REPORT OF THE REGIONAL WORKING GROUP
ON SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
ON ITS SEVENTH MEETING

Bangkok, Thailand, 13-15 May 2002

I. SUMMARY

A. Conclusions and recommendations

1. The seventh meeting of the Regional Working Group on Space Science and Technology Applications noted with appreciation the substantive progress of member countries in the area of space science and technology applications and recognized the impressive activities and developments taking place in space science and technology applications, especially in microsatellite development, in countries in the region.

2. The meeting appreciated the continued support of ESCAP in assisting the activities of the Regional Working Group. The meeting decided to continue its efforts in promoting regional cooperation in the field of space science and technology applications and implementing the second phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (RESAP II). The national contact points were strongly encouraged to regularly correspond with the coordination office, participate in the meetings of the Working Group, and take appropriate actions on relevant matters in a timely manner.

3. The meeting decided to initiate the preparation of a task force under the Group to conduct studies and make appropriate recommendations in space science and technology applications in support of a regional disaster cooperative mechanism. The meeting requested the secretariat to inform all members of the Group through their respective national focal points to RESAP and their individual organizations to seek advice on possible roles and contributions of their countries to the proposed task force, for discussion at the next session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on RESAP in Beijing on 7-8 June 2002, and the subsequent meeting of the Working Group.

4. The meeting reviewed the progress and situation of four task forces, and decided that the task forces on (a) Investigation of infrared technology for fire detection (led by Singapore); (b) Preliminary feasibility study of developing educational resources suitable for use with low-cost ground stations (led by Australia); and (c) Sharing of space science data from space missions and ground networks (co-led by China and Indonesia) be continued, and be reviewed at the next meeting of the Working Group. The meeting suggested that the activities of the task force (c) should include timely updates using Internet access provided by the Group's Web site.

5. Considering the recent technical developments on the third generation of mobile telecommunications, the meeting decided to terminate the task force on low-cost infrastructure for high-speed Internet access in rural areas (co-led by China and the Republic of Korea).

6. Based on decisions made at the previous meeting of the Regional Working Group, the meeting requested the Secretariat to ask the leader of the task force on electronic media for exchange of information on space sciences and technologies (led by Thailand) to submit its final output on CD-ROM to the coordination office and secretariat for dissemination to other members.

7. Noticing the interest expressed in two previous symposiums held in conjunction with the meetings of the Group in 2000 and 2001, the meeting agreed that a symposium on microsatellite applications be organized back to back with the next Working Group meeting, with a special session on the applications of microsatellites for disaster management.

8. The meeting noticed with satisfaction that Advanced Data Acquisition and Messaging (ADAM), one of the simple common payloads developed partly through the Group for microsatellites, will be deployed on board the planned microsatellites FedSat (Australia), KAISTSAT-4 (Republic of Korea) and X-Sat (Singapore). This is considered one of the successes of regional cooperation under the Group. The meeting noted the possibility of establishing an informal ADAM Dialogue Forum to extend the availability of ADAM technology to other agencies in the region.

9. The meeting commended the coordination office for its draft Web site for the Regional Working Group, and recommended that this Web site should be hosted and maintained by the coordination office with linkage to and from the ESCAP Space Technology Applications Section (STAS) Web site.

10. The meeting decided to convey a message to the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, to seek its possible leading role in space science and technology applications in the Regional Working Group. The meeting believes that Japan can effectively contribute to the Group through its space experiments on board the International Space Station (ISS), as well as its disaster-related initiatives in the region.

11. The meeting noted with appreciation the offer made by the representative of China to consider hosting the coordination office for the period 2002-2004, subject to the approval of the Government of China. The meeting expressed its appreciation to Australia for hosting the current coordination office.

12. Considering the practice of the Group of hosting its meetings in different country locations on a rotating basis in past years, the meeting requested the representative of Viet Nam to explore the possibility of hosting the next meeting, subject to the approval of the Government of Viet Nam. The date and agenda of the meeting will be decided through consultation among the secretariat, the coordination office and the host country.

