Singapore Space and Technology Ltd explained

Singapore Space and Technology Ltd
Native Name:

Acronym:SSTL
Url:https://www.space.org.sg/
Headquarters:318 Tanglin Road (Phoenix Park), #01-39, Singapore 247979
Key People:Jeremy Chan (President)
Thomas Zhuo (Director)
Agency Id:201937696M

Singapore Space and Technology Ltd (SSTL) is a non-governmental space organization based in Singapore within the aerospace industry.[1] [2] [3] [4] SSTL is recognized by the International Astronautical Federation.

Advisory Council

The SSTL board of directors is currently led by Jeremy Chan, Chairman and Thomas Zhuo, Executive Director, and includes an advisory council composed of representatives of stakeholders in the Singapore space industry.[5]

Members of the Advisory Council (2024)!Name!Position
Prof Lui Pao Chuen Temasek Defence Professor, Temasek Defence Systems InstituteBoard Member, Home Team Science & Technology Agency
Cheong Chee HooChief Executive Officer, DSO National Laboratories
Colin LowChief Executive, Singapore Land Authority (SLA)
Daniel E. Hastings Aeronautics and Astronautics Department Head, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Former US Chief Air Force Chief Scientist
Kwoh Leong KeongDirector, Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP)
Roy ChanDeputy Chief Executive (Operations), Defence Science and Technology Agency
Soh Leng WanAssistant Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise SG
Tan Boon KhaiChief Executive Officer, JTC Corporation

Global Space Technology Conference & Exhibition (GSTCE)

SSTL organizes the Global Space Technology Conference & Exhibition (GSTCE) annually in February.[6] The GSTCE is the Asia's premier space and technology event[7], facilitating trade and regional collaboration for space, satellite businesses and beyond.

Speakers and Moderators for previous editions can be found here.

Satellite launch program and experiment facilities

SSTL-JAXA Kibo launch agreement

On 15 November 2017, SSTL signed a contract with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)[8] to launch the "SpooQy - 1" CubeSAT developed by the National University of Singapore (NUS) via the Kibo Program on board the International Space Station. SpooQy-1 will attempt to demonstrate quantum entanglement using a CubeSat in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).[9]

SSTL is Singapore’s administrator for the utilization of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) on the International Space Station (ISS) for education and technical development. JEM, also known as Kibo (the Japanese word for "hope") is the Japanese science module of the ISS and the largest ISS module. The Japan Experiment Module (JEM) serves as a hub for experiments spanning scientific, medical, and educational domains. This includes experiments performed by Japanese astronauts, in-orbit trials of emerging technologies within the conditions of space, and the deployment of CubeSats along with other diminutive satellites.

Industry programs

Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF)

SSTL co-organizes the regional rotational APRSAF conference with JAXA whenever Singapore plays host to the annual conference. It co-organized the 18th and 25th edition of APRSAF in 2011 and 2018 respectively.[10] [11]

SSTL Space Industry Awareness Talk

SSTL works in collaboration with the National Trade Union Council (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute to organise space exposure talks to bring the space industry to the general public.[12]

Educational programs and outreach

International Space Challenge

Each year, SSTL organizes the International Space Challenge (ISC)[13] a global space design contest, invites student teams to apply space technology creatively to solve practical challenges on Earth. The initiative, known as the STL, seeks to build an interest in space technology and its earthly applications among the youth. It also seeks to discover future commercial products.

Initially launched as the Singapore Space Challenge (SSC) in 2007, the contest has since expanded and rebranded to the International Space Challenge (ISC) in 2021. The challenge encourages young people to work in teams to address problems devised in collaboration with industry experts. The 2021 edition witnessed the participation of over 2000 young individuals and attracted attention from more than 20 countries globally.

