United Nations/United Arab Emirates Symposium on Basic Space Technology
"Small Satellite Missions for Developing Space Nations"

20-23 October 2013, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Background

In-follow up to the series of three UN/Austria/ESA Symposiums on Small Satellite Programmes for Sustainable Development , held in Graz, Austria, from 2009 to 2011, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs will organize International Symposiums on Basic Space Technology Development in the regions that correspond to the United Nations Economic Commissions for Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Asia, starting in 2012.

The first Symposium was held as the United Nations/Japan Nano-Satellite Symposium, hosted by the University of Tokyo and co-hosted by the University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC) and held in Nagoya, Japan, in conjunction with the Japan Aerospace 2012, from 10-13 October 2012. The present Symposium for the Western Asia region will be hosted by the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) at the Zayed University Conference Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 20-23 October 2013.

Symposium Objectives

The Symposium objectives will build on the outcomes of the aforementioned BSTI Symposiums held from 2009 to 2012. The relevant symposium reports, containing the objectives, symposium summaries and observations and recommendations made by participants, are available here.

The objectives of the UN/UAE Symposium will be to:

  • Review the status of capacity building in basic space technology, in particular in the field of small satellites (<100 kg) development activities and with a focus on regional and international cooperation opportunities for countries in Western Asia;
  • Examine issues relevant to the implementation of small satellite programmes, in particular organizational capacity building, development and testing infrastructure and launch opportunities;
  • Elaborate on regulatory issues of space technology development programmes, such as frequency allocation, space debris mitigation measures and import/export controls;
  • Elaborate on legal issues and responsibilities related to space technology development programmes, such as those emanating from the relevant provisions in international space law;
  • Continue the development of an education curriculum for aerospace engineering;
  • Discuss the way forward for the Basic Space Technology Initiative (BSTI).

Symposium Report

Available in all six languages (A/AC.105/1052)

Symposium Programme

The Symposium programme will be structured around a series of topical sessions. Presentations will be solicited through a Call for Papers. In addition, renowned experts in the field will be invited to make some of the presentations. Working Groups will be established to consider specific topics and to discuss observations and recommendations on the basis of which a United Nations General Assembly report will be prepared for the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Appropriate time will be set aside for discussions and for short presentations by participants on their own relevant activities.

The following topics will be considered in dedicated sessions:

  • Capacity Building in Basic Space Technology Development
    This session will discuss the latest developments in the field of space technology development capacity building. This will include presentations on various institutions and their experiences with establishing small satellite programmes. Opportunities for international and regional cooperation will also be considered.
  • Infrastructures for Basic Space Technology Development
    This session will look at the requirements for development and (environmental) testing facilities for basic space technology development. Experiences with the establishment of such facilities in universities and research institutions will be shared.
  • Launch Opportunities for Small Satellite Missions
    Launch opportunities for small satellites remain a major bottle-neck for small satellite developers. Launch opportunities are often limited in terms of launcher availability, delivery orbit and cost. Launch cost still constitute the major budget item of small satellite missions.
  • Small Satellite Platforms for Earth Observations
    Over the last few years' affordable small satellite platforms have been developed, capable of delivering medium- to high-resolution imagery for a wide range of geospatial applications. This session will review the latest developments in the field.
  • Regulatory and Legal Issues
    Regulatory and legal considerations play an important role in the implementation of small satellite programmes. The session will include discussions on the allocation and registration of frequencies with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the registration of satellites with the United Nations, launching State liabilities, space debris mitigation guidelines and import/export controls.
  • Working Groups of the International Panel of Experts for the Development of the Education Curriculum on Space Engineering
    In follow up to its first meeting held at the BSTI Symposium in 2012, this session will re-convene the International Panel of Experts for the development of the Education Curriculum on Space Engineering.
  • Working Group on Observation and Recommendations
    This session will be dedicated to discussing the Symposium observations and recommendations.

