Singapore’s OSTIn to join COSPAR as 46th National Member

The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is pleased to announce that the Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTIn) in Singapore becomes the 46th National Scientific Institution to join COSPAR as a Member.

Singapore is now the 15th Asian country and 46th country worldwide to become a member of COSPAR. Singapore’s Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTIn) will act as the National Scientific Institution representing Singapore in the COSPAR governance, with one seat and one vote in the COSPAR Council. OSTIn will coordinate national efforts linked to the representation of Singapore in COSPAR, for example, with space science related research and education activities undertaken at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and National University of Singapore, and public research organisations such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

Singapore’s successful application to become a member of COSPAR follows several months of discussion between NTU and COSPAR, with the support from OSTIn. Alongside this, NTU has taken the lead to organise the 5th COSPAR Symposium in Singapore on 16-21 April 2023, with OSTIn also strongly supporting this effort.

COSPAR Scientific Symposia aim at promoting space research at a regional level and generally take place in countries with developing space infrastructures. Centered on the topic of Space Science with Small Satellites, this Symposium will gather several hundreds of participants from Asia and the world to address the very rapid advances made in the last decade in small, micro, and nano-satellites for space science. In addition, the Symposium will cover the space debris issue in Low-Earth Orbit. Another focus area will be Capacity Building using small satellite technologies and the perspective of emerging space nations such as Singapore.

Singapore in space

Singapore has a vibrant and growing space ecosystem that builds on the country’s strengths in areas like remote sensing, microelectronics and advanced manufacturing. There are more than 60 local and international companies, and over 2,000 professionals and researchers in the local space industry. These companies are engaged in a wide range of space-related activities across the value chain including disruptive components, AIT and space-based QKD.

To date, Singapore has more than 20 satellites launched into space, and more than 15 satellites in the pipeline. Singapore’s space research scene is also growing, with satellite engineering research centres and centres for remote sensing residing in the Institutes of Higher Learning, as well as others focusing on adjacent research areas such as weather and climate change that utilises space technology.