13. The participants of the meeting were encouraged to participate in the Regional Workshop on the Use of Space Technology for Disaster Management in Asia and the Pacific, scheduled in Bangkok on 11-15 November 2002.

II. PROCEEDINGS

A. Organization of the meeting

14. The seventh meeting of the Regional Working Group on Space Science and Technology Applications, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was held in the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13 to 15 May 2002.

B. Attendance

15. The meeting was attended by 18 participants from the following member countries: Australia, China, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. One observer from Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation and 11 observers from Thailand were also present. The ESCAP secretariat serviced the meeting. The list of the participants is attached as an annex.

C. Opening

16. The meeting was opened on 13 May 2002. The Executive Secretary of ESCAP, in his message delivered by the Officer-in-Charge of the Environment and Natural Resources Development Division of ESCAP, pointed out the importance of space science and technology as having a potential for supporting sustainable socio-economic development in the region. The Executive Secretary noted that the Regional Working Group had pursued consistently its major objective to develop a self-sustaining mechanism for promoting regional cooperation on space science and technology applications, since technology development has made it possible for developing countries to be involved in small- and microsatellite development and applications activities, and enhance their national confidence and capability in bridging the digital divide.

17. The Executive Secretary assured the meeting that ESCAP would continue to play its catalytic role to achieve greater regional cooperation in space technology applications. He expressed his appreciation to the members of the Regional Working Group for their active participation and support.

18. The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Thailand, Dr. Saksit Tridech, addressed to the meeting on behalf of the host country. He said that the great influence of practical applications of information and communication technology (ICT) had stimulated the process of globalization of the world economy, and space science and technology applications have contributed to informed decision-making for sustainable development and have helped to bridge the digital divide in Asia and the Pacific region.

19. He emphasized that Thailand has benefited from the applications of space science and technology since the 1960s, and was involved in many space science and technology applications-related regional and international cooperation activities. Thailand has hosted many activities under the regional cooperation network of RESAP, and would continue its support to the implementation of the Programme.

D. Election of officers

20. The meeting elected the following persons as members of its bureau:

Brian Embleton (Australia), Chairperson;
Bui Doan Trong (Viet Nam), Vice-Chairperson;
Tan Soon Hie (Singapore), Rapporteur.

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E. Adoption of the agenda

21. The meeting adopted the following agenda:

1. Opening of the meeting.
2. Election of officers.
3. Adoption of the agenda.
4. Report of the coordinating office.
5. Reports of the leaders of task forces/study teams of the Regional Working Group:
(a) Investigation of infrared technology for fire detection (Singapore);
(b) Preliminary feasibility study on developing educational resources suitable for use with low-cost ground stations (Australia);
(c) Low-cost infrastructure for high-speed Internet access in rural areas (China and the Republic of Korea);
(d) Sharing of space science data from space missions and ground networks (China and Indonesia).
6. Progress in implementing the Strategy and Action Plan:
(a) Regional report by ESCAP;
(b) Country reports by the national contact points.
7. Opportunities in space science and technology applications.
8. Substantive proposals on project activities for regional cooperation in the fields of space science and technology applications;
(a) Disaster management and environmental monitoring activities;
(b) Other proposals.
8. Tentative work plan for 2002-2003.
9. Decision on the candidature for the coordination office.
10. Venue and provisional agenda for the eighth meeting of the Regional Working Group.
11. Other matters.
12. Adoption of the report.

F. Report of the coordination office

22. The coordination office, hosted by the Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems (CRCSS) of Australia, reported on its activities since the previous meeting, with the support provided by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources of the Government of Australia.

23. The meeting was informed that the coordination office had fulfilled the work recommended by the sixth meeting of the Working Group. Including coordinating with relevant task force leaders, drafting of a template for the task/project reporting, and designing of a draft Web page and a Web-based discussion forum (open to public) for the Group.

