Welcome to your weekly newsletter from satsearch
In these emails, we share trending stories from the industry, along with insights from our work operating the global marketplace for space. Let's dive in and take a look at some of the developments that caught our eye last week.
ESA to provide technical support to the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA)
ASECNA is a public institution established in 1959 in Senegal. Among its responsibilities in Africa is the provision of air navigation services in an airspace of 16.5 million square kilometers. This area is divided into six flight information regions covering the agency's member states.
In a new agreement, the European Space Agency (ESA) is to provide a Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) based on the pan-European satellite navigation system, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), and Galileo.
The technology is used to guide aircraft across Europe safely in to land in any visibility, with an accuracy of 60 meters height above ground. Future iterations of the technologies (specifically EGNOS V3, currently scheduled for initial implementation in 2028) will provide even greater accuracy, potentially enabling automated landing.
The system being developed by ASECNA, with ESA's support, will operate in the same manner as the European service, based on a fully African-built and operated infrastructure (including both ground- and space-based assets). Find out more here.
Emerging markets are providing a two-way opportunity in the space industry, driven by large-scale collaboration and international agreements. Purchasing power in regions with little space heritage can be exploited by established companies, while new suppliers in those regions also have growing capacity to compete for global business.
The ESA-ASECNA agreement is a good example of a large-scale initiative driven by public safety, among other factors, and our next story provides another.
Thailand Marine Department to deploy Globalstar Spot Gen4 satellite trackers Via Thaicom
Tourism is one of the pillars of Thailand's economy, particularly in locations such as the island of Phuket. The safety of the approximately 20,000 visitors per day is paramount to the local government stakeholders and organizations tasked with tourists' comfort and welfare, which includes preventing criminal incidents.
In a new project, the Thailand Marine Department is to deploy SPOT Gen4 satellite messengers which will be used to track tourists throughout their stay, on-shore and at sea. The devices will be implemented as part of a partnership between Globalstar and Thaicom Public Company Limited, Asia’s largest independent satellite operator.
A pilot project is currently underway which, if successful, could result in the development of a new system where every tourist is required to carry a SPOT Gen4 and use them to check in with guides upon completion of day trips or excursions. In the event of an accident or emergency, they will be used to locate individuals by emergency services. Find out more here.
The Asian market has been a source of significant growth for the space industry in recent years and it is very interesting to learn about projects such as this in which large-area connectivity is powering local services.
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