Developing countries opportunities in the space business · Developing countries opportunities in the space business ... simulation/modeling platforms. ... Developing countries opportunities

Developing countries opportunities in the space business

M.Mahmoud.IbrahimExecutive Manager of the EduSat program

National Authority for Remote Sensing and space Sciences - EgyptIstanbul,2010

United Nations/Turkey/European Space Agency Workshop on “Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits”

Topics

• Introduction• NARSS• The Egyptian space program• Capacity building in Egypt• Current projects• The EduSat program• Space business• Developing countries needs• Small satellites• The Egyptian initiative• Conclusion


Introduction

• This presentation discusses the available opportunities and conditions for developing countries to make use of today's space technologies within limited budgets.

• It introduces the Egyptian space program facilities.

• Discusses funding possibilities for joint space projects.

• Presents an Egyptian initiative for international cooperation.


NARSS

• NARSS is the pioneering Egyptian institution in the field of satellite remote sensing.

• established in 1971 as an American-Egyptian joint project that was affiliated to the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology.

• In 1994 the Authority was established as an organization under the State Ministry of Scientific Research.

• NARSS includes two major sectors: Remote Sensing and Space Technology.

• Responsible for implementing the Egyptian Space Program.


The Egyptian space Program

• Initiated on 1998 through thesupreme council for Space researches.

• The first Joint project “EgyptSat1” ,incooperation with Yuzhnoye SDO-Ukraine, Remote sensing satellite at7.8m, launched on 17th of April 2007.

• More than 60 trained specialists andsystem engineers.

• AIT facilities.• Engineering model labs.• Ground control station.• Data reception station.




Current projects

• EgyptSat2, Remote sensing satellite at 2.5m.• Satellite Testing & simulation lab, advanced test

facilities, configurable designs and simulation/modeling platforms.

• Complete design and production of Highly reliable computer system for space missions.

• Complete design and production of S-Band communication system.

• Development of onboard/ground software for EgyptSat2.

• Educational satellites [EdutSat series, Egycubesat1] [in cooperation with ITU]


EgyptSat 1 image

Cairo (down Town)



EduSat program

• A national program for educating university students the space technology.

• 3 major Egyptian universities. • More than 100 student.• A pilot project.• Promotion of public

awareness.• Signed as a protocol with

Bibliotheca Alexandrina.


Capacity building in Egypt

• According to the Presidential decree number 218/2007, under which the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) was founded, its mandate is to promote science and technology (S&T) through funding scientific research and technological development in a way that supports the complete cycle of innovation.


• The STDF vision is to act as a leverage mechanism or a tool of change for the improvement of the life of Egyptians.

• Its mission is to generate a critical mass of human, logistic and infrastructure resources that are needed for a complete cycle of innovation.

• Consequently, the STDF specific objectives are to fund S&T activities; support the complete cycle of innovation; disseminate information on S&T; and monitor S&T system through the development and monitoring of S&T indicators.

• STDF should achieve its objectives through a properly developed working plan within the context of the national strategy set by the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST).


Capacity building in Egypt

Space business

• Space technology and applications through remote sensing satellites is a real international business.

• The business case depends on saving lives and assets, promote living conditions and enhance living opportunities through forecasting and early warning systems.

• Also, it presents a reliable tool for sustainable development activities.


Space business

• Space technology and applications attracts:

- Governments [Military, intelligence, communications, Sustainable development, strategic & Political reasons]

- Private sector [Media, communications]

- Scientific institutes and universities [Remote sensing, Education]


Space business

• The space program model in Egypt started as a centralized one.

• The government is responsible for everything [legislation, standards, strategies, implementation]

• a better model is to focus the governmental involvement on [strategies, standardization]

• While delegate the implementation to public and private sector companies.


Developing countries needs

• Developing countries mainly need space applications not technology.[this is a misconception]

• Problems related to crop identification, water resources, urbanization, and environmental pollutions need to be solved.[they are important]

• But we also need technology as it opens new dimensions for the country [Software exports in India at 6 Billion $]


Difficulties

• Space is not a mass production industry. [it is expensive]• Risky projects.• Many satellites increase the debris problem.• The return on investment is not always felt by the government

cause integration level among its authorities is low.• No one is welling to pay without having real figures on the expected

return on investment not just doing space for proud. [it is a business].

• The society and some officials does not feel a direct impact of space technology and sometimes criticizes the need for investing in it.

• Not enough political support.• Priority list in developing countries focus on other areas rather than

space. • No common language among authorities and decision makers.


Opportunities

• Focusing on applications [remote sensing] is important but focusing on technology opens new dimensions.

• An excel in computer systems, software, communications is only possible through technology.

• This generates high ROI figures to support the programs. [economic resources]

• Promote regional and international cooperation.


Make or buy?

The major question:

• Make the sensor [satellite] or buy its products and use them.

• In other words Focus on Space technology or space applications?


Make or buy?

• Make means more control, accessibility, sovereignty.

• Buy means less control, less accessibility, and Subjugation.

• Small satellites changed the ideas…


Small satellites

• Technology gave us the opportunity to make use of small satellites in serious missions.

• With their pros and cons we still have the opportunity to launch a satellite for scientific purposes every 3 to 5 years.

• A LEO satellite weighting about 180kg, for Remote sensing costs around 40M$.

• If the country had a small satellite than probably it still has the opportunity to re-use all of its ground segment in new projects.

• International cooperation in funding the projects reduces the costs too much.


The official Egyptian initiative

The Arab republic of Egypt is proud to call foran international cooperation among themiddle east, African and Arab countries tobuild a joint remote sensing satellite thatwould share its benefits among all membercountries, Egypt takes the chance to invite theUNOOSA, and interested countries toparticipate in a conference to be held atsharm el sheik – city for this specific purpose.


The idea

• The idea is to decompose a microsatellite project among several countries.

• Each country participate with one or more subsystem.• working according to international standards. • Technical support from strategic partners [NASA]• Promote SME to start space business.• Re-use the outputs in other projects.• This gives a relative importance for each country and

sustains the need for its participation in future projects.


benefits• Sustain national programs.• Promote Research , development and educational programs. [universities].• Reduce the problem of debris [sharing a satellite rather than having multiple

satellites] [UN regulations]• Countries having data reception stations will benefit from the satellite directly.• Control from multiple Redundant locations (cross support – control management

system).• Each country will participate with a subsystem.[low costs].• Design reusability. [platform and subsystems]• Promote international cooperation and integration.• Standardization and common work. [space alliance]• implement the UN initiative to teach and disseminate space technology in

developing countries.• Cross culture work environment , gets us closer.• All countries benefit from it as all share it


Issues to handle

• Project management.

• Systems engineering.

• AIT

• Subsystems engineering.

• Control station(s) regime.

• launching


Conclusion

• Developing countries opportunities in the space business lays in cooperation [collectivism rather than individualism].

• Space technology opens new dimensions for developing countries [software, computers, communications, electronics]

• Space companies worldwide can make use of available low cost skilled labour in developing countries [outsourcing].

• Collaborations reduce costs.• Reusability is a key issue.• The Egyptian initiative.


How to show interest

• send an email to the following email address, indicating your affiliation interest.

• Information should contain Name, country, Authority, mail address.

• An official invitation with the conference details will be sent to your Authority.

[email protected]

www.narss.sci.egUnited Nations/Turkey/European Space Agency Workshop on “Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits”

mailto:[email protected]�

http://www.narss.sci.eg/�

Thank you


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Developing countries opportunities in the space business · Developing countries opportunities in the space business ... simulation/modeling platforms. ... Developing countries opportunities