24. The meeting commented and approved the report of the coordination office, and expressed its appreciation for the work of the office during last two-year term.

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G. Reports of the leaders of the taskforces/study teams of the Regional Working Group

1. Investigation of infrared technology for fire detection

25. The task force leader, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, informed the meeting on recent developments on infrared sensor technology, particularly for those sensors to be used for missions related to forest fire detection. The investigation was mainly focused on low cost, longer mission duration, and low-power-consuming infrared sensors for smaller satellites.

26. It expressed its regret at the news that the development of the infrared sensor/payload of NTU, which was planned for forest fire detection, could not meet the launch schedule of the planned X-Sat of Singapore.

27. The meeting commended the work of the task force and suggested that the task force be continued and its work be reviewed at the next meeting.

2. Preliminary study of feasibility of developing educational resources
suitable for use with low-cost ground stations

28. The task force leader, the Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems of Australia, informed the meeting that on-going collaboration between CRCSS and NTU has substantially progressed and has resulted in the development of Advanced Data Acquisition and Messaging, a two-way messaging payload for FedSat and X-Sat microsatellites. Classroom resources with low-cost Earth terminals will be further developed by CRCSS and NTU.

29. The meeting was informed that CRCSS has focused on developing classroom applications built around the use of FedSat to raise awareness of the benefits of space technology among schools in Australia and Japan through the Koala Project.

30. The meeting commended the work of the task force and suggested the task force be continued and its work be reviewed at the next meeting.

3. Low-cost infrastructure for high-speed Internet access in rural areas

31. The co-leader of the task force, Centre for Space Science and Applied Research (CSSAR), Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported on the activities of the task force.

32. The meeting noted that the task force had reported to the previous meeting on a satellite constellation concept for providing high-speed Internet access. Considering the recent technical development on the third generation of mobile telecommunication, the meeting agreed to the suggestion of the co-leader of the task force to terminate the project and accept it as completed.

4. Sharing of space science data from space missions and ground networks

33. The meeting noted that no objection has been received from LAPAN, Indonesia, to the proposal from the coordination office to recognize China as co-leader of the task force. The meeting decided that the task force would be co-led by China and Indonesia. China informed the meeting on recent progress of its Double Star Project for space weather exploration, which space science researchers believe will increase the understanding about the environment in which the Earth is situated. Australia and China informed the meeting that their space science data acquired from space missions and ground network will be sharable through appropriate arrangements.

34. The meeting commended the work of the task force and suggested that the task force be continued and its work be reviewed at the next meeting.

H. Report on progress in the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan
on space science and technology applications

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1. Regional report by the ESCAP secretariat

35. The ESCAP secretariat presented a report highlighting the main activities and achievements attained at the regional level in the past year. Three foci of ESCAP attention were emphasized: poverty alleviation; managing globalization, including bridging the digital divide; and tackling emerging social issues in the region. The meeting was reminded of the vision of the Regional Space Applications Program for Sustainable Development - contributing to the region's sustainable development and improved quality of life by promoting the applications of space-based information and communication technologies through regional cooperation.

36. The ESCAP secretariat organized and serviced the meetings of four Regional Working Groups and the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee under the regional cooperation network on space technology applications; developed and initiated the implementation of three projects with the financial and in-kind support from China, France and India; continued the regional information service through its two publications and Web site; a study on operational integration of space technology applications (satellite-based remote sensing, communication, meteorology, and positioning services) for sustainable development with the information superhighway was conducted; organized and held the third meeting of the Dialogue Forum on Harmonization of Regional Initiative for Space Cooperation; and provided 39 fellowships to support the training and education activities hosted by China, India and Indonesia on a technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) basis.

2. Country reports by the national contact points

37. The meeting noted with satisfaction that considerable progress had been attained at the national level, as summarized below by the national contact points.

