregation of debris can pose dangers to the working space satellites. It could also fetch numerous challenges at the same time. In addition, the tremendous development in space technology, involvement of private sector in space activities, Anti Satellite tests adventure of space powers, weaponization and commercialization (space tourism) has made outer space more vulnerable. Presently, there is a dearth of stringent space laws with regards to the proliferation of space debris. So, these issues can have an impact on the long-term sustainability of space activities. Progressing and advanced space faring nations have found the worth of a proficient International Regime that can play a vital role for ordering, overseeing, and managing the research and advancement of space. The paper will magnet the attention towards the real legal, technical, financial and managerial facts. Some countries are capable of removing space debris but encounter many obstacles while applying such actions. Besides who will bear the expense for the removal of space debris as its prerequisites giant sum of money. This paper is going to put forward an independent international space regime (ISR). In order to meet the financial issues this paper proposed to establish a Global Debris Removal Fund. The old-fashioned space law regime is the core obstruction for the debris removal procedure. Finally, it is desirable that all legal issues be fixed through the innovative procedures and reformed international space law (ISL) system with inclusive coordination and co-operation. Thus, it would be the perfect ISR for the resolutions of remediation and mitigation of space debris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky famously stated that while the Earth serves as the birthplace of humanity, it is not a place where mankind can indefinitely remain. Perhaps during that period, the prospect of exploring the mysteries of outer space appeared to be an unattainable aspiration. However, in the present day, there are no longer any limitations, not even the sky, since human ingenuity has facilitated access to outer space for humanity. This access is not just for the purposes of research and exploration but also for economic endeavours. Until now, the commercial utilisation of outer space has advanced at a very sluggish rate. However, firms including SpaceX, Orion Span, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin have achieved significant advancements in the growth of the space industry. The revenue generated by various space-related endeavours has experienced a significant 73% increase over the last ten years. The global space economy, estimated to be valued at USD one trillion in the coming years, is primarily driven by commercial activities. This presents a formidable challenge to the existing national and international taxation systems. Similar to the open seas, space is also considered res communis omnium, meaning it belongs to the entire community, and presents comparable taxing challenges with potentially uncertain solutions. The three fundamental elements of every taxation regulation, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or the United Nations Model Double Taxation Convention, are the taxpayer's place of residence, the origin of their income, and the methods by which they generate their money. The current tax system does not have the necessary concepts and provisions to adapt to the rapid advancements in commercial space technology. This paper examines the legal issues surrounding commercial activities conducted in space, including the nature and handling of the income generated in various legal systems. It also addresses concerns such as tax avoidance and excessive taxation, emphasising the necessity for a globally coordinated approach to effectively tax commercial activities in space. • Human ingenuity has facilitated access to outer space for humanity, for the purposes of research and exploration and also for economic endeavours. • Space-related endeavours has experienced a significant 73% increase over the last ten years. • Commercial activities conducted in space require concerted action at international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses geopolitical cultures of outer space by examining the selected life and works of Arthur C. Clarke (1918–2008), one of the leading space technology advocates of the twentieth century, in the specific context of his adopted home of Ceylon/Sri Lanka. Within the framework of studies that have connected critical geopolitics and science, further discussions concerning the interface between imperialism, technology and tropicality help demonstrate the relevance of Clarke's geographical imagination to understanding geopolitical cultures of outer space. Three aspects of Clarke's life and works are examined: First, his underwater exploration activities in Ceylon from the late 1950s to the early 1970s; second, his 1979 Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel The Fountains of Paradise; and finally, his promotion of Sri Lanka as a future hub of outer space technologies in the early 1980s. The paper suggests that geopolitical readings of outer space can be understood through investigating diverse aspects of place, landscape and identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in space technology development and rapidly increasing traffic in outer space are likely to lead to the emergence of a market for services for the removal of large debris objects to disposal orbits. The commercial benefits of Active Debris Removal missions are possible when multiple objects are removed by a single spacecraft-collector that flies between targets in an optimal sequence, trying to achieve a rational ratio between mission duration and fuel costs. Given the size of the large debris population, selecting candidates for removal and optimizing such a mission is a non-trivial task. In this