Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization Explained

The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an inter-governmental organization operated as a non-profit independent body with full international legal status. It is headquartered in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Members include agencies from:^[1] Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey. In 2005, the APSCO convention^[2] was signed in Beijing.^[3] Representatives from Argentina, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia and Sri Lanka also attended the founding ceremony.^[4]

Its stated objectives include:^[5]

1. To promote and strengthen the development of collaborative space programs among its Member States by establishing the basis for cooperation in peaceful applications of space science and technology.
2. To take effective actions to assist the Member States in such areas as space technological research and development, applications and training by elaborating and implementing space development policies.
3. To promote cooperation, joint development, and to share achievements among the Member States in space technology and its applications as well as in space science research by tapping the cooperative potential of the region.
4. To enhance cooperation among relevant enterprises and institutions of the Member States and to promote the industrialization of space technology and its applications.
5. To contribute to the peaceful uses of outer space in the international cooperative activities in space technology and its applications.

As of 2010, the organization defined ten projects on designing, building and launching light satellites, middle class satellites weighing 500–600 kg, research satellites, remote-sensing and telecommunications satellites.^[6]

Member countries

Countries as full APSCO members

As of October 2024, APSCO has eight countries as full members.

See also

• List of government space agencies

External links

• Zhu . Lijing. The Legal Personality of The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization . AALCO Journal of International Law . 1 . 2012. 2384597 . 20 February 2023.
• APSCO website

Notes and References

1. http://www.apsco.int/html/comp1/channel/Member_States/25.shtml Member states
2. Web site: Convention of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO). jaxa.jp. 20 February 2023.
3. Web site: Convention of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO). 28 October 2005. 20 February 2023.
4. Web site: Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization starts operation_English_Xinhua . February 9, 2010 . November 5, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121105191450/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/16/content_10514901.htm . dead .
5. http://www.apsco.int/UploadFile/2009924/F1TKF8A2009924.pdf Convention of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO)
6. Web site: Iran to implement 10 satellite projects with APSCO members.