Asian Try-Zero G Challenge

SSTL co-ordinates Singaporean submissions for the Asian Try-Zero G Challenge sent to JAXA. In 2016, a Singaporean mission idea was successfully selected and the experiment was performed aboard the International Space Station.[14]

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Challenge

Across the world, countries have recognized the need of utilizing remote sensing satellite technologies as a critical tool in real-time disaster management. SSTL launched the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) challenge[15] to invoice companies, start-ups, research groups or students and identify solutions to problems of coordination and technology usage within the context of HADR.

Current and previous participating organizations have included World Bank, GISTDA, and National University of Singapore.

Satellite Foundation Course

Intended to teach participants aged 18 years and above the basics of building a nanosatellite.

Venture building programmes

Space Accelerator Programme

In 2020, SSTL began a space-based accelerator programme[16] in Singapore to support space tech startups in the sector. The accelerator programme is supported by Enterprise Singapore (ESG). Through the programme, SSTL works with local and international startups of varying maturity levels from pre-seed up to Series B, who are working on space hardware products and services. It currently has over 30 international and local startups in its program.

Project Cyclotron

SSTL, in conjunction with Cap Vista, have developed a specialised track called Project Cyclotron,[17] which supports early-stage high-risk space hardware startups that are developing deep technologies.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA) Iaf. iafastro.org. en-GB. 2018-08-02 . International Astronautical Federation.
  2. Web site: October 2017 – World Space Week Singapore . . en-US . 2019-01-31.
  3. Web site: Lift-off: Singapore wants to shoot for the stars . Audrey Tan . 2017-02-17 . . Singapore . en . 2019-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170226083830/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lift-off-spore-wants-to-shoot-for-the-stars . 26 February 2017 . live.
  4. News: Singapore companies shoot for the stars as space technology gets more accessible. Channel NewsAsia. 2018-08-02. en-US.
  5. Web site: About SSTL . 2023-01-27 . space.org.sg . en-US.
  6. News: 2017-05-18 . Asia's Scientific Trailblazers: Rogel Mari Sese . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181029112355/https://www.asianscientist.com/2017/05/features/asias-scientific-trailblazers-rogel-mari-sese/ . 29 October 2018 . 2018-08-02 . Asian Scientist Magazine Science, technology and medical news updates from Asia . en-US.
  7. Web site: Global Space Technology Convention & Exhibition (GSTCE) – Space Technology at the Centre of Igniting Innovation – for Space & for Earth . 2024-08-21 . en-US.
  8. Web site: Kibo Utilization Office for Asia (KUOA) - International Space Station - JAXA. JAXA. iss.jaxa.jp. en. 2018-08-02.
  9. News: SpooQy-1: Singapore's experimental quantum CubeSat and its Kibo launch SpaceTech Asia. 2017-11-27. SpaceTech Asia. 2018-08-02. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180618022335/http://www.spacetechasia.com/spooqy-1-singapores-experimental-quantum-cubesat-and-its-jaxa-launch/. 18 June 2018. live.
  10. News: Try zero G 2: Igniting the passion of the next generation in Asia. Rainey. Kristine. 2015-11-24. NASA. 2018-08-02. en.
  11. Web site: APRSAF-25 Annual Meetings Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum . 2023-10-15 . www.aprsaf.org.
  12. News: Space Industry in SingaporeSSTA Space Technology Awareness Talk. 2017-06-28. Employment and Employability Institute, e2i. 2018-08-02. en-GB.
  13. Web site: International Space Challenge. 2021-08-04. SSTL. en-US.
  14. News: Experimenting on board Kibo. hermes. 2016-09-23. The Straits Times. 2018-08-02. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20161114092310/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/experimenting-on-board-kibo. 14 November 2016. live.
  15. Web site: City of Opportunities - S1E2: Go Big or Go Home. 2021-08-05. CNA. en.
  16. Web site: 2020-11-19. Singaporeans in space: the start-ups powering city state's ascent. 2021-08-05. South China Morning Post. en.
  17. Web site: Goh. Deyana. 2020-02-11. Singapore's defence investment arm partners with SSTL for Project Cyclotron. 2021-08-05. SpaceTech Asia. en-US.