paper, a review of solutions, which are proposed in 65 publications between 2010 and 2023 for the problem of path planning between space debris objects in low orbits, is performed. These solutions could be categorized into three main types. The search for transfer chains in the first type of approaches is based solely on combinatorics, supplemented by various heuristics as required. In the second case, combinatorial-heuristic algorithms fully or partially utilize the secular effects of the Earth's polar compression. Solutions of the third type are based only on the use of precession of the Right Ascension of the Ascending Node of the orbit. For each analyzed work, the following information is given: objects of study, maneuvering scheme for a flight between two successive objects, method of choosing the transfer sequence, and main results. At the end of this paper, a subjective general evaluation of the analyzed works is proposed. In order to deepen the reader's understanding of the problem of large space debris removal, this review also provides background information from related fields. The reasons for the growth of observable fragments in near-Earth space and the need to remove large objects to disposal orbits are shown. The history of experiments aimed at the development of ADR technology is given. The article contains a large number of explanatory illustrations. • The review includes more than 200 research articles on the space debris origin, danger and necessity of ADR. • The study covers 65 papers on ADR path planning published between 2010 and 2023. • The thematic publications are divided into three types depending on the approach to the problem. • The description of each paper contains schemes of maneuvers of an active spacecraft and a method of finding its path. • Analysis of ADR mission parameters shows the advantages of solutions using the RAAN drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private commercial space tourism carrying passengers to outer space is no longer a distant or far-fetched fantasy, rather it is at verge of becoming an affordable reality with exponential development in space technology including development of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), increasing involvement of private companies like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Blue Origin etc. into research and funding of space tourism explorations and applications. It is also receiving huge attention from the public. These developments reflect the infinite possibilities and inevitability of space tourism in near future. However, space tourism may also pose many critical legal issues which must be addressed to ensure the consistent and sustainable development of space tourism, and to secure the rights of all stakeholders involved including operators, passengers, launching State etc. The research paper would highlight the crucial legal issues associated with the space tourism. The paper would critically analyze the efficiency of the present international space treaties in dealing with these issues. At the end, the paper would also attempt to provide few suggestions and solutions to these legal conundrums relating to space tourism. • Commercial space tourism • Legal framework governing space tourism • Sustainable development of outer space • Space tourism and international law [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciencia y Poder Aéreo is the property of Escuela de Postgrados de la Fuerza Aerea Colombiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper illustrates an indirect method to optimize multiple-impulse trajectories from circular lunar orbit to Earth. Optimization is performed in the circular restricted three-body problem, and the necessary optimality conditions are found through optimal control theory. In order to overcome the difficulty of initial adjoints estimation, a homotopic approach, which is based on an auxiliary optimization problem with known solution, is developed; this approach proves to be robust and efficient. Examples are presented for a range of lunar orbit orientations to assess the impact on velocity impulse requirements. Optimization results for trajectories with different number of impulses are also compared. The developed procedure can support fast and accurate evaluation of the transfer costs for Moon-to-Earth trajectories both in nominal conditions and for contingency plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zero-propellant maneuver is an advanced concept of the spacecraft attitude control. The problem of zero-propellant maneuver using single gimbal control moment gyroscopes is researched in this paper. The saturation and singularity problems of single gimbal control moment gyroscopes are analyzed, and the performance indexes to measure saturation and singularity are proposed. The path planning model considering the gimbal steering law is established using modified rodrigues parameter. Then, a hybrid approach combining the pseudospectral method and direct shooting method is proposed to solve the nonlinear path planning problem with complicated constraints. Finally, the numerical simulation is executed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It is shown that an optimized attitude maneuver path satisfying the saturation and singularity constraints can be obtained and the zero-propellant maneuver using single gimbal control moment gyroscopes can be successfully achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider minimizing the action functional as a method for numerically discovering periodic solutions to the n-body problem. With this method, we can find a large number of choreographies and other more general solutions. We show that most of the solutions found, including all but one of the choreographies, are unstable. It appears to be much easier to find unstable solutions to the n-body problem than stable ones. Simpler