Detailed Symposium programme:

  • Final Symposium Programme
  • Poster Presentations
  • Panels
  • Presentations/Posters (zip., 120 Mbyte)
  • Information for speakers: A .pdf version of your presentation/paper will be included in the Symposium Proceedings (CD/DVD/Website) and we therefore kindly ask you to bring along an electronic version of your presentation/paper, ready for dissemination. If your name/presentation is not yet included in the draft Symposium programme, if you wish to make any changes to your presentation title or if you have any other questions regarding the programme, please contact Mr. Werner Balogh (E-mail: werner.balogh@unoosa.org, Tel: +43-1-26060-4952).
  • Invited participants having a paper accepted for a poster presentation will be asked to prepare and bring an A1-size poster (approx. 594 x 841 mm) to the Symposium.

Logistics (Hotel Arrangements, Location)

  • Information Note
  • Preliminary Information on the Host Institution, Conference Facilities, Visa and Hotel Arrangements
  • Symposium location: the Symposium will be held at the Zayed University Conference Center situated at Dubai Academic City. For driving instructions see here.
  • Accommodation for funded participants:
    All funded participants will be staying at the Holiday Express Inn Airport. If you your ticket has been arranged by the United Nations or if you have notified Ms. Ayoni Oyeneyin by 27 September 2013 about your arrival time and flight number, you will be met at the airport upon your arrival and brought to the hotel. Please note that funded participants will be required to keep a deposit or a valid credit card to be blocked as a deposit upon checking in. This is to cover any extra expenses or damages during their stay. The deposit will be refunded back to the delegates upon checking out.
    Please also note that there will be no other financial support such as daily subsidy allowance payments for funded participants and that you will be responsible for any other expenses related to your participation in the Symposium.
  • Accommodation recommendations for self-funded participants:
    If you are looking to reduce the spending on transportation from Hotel to the venue and vises versa it is recommend to book with Premier Inn Silicon Oasis hotel. It is just 5 minutes away via taxi from the Symposium venue, yet for transportation around the city, it might cost more to reach to the nearest metro station (Al Rashideyya Metro Station 30 Minutes away by taxi)
    If you are looking for hotel that is near to a metro station that can facilitate your transportation around the city it is recommended to stay either with Premier Inn Dubai International Airport hotel or Holiday Inn Express Airport hotel. These hotels are just 2 minutes walking away from a metro station, however, it will cost more to reach to the venue on daily basis as both hotels are 45 minutes away from the venue (due to traffic).
  • Lunch arrangements during the Symposium:
    Buffet lunch will be provided to all invited participants (funded and self-funded participants).

Visa Arrangements (discontinued)

Invited participants requiring a visa to enter the UAE are kindly requested to complete the following procedure:

Please fill the visa form accessible through this link and send it together with a copy of your invitation letter and with the documents listed below to Ms. Ghariba Salem, who will assist you with the visa application process:

  1. Passport copies valid at least for 6 months from date of entry
  2. Passport size picture (straight with white background)

Symposium Registration and Application for Financial Support (Application/Registration is Closed)

Those interested in participating in the Symposiums are requested to submit an application using the online application form. Alternatively, the fully completed application form (.pdf, .doc) and all other required documents shall be scanned and submitted in electronic format (.doc or .pdf) by email to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (unpsa@unoosa.org).

Within the limited financial resources available to the co-sponsors, qualified applicants who express the need for assistance will be offered financial support to attend the Symposium. This may include the provision of a round-trip air ticket between Dubai and the applicant's international airport of departure and daily subsistence allowances to cover board and lodging for the duration of the Symposium. En-route expenses or any changes made to the air ticket must be borne by the participants. Preference will be given to qualified applicants from developing countries and to qualified applicants whose nominating institutions will cover the cost of travel to/from Dubai.

  • Online Application Form (requests for funding support are no longer being accepted)

In exceptional cases where applicants do not have access to electronic mail, the completed application may also be sent by postal mail or forwarded through the Office of the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the applicant's country to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria.

Applications must be received by the Office for Outer Space Affairs at the latest by Sunday, 30 June 2013. Only complete applications with all the requested information and signatures will be considered.

Reference Materials

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