Australia

38. The International Space Advisory Group (ISAG) was established recently under the auspices of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. ISAG will work on several aspects of international collaboration in space science and research projects, such as identifying opportunities in the involvement with the ISS and other international space programmes, and priority assessment in those programmes.

39. The meeting was informed of the recent progress of Australia's on-going, first microsatellite project FedSat, which is to be launched by Australia in November 2002 from the Tanegashima Space Centre, piggy-backing on the Japanese H-IIA rocket. It will be on a polar, sun-synchronous, circular orbit at an altitude of 800 kilometres and having an inclination of 98.6 degrees. It is expected to be operational just after the launch, experimenting on the ionosphere and lower atmosphere.

40. The FedSat mission experiments will concentrate on four main areas: communication (Ka-band subsystem, UHF-band messaging, and GaAs MMIC device qualification); satellite systems (high-performance computing); space science (ionosphere GPS soundings, lower atmosphere GPS soundings, magnetospheric studies, and geomagnetic main field studies); and navigation (precise orbit determination and GPS techniques).

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China

41. CSSAR summarized recent developments made in China. In July 2001, an official agreement between China and the European Space Agency on cooperation on the Double Star Project was signed. This project consists of two small satellites running in polar and equatorial orbit separately, with 16 payloads for integrated Earth magnetosphere exploration, including energetic particles imaging, plasma probe, and magnetic field measurement. The flight model of equatorial satellite would be launched in June 2003, and the polar satellite in January 2004.

42. CSSAR and the Institute of Solar Terrestrial Physics of Russia have set up a joint research centre on space weather research; 22 research projects have already been selected for financial support.

43. China launched the third test module of its manned space program on 25 March 2002. On board the spacecraft, scientific exploration and experiments were carried out, including mid-resolution spectrometer imaging, solar ultraviolet spectral irradiance and solar constant monitoring, Earth radiation budget measurement, crystal growth and cell cultivation in space. The crystal and cell samples retrieved with the capsule are under further analysis. Some other experiments and observations will continue until this summer.

44. The FY-1 (D), a polar orbit meteorological satellite, will be launched together with HY-1 (China's first ocean satellite) in mid-May 2002. CBERS-1 (B), a remote sensing satellite developed through the cooperation between China and Brazil, will be launched this year. To be launched with CBERS-1 (B) is a small satellite named CX-1 for communication experiment.

Malaysia

45. The representative of Malaysia informed the meeting that the National Space Agency (NSA) would be established in July 2002 by the Government of Malaysia, as a division under the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment. It will be responsible for formulating national space policy, the national space programme, technology transfer programme, and national human resource and infrastructure programmes.

46. After its first microsatellite TiungSAT-1, launched in September 2000, Malaysia is developing a Medium-size Aperture Camera Satellite (MACSAT), in cooperation with Satellite Technology Research Initiatives (SaTReC-i) of the Republic of Korea. MAC will provide 2.5-m panchromatic and 5.0-m multispectral resolution, and the combined payload of MAC and MACSAT is engineered to be approximately 200 kilograms.

47. To overcome the problem of infrequent and expensive launch opportunities for small satellites to the low equatorial orbit, Malaysia is now collaborating with a company from the United States in developing a novel concept, the Small Payload Orbit Transfer (SPORT). SPORT can perform a variety of orbit transfer operations to fit any mission using a patented atmospheric braking technique, which was pioneered by NASA.

48. Malaysia has been accepted as a full member of the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in December 2001 together with the Republic of Korea and four other countries.

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Republic of Korea

49. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) informed the meeting that the KAISTSAT-4 programme has successfully completed its Qualification Model in April 2002, and will finish its Flight Model by the end of this year. The satellite will be launched by a COSMOS launch vehicle.