solutions are more likely to be stable than exotic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the basic philosophy behind India's space strategy based on ideological, sociological, political, economic, geostrategic and legal constructs. The paper uses the metaphor of “deconstruction” made famous by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida's (1930–2004) to understand various transitions (if any) in India's space policy over the years and the philosophy behind them. The paper follows a ‘narrative based scrutiny’ approach to recognise Indian attitude for investments into space technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, drawn from anthropological research done for a project on Mexican imaginaries of outer space, I consider the role of the AEM, or Mexican Space Agency, in space education and outreach in Mexico, focusing on the ways in which the AEM engages with different sectors and social groups, including elementary age children, college students undertaking STEM careers and artists who use space imagery and technology in their work. The research undertaken for this project consists primarily of formal and informal interviews with key actors engaged with outer space who project space into Mexican futures from different perspectives, from enthusiastic involvement in technological advancement as a means of fomenting social and economic progress, to the artistic uses of space and technology as a means of critically reflecting on earthly issues of human relationality and geopolitical power. In addition to interviews, I draw on information gathered from documents, works of art, online discussion groups and attendance at events sponsored by the Mexican Space Agency. I am particularly interested in exploring the implications of the agency's mission to "promote space culture", as I critically confront anthropological notions of "culture" with the uses of this concept in the public sphere. I am also interested in understanding what is "Mexican" about Mexican space culture, and how national institutions and actors relate to their international counterparts. • Mexico has a nascent space program, but a millennial tradition of stargazing. • The AEM has a strong outreach program, although its public visibility could improve. • Importance of creation of a network of space entrepreneurs, scientists and artists. • Mexicans' outer space imaginaries are diverse, often critical of space exploration. • Anthropology can contribute to the dialogue on the promotion of "space culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the legal regime that involves international cooperation in the field of outer space, regarding its exploration. It aims to show the different types of cooperation, as they have been historically developed for the needs of the countries involved in the creation of the Law of Outer Space and its aftermath. To do this, this paper bases its content in doctrine and the various treaties and resolutions identified by the United Nations as of vital importance for this issue. Additionally, it draws attention to the problems that this type of legal developments has led and some possible solutions to these, which assures the space exploration through the principle of international cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper explores the process of building technological capability in government-led satellite programs within developing countries. The key message is that these satellite programs can learn useful lessons from literature in the international development community. These lessons are relevant to emerging satellite programs that leverage international partnerships in order to establish local capability to design, build and operate satellites. Countries with such programs include Algeria, Nigeria, Turkey, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. The paper first provides background knowledge about space activity in developing countries, and then explores the nuances of the lessons coming from the international development literature. Developing countries are concerned with satellite technology because satellites provide useful services in the areas of earth observation, communication, navigation and science. Most developing countries access satellite services through indirect means such as sharing data with foreign organizations. More countries, however, are seeking opportunities to develop satellite technology locally. There are objective, technically driven motivations for developing countries to invest in satellite technology, despite rich debate on this topic. The paper provides a framework to understand technical motivations for investment in satellite services, hardware, expertise and infrastructure in both short and long term. If a country decides to pursue such investments they face a common set of strategic decisions at the levels of their satellite program, their national context and their international relationships. Analysis of past projects shows that countries have chosen diverse strategies to address these strategic decisions and grow in technological capability. What is similar about the historical examples is that many countries choose to leverage international partnerships as part of their growth process. There are also historical examples from outside the space arena in which organizations have pursued technological capability. Scholars have analyzed these examples and developed insightful frameworks. The paper draws key concepts from this literature about the nature of development, technology, knowledge and organizational learning. These concepts are relevant to learning in new satellite programs, but the ideas must be applied cautiously because of the nature of satellite technology. The paper draws three major lessons from the international development literature regarding absorptive capacity, tacit knowledge and organizational learning; it