ASEAN countries have an extensive background in outer space exploration.
For decades, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have actively participated in outer space activities. Indonesia pioneered space endeavours in this region as demonstrated by the establishment of the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan) in the 1960s and the Palapa A1 satellite success launch in 1976.
Thailand became the first country in South-East Asia to establish a ground-based receiving station in 1971, with the purpose of utilising data from Nasa’s Earth Resources Technology Satellite-1.
The highlight of the South-East Asian space race was Vietnam’s participation in the Interkosmos programme run by the Soviet Union in 1979, which was a big success. Pham Tuan is the first Asian to join space exploration.
Asean is blessed with geographical advantages when it comes to utilising space technology. South-East Asia is geographically surrounded by seas, where fisheries is a major source of income.
Satellite technology can play a significant role in the production of fisheries and agricultural goods. Using satellite technology to monitor fish movement, fishermen can easily pinpoint fishing locations.
Several Asean member states are geographically located below the equator, along the Ring of Fire. Such advantages lead to strategic locations for spaceport development pertaining to Low-Earth Orbit or Geostationary Orbit satellite launches. Less gravity means less fuel is needed.
Being located in the region of the Ring of Fire increases the likelihood of natural disasters due to volcanic eruptions. Remote sensing technology can help lessen the impact of such natural disasters.
Despite the advantages and historical background, progress on outer space activities in the region is rather insignificant because each member state lacks a sense of regional unity.
Intra-Asean cooperation in the space sector is absent as there is no forum at the regional level to discuss space-related issues.
The Sub-Committee on Space Technology and Applications (Scosa), a subcommittee of the Asean Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, is in charge of space technology and activities at the regional level.
At present, five Asean member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor Leste – are not part of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (Uncopuos). Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor-Leste have not signed the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, billed as the magna carta of space law.
Taking into account the current Asean member states’ capabilities in space activities, it appears the scope of regional cooperation should be limited to primary needs, namely satellite utilisation.
Asean countries are not yet at the stage of furthering space exploration such as space mining. So, the fact that five Asean states are not the parties to the Uncopuos should not hinder efforts to realise regional cooperation.
Having a regional space agency could instead become a catalyst in encouraging the countries to ratify the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and join the Uncopuos.
The formation of an Asean space agency can provide South-East Asia with more and fair access to space activities.
This year, Indonesia takes the helm of Asean. This is an opportunity for the biggest Asean member to encourage further outer space cooperation in the region.
Establishing an Asean space agency could lead the region to more opportunities to advance science, technology and eventually the people’s welfare. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