50. Based on the concept of simple common payload, which was proposed earlier within the Regional Working Group, SaTReC of KAIST and the Institute for Telecommunications Research of the University of South Australia agreed to share a common Data Collection System (DCS) payload (ADAM payload for FEDSAT-1) for their satellites.

51. The plan for the development of mobile terminals for DCS (ADAM) application is under discussion between SaTReC and ITR. It is planned that ITR will take charge in developing the miniaturized based band processor, while SaTReC will be responsible for the development of the radio frequency communication system.

52. The KAISTSAT-5 programme will start from August this year. The KAISTSAT-5 will be launched in 2005 by a Korean-made launch vehicle, named KSLV, from the Korean Space Centre located in the southern part of the Korean peninsula.

Singapore

53. Nanyang Technological University reported that the X-Sat, the first microsatellite to be designed and constructed entirely within the Satellite Engineering Centre (SEC) of NTU has been initiated. Its mission objectives are Earth observation and imaging of the land/sea surfaces for environmental monitoring applications and satellite-based data acquisition/distribution and messaging using mobile terminals.

54. Under this X-Sat project, a 10-m-resolution multispectral imaging instrument, as the primary payload, will be developed in partnership with SaTReC-i of the Republic of Korea. The secondary payload is based on the ADAM payload developed originally for Australia's FedSat. NTU will focus its effort on the X-Sat space bus design and development and the ADAM payload.

55. The X-Sat project of SEC is scheduled for completion in 2005-2006. The qualification model is scheduled for completion by mid-2004 and the flight model by mid-2005. Launch of X-Sat is expected in early 2006.

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Thailand

56. Three classic telecommunication satellites in the Thaicom series are in operation. In the near future, iPSTAR, a broadband satellite system, will provide telecommunications and multimedia services to households, business and public organizations. Individual households will have access to a wide variety of pay television and video-on-demand services, low-cost Internet protocol voice telephony, and high-speed Internet connections. This satellite will be launched in 2004. Thailand can strengthen its low-cost flexible infrastructure for telecommunication access in all areas.

57. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), established in November 2000, was the core agency for remote sensing, GIS, GPS and related activities in Thailand. There are various active groups and projects under GISTDA, related to space information applications, including related oceanographic research.

58. Mahanakorn University of Technology of Thailand started to cooperate with Surrey Technology, Ltd., of England to develop Thaipat-1 microsatellite, which is in low-Earth orbit and sun-synchronous and was launched in 1998, with successful digital communication and engineering experiment missions. Presently, Mahanakorn University is developing Thaipat-2 microsatellite, Communication and Earth Observation Satellite, built on the experience of Thaipat-1. Thailand is negotiating with Algeria, China, England, Nigeria, and Turkey to form an international constellation of satellites. Thaipat-2 will be launched in March 2003. Moreover, Mahanakorn University of Technology is conducting from mid-2001 until the end of 2003 a feasibility project on Thaipat-3 (EOSAT). This remote sensing satellite would have 2.5-m resolution.

59. Thailand signed a MOU for cooperation in Small Multi-mission Satellite (SMMS) project and related activities under the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA) with China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, and the Republic of Korea in 1999. Thailand will be fully responsible for developing and building the Ka-band subsystem to be deployed on board the satellite.

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Viet Nam

60. The Viet Nam National Centre for Science and Technology (NCST) reported that in the last year, the Space Technology Applications in Viet Nam has continued to work on natural disaster mitigation, natural resources and environmental monitoring. A master plan for developing space technology applications in Viet Nam for the period of 2005 and 2010 has been developed. According to this plan, a ground station for receiving data from Landsat, SPOT and Radarsat satellites will be established very soon in the country. A pre-feasibility study on a Vietnamese small satellite project for the purpose of natural disaster and environmental monitoring has been submitted to the Government of Viet Nam.

61. In the field of space technology instrumentation, spectrometers, microwave radiometers and small ground stations for receiving high-resolution data of NOAA, GMS and FY-Z were being produced, and a receiving station for Terra/MODIS was established in the National Centre for Science and Technology of Viet Nam.