synthesizes these lessons into a cohesive, original framework. The closing section proposes future work on a detailed study of technological learning in specific government satellite programs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: At the 59th IAC in Glasgow, a paper was presented describing two studies being carried out by Commission VI of the International Academy of Astronautics on the impact of space activities upon society. One of these studies sought to discover the hopes, aspirations and expectations of those outside the space field – the person in the street – regarding space activities. The paper reviewed the thought processes and decisions leading up to the commencement of the survey, documented the reasoning behind the questions which the public were; described the efforts to translate the questionnaire into the six Unesco languages to achieve wider participation, and provided an overview of results to date. This present paper provides an update on this Space Expectations survey as the study comes to a close. The paper briefly discusses the addition of new languages for the questionnaire and the drive to make the survey better known and encourage participation worldwide, before going on to provide a detailed analysis of the latest results of opinions. Insights include respondent’s thoughts regarding the visions and costs of space activities, how much people feel part of them and whether and how they would like to be more involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Political and technical concerns are tightly intertwined in the design of modern space systems. The political environment often responds harshly to the associated high costs of these endeavors. Political sustainability is therefore at least as important as the technical performance parameters of new space systems under development. This paper outlines a methodology by which a system architect may trace the recursive impacts of political choice on technical choice, and vice versa. Using the implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration as a case study, a Policy–Technology Feedback loop is outlined. This paper then demonstrates how political sustainability may be incorporated into the design process such that a politically savvy system architect may appropriately trade present costs against future costs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Outer space is an area of growing economic and technological importance. It is also a developing theatre of military defence and warfare. Against this backdrop, development of a legal framework on the use of force in outer space is of critical urgency. This paper proposes a framework for the development of international law in this area and also assesses the effectiveness of the current state of international law governing the prohibition on the use of force in the context of outer space. It expands upon a proposed role for the United Nations and outlines a proposed enforcement mechanism for the law on the use of force in outer space. This proposed framework rests on a three-tiered system involving an International Tribunal for Outer Space, an International Space Surveillance Agency and an International Space Inspection Agency, co-ordinated through a Secretariat under the auspices of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs. The paper also provides a proposed Protocol on International Peace and Security to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty as a means of establishing the proposed enforcement mechanism. Finally, the paper looks at the complexities involved in developing the law, and moots immediate steps for its development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes the present situation and the expected trends with regard to the availability of electronic components, their quality levels, technology trends and sensitivity to the space environment. Many recognized vendors have already discontinued their MIL production line and state of the art components will in many cases not be offered in this quality level because of the shrinking market.It becomes therefore obvious that new methods need to be considered “How to build reliable Data Systems for space applications without High-Rel parts”. One of the most promising approaches is the identification, masking and suppression of faults by developing fault-tolerant computer systems which is described in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The research described in this paper was motivated by the new types of periodic solutions that were recently discovered by Moore, Chenciner, Montgomery, and Simo in the three-body and the N -body problem (with large N ). We attempt to classify the various types of periodic orbits, in the inertial frame, on the basis of an extensive numerical exploration. We have started an exploration of the four-body problem, where the classification of types of periodic orbits is more involved. We immediately found those orbits with symmetry with respect to the x -axis, the y -axis, or both. Complete quadruple interplay, or a triple system around a single mass is possible. Finally, what seems to be the most frequent, two binary systems in orbit around the general center of mass. However, the last group can be separated into several subgroups. We have, for instance, the case of two masses on one orbit and the two other masses on another orbit. This is again a partial choreography. We then have the case of double binary choreographies: two binary systems in which all four masses travel on one single curve. To realize this situation, a certain commensurability is needed between the overall period and the period of each binary system. The binary system makes an odd integer number, q , of revolutions during a general period. We computed many cases from q = 5 to 97. This indicates that we have a discrete infinity of choreographies. The choreography q = 5 