Asia Pacific Region
The Asia-Pacific (AP) region boasts one of the most dynamic and active regions in the world for space sector development. One of the largest regions in the SGAC community, the Asia-Pacific region spans from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean, through the highlands of central Asia, the vibrance of South Asia, the island beaches of Southeast Asia, the skyscrapers across East Asia, and the incredible expanse of Australia.
The AP region is a mix of both the old and new, with some legacy space agencies like the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) having participated in iconic platforms like the International Space Station, to some of the youngest space agencies in the world like New Zealand (NZSA; 2016), Australia (ASA; 2018), Philippines and Malaysia (PhilSA, MYSA; 2019), and Taiwan (TASA; 2022). The AP region also includes some of the world’s economies’ efforts for space exploration, such as India (India Space Research Organization; ISRO) sending missions to the lunar surface (Chandrayaan-3), Mars (Mangalyaan), and the sun (Aditya), and China (China National Space Administration; CNSA) completing an orbital space station (Tiangong) and navigational satellite constellation (BeiDou), and sending multiple missions to the moon (Chang-e). The AP region is integrated into the global space sector, hosting multiple high-level meetings like the International Astronautical Congress, as well as signing into international arrangements like the Artemis Accords (India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore)
Regional Coordinators Asia-Pacific
The immense amount of research and industry development in the space sector provides ample opportunities for students and young professionals in the Asia-Pacific. Numerous research institutions and universities offer degree programs in the aerospace sector, with a highly active NewSpace sector nurturing startups in areas of launch vehicles, satellite manufacture and management, space data utilization, and climate change.
On this page, you’ll find out more information on how to be involved with the SGAC Community in the Asia-Pacific, the different opportunities that are offered for SGAC members, and the diversity of activities and members who are working in the region.
Regional Team Asia-Pacific
Afghanistan
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
Myanmar
Nepal
New Zealand
Pakistan
Philippines
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Vietnam
Regional Presence
The Asia-Pacific region has an active online presence.
Follow our Instagram page at: www.instagram.com/SGACAsiaPacific @sgacasiapacific
Follow our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SpaceGenAsiaPacific
Subscribe to our Regional Newsletter via the SGAC Newsletter Signup link and checking “Asia-Pacific” in the SGAC Regional Mailing List
Add yourselves to the Asia-Pacific members group chat on Telegram by www.tinyurl.com/APmembers
Regional Activities
Asia-Pacific Space Generation Workshop (AP-SGW) AP-SGW is the premiere SGAC event in the Asia-Pacific region, hosting 50+ delegates every year for a 2-3 day workshop around key topics in the region. AP-SGW is the venue to meet with fellow SGAC members from the region, connect with industry experts and mentors, and listen to speeches delivered by SGAC’s partner organizations. AP-SGWs are entirely dedicated to SGAC members typically including workshops, speed mentoring sessions, international culture nights, and site visits to local space organizations. You can find more information about SGAC’s Space Generation Workshops at www.spacegeneration.org/sgw-2
Notable Events in the Region
International Astronautical Congress (IAC) IAC is the largest space conference in the world, attracting tens of thousands of attendees each year, and is hosted by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and supported by SGAC. IAC changes its host country every year, with many of them hosted in the Asia-Pacific region. IACs in the Asia-Pacific includes: IAC 1973 (Baku, Soviet Union), IAC 1980 (Tokyo, Japan), IAC 1996 (Beijing, China), IAC 1998 (Melbourne, Australia), IAC 2005 (Fukuoka, Japan), IAC 2007 (Hyderabad, India), IAC 2009 (Daejeon, South Korea), IAC 2013 (Beijing, China), IAC 2017 (Adelaide, Australia), IAC 2023 (Baku, Azerbaijan), and IAC 2025 (Sydney, Australia). Visit the IAF website for more details: www.iafastro.org
Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) APRSAF is a multinational space cooperative regime that includes space agencies, government bodies, international organizations, universities, and research institutions from over 40 countries. APRSAF hosts annual meetings since 1993, with the host country changing every year. Visit the APRSAF website for more details: www.aprsaf.org
Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTC) GSTC is a space conference and expo held annually in Singapore by the Singapore Space & Technology Ltd (SSTL). GSTC is attended by many companies in the aerospace & defense industry, as well as government and research institutions in the Asia-Pacific. Visit the GSTC website for more details: www.space.org.sg/gstc
Meetings by the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) APSCO is a multinational space cooperative regime between Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mongolia, Thailand, Pakistan, and Peru. APSCO International Symposiums were held annually from 2009 to 2016 and in 2018. Visit the APSCO website for more details: www.apsco.int
Meetings by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) COSPAR is an international space committee established by the International Science Council (ISC). COSPAR hosts multiple conferences and meetings around the world, many taking place in the Asia-Pacific region. These include the COSPAR Scientific Assembly of 1968 (Tokyo, Japan), 1979 (Bangalore, India), 1998 (Nagoya, Japan), 2006 (Beijing, China) 2012 (Mysore, India), and 2024 (Busan, South Korea); and the COSPAR Symposium of 2013 (Bangkok, Thailand), 2017 (Jeju, South Korea), and 2023 (Singapore, Singapore). Visit the COSPAR website for more details: www.cosparhq.cnes.fr
Meetings by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) IAU is one of the oldest international organizations for astronomy and space sciences, with multiple committee and regional meetings held by the organization. The Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meetings (APRIM) happen every three years, such as those on 1978 (Wellington, New Zealand), 1981 (Bandung, Indonesia), 1984 (Kyoto, Japan), 1987 (Beijing, China), 1990 (Sydney, Australia), 1993 (Pune, India), 1996 (Busan, South Korea), 2002 (Tokyo, Japan), 2005 (Bali, Indonesia), 2008 (Kunming, China), 2011 (Chiang Mai, Thailand), 2014 (Daejeon, South Korea), 2017 (Taipei, Taiwan), and 2023 (Koriyama, Japan). The IAU General Assemblies (IAUGA) also happen every three years, with some meetings in Asia-Pacific such as in 1985 (New Delhi, India), 1997 (Kyoto, Japan), 2003 (Sydney, Australia), 2012 (Beijing, China), and 2022 (Busan, South Korea). Visit the IAU website for more details: www.iau.org
Opportunities
National Point of Contact (NPoC) NPoCs are the backbone of the SGAC community. NPoCs represent the country in the SGAC ecosystem, with two NPoCs being selected per country for a term of two (2) years. NPoCs go through a competitive selection process by the Regional Coordinators of all regions, with NPoCs being voting members for Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator elections and the SGAC General Assembly. Vacancies for NPoCs are published on the SGAC Vacancies webpage: www.spacegeneration.org/vacancies
Asia-Pacific Space Leadership Award (APSLA) The APSLA is the only scholarship that is offered to the AP region, with the scholarship supporting members to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Space Generation Workshops (AP-SGW). 2-4 APSLA winners are selected every year to cover expenses of transportation, accommodation, and living expenses for the duration of AP-SGW. You can find more information about APSLA and other scholarships on the SGAC Scholarships webpage: www.spacegeneration.org/scholarships
SG[Local] SG[Local] are national SGAC events hosted by a single country. SG[Local] applications are typically submitted by, or with support from, the NPoC(s) of that country. SG[Local] events receive support from the SGAC Events team as well as the SGAC Asia-Pacific Regional Executive Team in finding speakers, coordinating with partners, and recruiting delegates. SG[Local] events typically follow the same workshop format for other SGAC events including working group topics, networking opportunities, and lectures, but usually last within a single day. SG[Local] events can be hosted in the local language, unlike the English language requirements of regional events. Visit the SGAC Local Events proposal page for more details: www.spacegeneration.org/organise-an-sgac-event/organise-a-local-event
Partner Events SGAC members host a diversity of SGAC-partnered and endorsed events, usually under, but not necessarily, the leadership of the local NPoC. These events can either be hosted alongside a larger event or conference, or be organized by SGAC members with support from local space organizations. Annual events organized by SGAC members from the region include Yuri’s Night (April 12th), International Moon Day (Jul 20th), and World Space Week (Oct 4th – 10th). Visit the SGAC Local Events page for more details: www.spacegeneration.org/local-events