I. Opportunities in space science and technology applications

62. Japan Manned Space Systems Cooperation made a comprehensive presentation on the space flight opportunities provided by the Japanese Experimental Module to the International Space Station. The modules and experimental payload of which Japan is contributing to the ISS, and in particular the experimental module KIBO, were presented.

63. The meeting was informed that the ISS Business Forum, which was established on 30 August 2000 in Japan, has a major objective to develop commercial business in the Asia-Pacific region using ISS.

64. The meeting was informed that KAIST (Republic of Korea), NTU (Singapore), CRCSS (Australia) and the Institute for Telecommunications Research (Australia) are collaborating on the development and application of the Advanced Data Acquisition and Messaging (ADAM) payload, based on the task force under the Group. ADAM will be deployed on FedSat, KAISTSAT-4 and X-Sat. There is an opportunity to extend the dialogue to encourage further development and application of ADAM to microsatellite projects among ESCAP member agencies in the Asia-Pacific Region. The meeting noted the possibility of establishing an informal ADAM dialogue forum to explore the future use of ADAM and to extend the availability of ADAM technology to other agencies in the region.

J. Substantive proposals on project activities for regional cooperation
in the fields of space science and technology applications

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1. Disaster management and environmental monitoring activities

65. The ESCAP secretariat briefed the meeting on the concept of a regional cooperative mechanism in space technology applications for disaster management. Based on recent technology availability in Earth observation satellite, broadband Internet, communications satellite, and disaster management-oriented information technology applications, and the strong will expressed by many space agencies and international organizations, it is now timely for the region to promote a regional cooperative mechanism to assist developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, to benefit the space-based information and communications technology applications to support their national efforts towards informed disaster management.

66. The meeting highly appreciated the concept and agreed to support and contribute to its development and realization. In this connection, the meeting decided to initiate the preparation of a task force under the Group to conduct studies and make appropriate recommendations in space science and technology applications in support of a regional disaster cooperative mechanism. The meeting asked the secretariat to inform all Group members through their representatives, and to seek advice from their respective national focal points to RESAP and their individual organizations on the possible roles and contributions of their countries to the proposed task force, for discussion at the next session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on RESAP in Beijing on 7-8 June 2002, and the subsequent meeting of the Regional Working Group.

67. Participants also requested the Earth observation satellite operators, including small satellites, among the Group's members to provide satellite data free of charge to developing countries through ESCAP to support disaster management related projects.

K. Tentative work plan for 2002-2003

68. The tentative work plan for 2002, which had been approved by the ICC at its seventh session in Hanoi, Viet Nam, in June 2001, and the proposed work plan for 2003 were presented to the Regional Working Group. The meeting suggested including in the work plan for 2003 the proposed third symposium on microsatellite applications with a special session on disaster management.

L. Decision on the candidature for the coordination office

69. The meeting noted with appreciation the offer made by the representative of China to consider hosting the coordination office for the period 2002-2004, subject to the approval of the Government of China. The meeting expressed its appreciation to Australia for hosting of the current coordination office.

M. Venue and provisional agenda of the eighth meeting of the Regional Working Group

70. Considering the practice of the Group of hosting its meetings in an alternate manner in past years, the meeting requested the representative of Viet Nam to explore the possibility of hosting the next meeting, subject to the approval of the Government of Viet Nam. The date and agenda of the meeting will be decided through consultation among the secretariat, the coordination office and the host country.

71. The meeting suggested that future host countries, hosting the meeting, should be determined one or two years in advance, on a rotational basis.