is an especially remarkable star-shaped curve. Actually, we have two such infinite families, one with corotational and the other with contrarotational motions. We show that they can be justified by simple Keplerian approximations. Finally, we mention that our work depends heavily on the existence of symmetries. They simplify the algorithms for finding periodic orbits and they play an important role in the classification. In the four-body problem with equal masses, we have five different types of symmetries. In addition to the well-known collinear symmetry, we also found what we call double isosceles and trapezoidal symmetries. All our four-body choreographies satisfy these two symmetry conditions. In the five-body problem, we limit our work to two symmetry cases. We show that in Gerver's super-eight choreography, we are allowed to place a fifth mass at the center and we may speak about a larger sun with four smaller but equal planets that are in a choreography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep space exploration is in the agenda of the major space agencies worldwide; certainly the European Space Agency (SMART Program) and the American NASA (New Millennium Program) have set up programs to allow the development and the demonstration of technologies that can reduce the risks and the cost of deep space missions. From past experience, it appears that navigation is the Achilles heel of deep space missions. Performed on ground, this imposes considerable constraints on the entire system and limits operations. This makes it is very expensive to execute, especially when the mission lasts several years and, furthermore, it is not failure tolerant. Nevertheless, to date, ground navigation has been the only viable solution. The technology breakthrough of advanced star trackers, like the advanced stellar compass (ASC), might change this situation. Indeed, exploiting the capabilities of this instrument, the authors have devised a method to determine the orbit of a spacecraft autonomously, onboard, and without a priori knowledge of any kind. The solution is robust and fast. This paper presents the preliminary performance obtained during the ground testing in August 2002 at the Mauna Kea Observatories. The main goals were: (1) to assess the robustness of the method in solving autonomously, onboard, the position lost-in-space problem; (2) to assess the preliminary accuracy achievable with a single planet and a single observation; (3) to verify the autonomous navigation (AutoNav) module could be implemented into an ASC without degrading the attitude measurements; and (4) to identify the areas of development and consolidation. The results obtained are very encouraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results from a 6-month time-allocation study of the impact of oversight-related activities on engineering work at a major aerospace contractor. Previous studies have reported a wide range of estimated burdens – from 2% of a total system's cost to factors of 5 times the cost of commercially available alternative products. The wide range of estimates of the burden of oversight can be attributed to measurement challenges and to the phenomenon being measured. Our new data provides an empirically valid estimate of the time spent on these activities, allowing us to reconcile differences between previous measures of oversight. We observe that when the definition of oversight is limited to non-value added external monitoring, the extent of burden is on the order of 6% of total time spent on work performed. However, when the definition of oversight includes both externally driven burden and the government-support infrastructure internal to the contractor, the burden ranges from 1.2 to 1.6 times. In addition, we use this data to test widely held beliefs about the impact of oversight on daily contractor work. Specifically, we found that the particular customers who are generally perceived to drive oversight-related burden actually have a small impact on resultant work time; but they drive more non-value-added requests than others. Additionally, while communications and administrative tasks are perceived as the main content of oversight-driven work, most of the time spent on these tasks was not driven by oversight. Implications of these findings for how the acquisition process can be improved are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role of outer space technopolitics in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. It explores how outer space, the technological artefact of global relevance, works as a postcolonial fetish of modernity that is called upon to produce what it represents, that is, the reality of a technologically advanced Kazakh nation. The article shows that in its project of becoming a spacefaring nation the country reiterates major incentives that have motivated nuclear and space programme development in the postcolonial context of the Global South. It explores how collaboration with Russia allows Kazakhstan to claim its share in the Soviet space legacy rather than to distance itself from it. The study then traces the rise of a new internationalism in the Kazakhstani space programme outside the post-Soviet context. The article contributes to the debate on postcolonial technopolitics and shows how outer space has been used to enhance the conventional domain of postcolonial national ideologies – nativism and tradition – with technology and science. Finally, it depicts how the growing resistance to the space programme among Kazakh civil society groups reveals a close association of the environmental agenda with an 'eco-nationalism' permeated by a profoundly anti-imperial and, ultimately, anti-authoritarian political discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conquering cosmos around ground as a new sphere of human activity and its influence on the development of science, economics and