N. Other matters

72. No other matters were raised.

O. Adoption of the report

73. The report was adopted on 15 May 2002.

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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

AUSTRALIA

Mr. Brian Embleton, Executive Director, Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems, GPO Box 1483, Canberra ACT 2601. Fax: (61-2) 6216-7272, tel.: (61-2) 6216-7280, email: brian.embleton@csiro.au

CHINA

Mr. Wang Yu, Deputy Director, Centre for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 8701, Beijing. Fax: (86-10) 625-76921, tel.: (86-10) 625-82763, email: wynt@263.net

Ms. Zhang Xiaoxi, Project Manager, Centre for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 8701, Beijing. Fax: (86-10) 625-76921, tel.: (86-10) 625-82782, email: xxzh@ac.poac.ac.cn

MALAYSIA

Mr. Jaafar Ahmad, Acting Director General, Space Science Studies Division, Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, National Planetarium, Lot 53, Jalan Perdana 50480, Kuala Lumpur. Fax: (60-3) 227-35488, tel.: (60-3) 227-35484, email: jaafar@baksa.gov.my

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Mr. Dong-Jo Park, Professor, Department of Electric Engineering and Computer Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Kusong-dong, Yusong-gu, Taejon. Fax: (82-42) 869-3410, tel.: (82-42) 869-3438, email: djpark@ee.kaist.ac.kr

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SINGAPORE

Mr. Tan Soon Hie, Associate Professor, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. Fax: (65-6) 792-0415, tel.: (65-6) 790-5390, email: eshtan@ntu.edu.sg

Mr. Kandiah Arichandran, Associate Professor, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. Fax: (65-6) 791-2687, tel.: (65-6) 790-5030, email: ekari@ntu.edu.sg

Mr Chua Tai Wei, Assistant Professor, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. Fax: (65-6) 792 0415, tel.: (65-6) 790 6859, email: etwchua@ntu.edu.sg

THAILAND

Ms. Anchansiri Sriyanont, First Secretary, International Development Affairs Division, Department of International Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok. Fax: (66-2) 643-5071, tel.: (66-2) 643-5078, email: div0805@mfa.go.th

Mr. Somkiat Suchatpanich, Engineer, Satellite Department, Communications Authority of Thailand, 99 Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10002. Fax: (66-2) 574-6053, tel.: (66-2) 574-1241, email: somkiat@adm.cat.or.th

Mr. Kusolmongkol Suvarnakudht, Engineer Class 8, Department of Telecommunication, System Engineering, Telephone Organization of Thailand, 89/2 Moo 3, Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi, Bangkok. Fax: (66-2) 574-8401, tel.: (66-2) 574-9684

Mr. Tosporn Simtrakarn, Vice President, International Telecommunication Transmission, Communications Authority of Thailand, 99 Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10002. Fax: (66-2) 573-5476, tel.: (66-2) 574-4586

Mr. Tanin Youkhaw, Engineer Class 8, Engineering Department, Communications Authority of Thailand, 99 Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10002. Fax: (66-2) 574-4794, tel.: (66-2) 573-2206, email: ytanin@adm.cat.or.th

Mr. Keattisak Amonprasertsook, Engineer 7, Department of Town and Country and Country Planning, 224 Rama IX Road, Hauykwang District, Bangkok. Fax: (66-2) 246-0181, tel.: (66-2) 201-8226, email: kcatt@dtcp.go.th

Captain Sirichai Noeytong, RTN, Director, Cartographic Division, Hydrographic Department, Bangkok. Fax: (66-2) 475-4766, tel.: (66-2) 475-4728

Mr. Pitan Singhasaneh, Head, Oceanographic Research Section, Space Technology Division, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, 196 Phahonyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900. Fax: (66-2) 561-3035, tel.: (66-2) 9405515, email: pitan@gistda.go.th

Ms. Rujira Thammachat, Official Class 5, Post and Telegraph Department, International Service Division, 87 Phahonyothin Road, Phayathai, Bangkok. Fax: (66-2) 278-1836, tel.: (66-2) 272-7054, email: rujira@ptd.go.th