social conditions of life on Earth beyond incomparable consequences they had conquered oceans and airspace. Space became the fourth dimension possible war. It's a win recently, but its influence is ever-present and in the near future will be decisive. Effect of using space feels isolated from fighter action, up to the highest level of military art. Spatial dimension of power could have a decisive impact in a possible military confrontation and a key role in ensuring the security of states and regions in peacetime. Flight in space technology and specific needs, depending on the latest scientific discoveries in aeronautics, electronics, metallurgy, chemistry and information technology, all of which ultimately require substantial financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper explores the possible relationship between space exploration and long swings in the economy and socio-technical systems. We posit that the early phases of long upswings are characterized by periods of optimism and the spirit of adventure that provided a motivation for large-scale explorations and other great infrastructure projects in the past. These Maslow Windows help us understand prior eras of exploration and cultural dynamism, and offer a hopeful scenario for space exploration in the next two decades. We offer some observations as to what the exploratory thrust might look like, including a return to the lunar surface combined with other activities. Of course, we also point out that the next great wave of space exploration will almost certainly have a much more international flavor than has heretofore been the case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sino-Latin American space cooperation has grown in the past several years, contributing to debates over China’s rising influence in the region. Much of what has been written about this phenomenon is overly simplistic and denotes a lack of understanding of the interplay between the domestic and the international when decisions of international cooperation are taken. This paper argues that calculations of both domestic and international interest are important in Sino-Latin space relationships, with the former of particular importance to Latin American countries. It explores these interests as demonstrated in the cooperative programs of four Latin American countries. It concludes that, while the US relationship is not a major factor in their decisions to cooperate or not with China, the USA could benefit from a greater understanding of this phenomenon to expand its relationships with the emerging space nations of the region to its benefit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For over 50 years, including some form of Space education in school curriculum has become an established approach for inspiring young minds to study the sciences and pursue science-based careers. Space camps and schools are active all around the globe and typically attract the ‘best and the brightest’ young minds. But the context of Space is broad and all young minds need the confidence and ability to make choices that will best serve them in the world of learning, life and work. Designing Transformations: can the context of ‘Space’ serve as an inclusive educational engagement model and career skills tool to achieve “Schools of Excellence” (SoE)? This paper presents a case study for democratising space education within Scotland; through a new Schools of Excellence Model, which uses design methodology to convey an educational experience. It further demonstrates how the SoE model proposes the context of Space to dovetail with Scotland''s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) 1 [1] Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is a new approach to the curriculum, with its emphasis on outcomes rather than inputs. , with particular relevance to skills for learning, life and work to build skills and foster career agility to equip individuals for the new and changing demands of the future workplace. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Since 1971 the UN Programme on Space Applications, implemented by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, has been organizing workshops, symposiums and expert meetings and providing training opportunities in the practical applications of space technology. In 2009 the Office launched the Basic Space Technology Initiative (BSTI). The BSTI encompasses a range of activities in support of capacity building in space technology development in response to the growing interest of academic and governmental organizations in many countries to establish basic, indigenous capabilities to develop nano- and small satellites. Considerations such as the education and training of experts, the creation of required testing and building infrastructure, opportunities for international cooperation and the applicable legal and regulatory frameworks are therefore of particular interest to these organizations. The BSTI aims to assist them with their efforts. This paper describes the origins of the initiative, the activities that have been conducted to date and the work planned for 2011 and beyond. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Upcoming space missions utilizing hyperspectral or other high-resolution sensors will generate a vast amount of data in orbit. The average communication duration between a spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) to a dedicated ground station is short and in addition, due to the high amount of data to be transferred at link times, a high-performance communication system on board of the satellite is indispensable. A solution that provides longer acquisition times with the ground station is to employ a high data-rate inter-satellite link to a geostationary relay satellite, which requires a flat, compact, steerable, light-weight yet robust antenna. Such an antenna system (antenna module plus pointing module) was developed for S-Band at the Institute of Astronautics (Technische Universität München), in cooperation with German space companies, research institutes and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Its successful operation via the geostationary relay satellite Artemis was demonstrated in cooperation with ESA in 2007. This paper describes the evaluation of an antenna system in the Ka-Band, as a successor to be developed in the next two years for high data rates and the various applications of such an antenna system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Space technology has the vast potential for addressing a variety of societal problems of the developing countries, particularly in the areas of communication, education and health sectors, land and water resources management, disaster management and weather forecasting. Both remote sensing and communication technologies can be used to achieve this goal. With its primary emphasis on application of space technology, on an end-to-end basis, towards national development, the Indian Space Programme has distinguished itself as one of the most cost-effective and development-oriented space programmes in the world. Developing nations are faced with the enormous task of carrying development-oriented education to the masses at the lower strata of their societies. One important feature of these populations is their large number and the spread over vast and remote areas of these nations, making the reaching out to them a difficult task. Satellite communication (Satcom) technology offers the unique capability of simultaneously reaching out to very large numbers, spread over vast areas, including the remote corners of the country. It is a strong tool to support development education. India has been amongst the first few nations to explore and put to use the Satcom technology for education and development-oriented services to the rural masses. Most of the developing countries have inadequate infrastructure to provide proper medical care to the rural population. Availability of specialist doctors in rural areas is a major bottleneck. Use of Satcom and information technology to connect rural clinics to urban hospitals through telemedicine systems is one of the solutions; and India has embarked upon an effective satellite-based telemedicine programme. Space technology is also useful in disaster warning and management related applications. Use of satellite systems and beacons for locating the distressed units on land, sea or air is well known to us. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is already a part of the International initiative called Satellite Aided Search and Rescue System. The programme to set up satellite-based Village Resource Centres (VRCs) across India, for providing a variety of services relevant to the rural communities, is also a unique societal application of space technology. The VRCs are envisaged as single window delivery mechanism for a variety of space-based products and services, such as tele-education; telemedicine; information on natural resources for planning and development at local level; interactive advisories on agriculture, fisheries, land and water resources management, livestock management, etc.; interactive vocational training towards alternative livelihood; e-governance; weather information; etc. This paper describes the various possibilities and potentials of Satcom and Remote Sensing technologies for societal applications. The initiatives taken by Indian Space Research Organisation in this direction are highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The word “exploration” threads its way through every discussion of human space flight and often headlines national policy statements about the US space agency. Yet this concept, so rooted in our culture, remains remarkably ill-defined. In this paper, we examine various presumptions implicit in the term and its ramifications for federally supported space endeavors. We argue that historical examples of exploration, widely used by policy makers, often make poor models for contemporary space travel. In particular, historical precedents of exploration set up a land-biased view of discovery, a restriction which impedes full expression of the Vision for Space Exploration and its possible scientific returns. These same precedents also set up a view of discovery that is biased toward in situ human presence, a view that modern technology is rendering increasingly absurd. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although the threat caused by an impact of near-Earth objects (NEOs) has been increasingly recognized by the international community both at a scientific and political level, no study is addressing this issue in an interdisciplinary manner. A project has been carried out at the International Space University (ISU), located in Strasbourg, France, addressing the problem of the response to a NEO threat, including space-based missions, Earth-based mitigation, political, organizational and space-law issues. This paper summarizes the main results of this study. In order to determine an appropriate response, a new system of classification of the different NEO threat scenarios was created. A specific case study was examined in the project. The threat scenario involved the NEO named 1997 XF11, with response options ranging from deflection, to destruction using the concept known as the “billiards shot”. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Leonardo is the property of MIT Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Outer space, as the ultimate high ground, offers potential for contributing towards maritime domain awareness, which is dependent on Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). This research discusses several utilizations and limitations of space technologies in the realm of maritime ISR through use of electronic intelligence, and electro-optical and radar imagery payload sensors. Technological and financial options for nascent and smaller space powers through dual-purpose commercial and civilian space technologies towards sea surveillance are elaborated as well. Finally, from an operational perspective of ISR, the methodology of frame-by-frame mosaicking of satellite images utilizing commercial remote sensing satellites towards space-based maritime ISR is explained using hypothetical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2016 a group of 40 space weather scientists attended the workshop on Scientific Foundations of Space Weather at the International Space Science Institute in Bern. In this lead article to the volume based on the talks and discussions during the workshop we review some of main past achievements in the field and outline some of the challenges that the science of space weather is facing today and in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Over 4200 delegates attended the fifth Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF), held in Dublin from 11 to 15 July 2012, with papers covering the gamut of scientific research, applications and policy contributed by Nobel laureates, including James Watson and Jules Hoffmann, internationally recognized but ‘local’ figures such as Mary Robinson, Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Bob Geldof, ‘celebrity’ scientists like Marcus du Sautoy and Craig Venter and a range of other major researchers. Space was also represented, with keynotes by the NASA administrator and ESA''s Director of Science and Robotic Exploration. This report summarizes and discusses the space-related proceedings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A method is introduced to transition space trajectories from low fidelity patched conics models to full-ephemeris n-body dynamics. The algorithm incorporates a continuation method that progressively re-converges solution trajectories in systems with incremental changes in the dynamics. Continuation is accomplished through the variation of a control parameter, which is tied to body ephemeris locations and masses, minimum flyby altitudes, and sphere of influence sizes. The intermediate models provide a continuous and differentiable path between solutions in the simplified and n-body dynamics, and the boundary values of the control parameter replicate the patched conics and full-ephemeris models exactly. Each successive step preserves the qualitative properties of the initial guess by successively altering flyby states and body masses. A similar approach to this methodology may be taken with any simplified starting guess, such as a restricted three-body model. Trajectories computed using the patched conics conversion method presented here may include gravity assists and rendezvous with any number of target bodies, so the method is ideal for constructing interplanetary or intermoon tour missions, and is amenable to patching shorter segments together to form longer tours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term evolution characteristics and stability of an orbit are well characterized using a mean element propagation of the perturbed two body variational equations of motion. The averaging process eliminates short period terms leaving only secular and long period effects. In this study, a non-traditional approach is taken that averages the variational equations using adaptive numerical techniques and then numerically integrating the resulting equations of motion. Doing this avoids the Fourier series expansions and truncations required by the traditional analytic methods. The resultant numerical techniques can be easily adapted to propagations at most solar system bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of a tethered space system (bunch) in the mode of rotational motion are used in determination of the parameters of the location and orientation of the end vehicles of the bunch by the method with the simplest possible instrumental implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors argue that an interrogation of cinema can reveal the fragility of our knowledge and the underlying imperatives that the social construction of space responds to. A revisionist overview of the issue of professional interfaces in the popular arts is followed by a discussion of the influence of space technology and natural space phenomena on human personal and collective belief systems in order to open the way for an outline of the concept of participatory cultures and the relationship between fiction and science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the ethical questions that potentially arise from any interactions with extra-planetary life that outer space explorations might bring about. Recent discoveries of planets in orbit around other stars and publicity surrounding the activities of the international space agencies have revived enthusiasm for planetary exploration. The idea of life on other planets has traditionally been associated with Christian teleology. To the question regarding the basis of an ethic of space exploration, it is possible to respond with skepticism and reject as illusory the ability of humans to develop a code of ethics for interplanetary exploration. One can adopt a skeptical approach to the very idea of an ethic of the space program by invoking the moral-identification thesis. This skeptical approach would be compelling if the moral-identification thesis were cogent. But it suffers from some fundamental problems. This view of morality is as unsatisfactory when applied to the inhabitants of other worlds as it is when applied on Earth. Once established, the moral theory can guide the conduct with non-humans. Moreover, the plausible approach to an ethics of space exploration discussed proceeds by extending conceptions of environmental ethics into the new environments.