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VIET NAM

Mr. Bui Doan Trong, Deputy Director, Institute of Physics, Vietnam National Centre for Natural Science and Technology, Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi. Fax: (84-4) 756-4483, tel.: (84-4) 756-2942, email: bdtrong@netnam.org.vn
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OBSERVERS

Mr. Tomohiro Ichikawa, Senior Engineer, Planning Division, Administration and Planning Department, Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation, Tsukuba Office / Yasuda Building, 1-1-26, Kawaaguchi, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki 300-0033. Fax: (81) 298-26-8761, tel.: (81) 298-26-8751, email: ichi@jamss.co.jp

Mr. Urith Boonmark, Director, Science Centre for Education, 928 Sukhumvit Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. Fax: (66-2) 391-0522, tel.: (66-2) 392-3160

Ms. Lalida Limwuthigaijirat, Telecommunication Engineer Class 4, Frequency Section II, Frequency Management Division, Post and Telegraph Department, 87 Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok 10400. Fax: (66-2) 278-2530, tel.: (66-2) 271-0151-60 ext. 313, email: lalida@ptd.go.th

Mr. Nopparath Kasemboonsiri, Telecommunication Engineer Class 4, Frequency Section II, Frequency Management Division, Post and Telegraph Department, 87 Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok 10400. Fax: (66-2) 278-2530, tel.: (66-2) 271-0151-60 ext. 313, email: nopparath@ptd.go.th

Mr. Sujate Jantarang, Vice President, Mahanakorn University Technology, 51 Cheum-Samaon Road, Nong Chok, Bangkok 10530. Fax: (66-2) 988-4040, tel.: (66-2) 988-3666, email: sujate@mut.ac.th

Mr. Thongchai Charuppat, Director, Forest Resources Assessment Division, Royal Forest Department, Phahonyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900. Fax: (66-2) 579-9484, tel.: (66-2) 579-9484, email: thongchai@forest.go.th

Ms. Salin Weerabutra, Director of Academic Services, Science Centre for Education, 928 Sukhumvit Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. Fax: (66-2) 391-0522, tel.: (66-2) 392-3160

Mr. Supan Karnchanasutham, Director, GIS and RS Subdivision, Office of Agricultural Economics, Nonthaburi, Thailand. Fax: (66-2) 940-7036, tel.: (66-2) 940-7035, email: supan@mozart.inct.co.th

Maj. Gen. Choompon Kirdnark, Deputy Director General, Defence Space Technology Centre, 47/433, Moo 6, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand. Fax: (66-2) 980-5953, tel.: (66-2) 980-5856

Mr. Preecha Yupapin, Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520. Fax: (66-2) 327-1023, tel.: (66-2) 737-3000, email: yupapin.preccha@kmith.ac.th

Ms. Navanit Aphicholati, Engineer, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, 196 Phahonyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900. Fax: (66-2) 561-2472, tel.: (66-2) 940-5662), email: navanit@gistda.or.th
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SECRETARIAT

Mr. Guoxiang Wu Chief, Space Technology Applications Section, Environment and Natural Resources Development Division, ESCAP Secretariat, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200. Tel.: (66-2) 288-1456, fax: (66-2) 288-3012, email: wugu@un.org

Mr. Nokeo Ratanavong Scientific Affairs Officer, Space Technology Applications Section, Environment and Natural Resources Development Division, ESCAP Secretariat, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue Bangkok 10200. Tel.: (66-2) 288-1458, fax: (66-2) 288-3012, email: ratanavong.unescap@un.org

Mr. David Hastings GIS Officer, Space Technology Applications Section, Environment and Natural Resources Development Division, ESCAP Secretariat, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200. Tel.: (66-2) 288-1457, fax: (66-2) 288-3012

Mr. Cihat Basocak GIS Officer, Space Technology Applications Section, Environment and Natural Resources Development Division, ESCAP Secretariat, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200. Tel: (66-2)288-1523, fax: (66-2)288-3012, email: basocak.unescap@un.org