Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission

Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is Pakistan’s national space agency and was established in 1961 as a committee and was granted the status of a Commission in 1981. SUPARCO is devoted to Research and Development work in Space Sciences and Space Technology and their applications for the peaceful uses of outer space. It works towards developing indigenous capabilities in space technology and to promote space applications for socio-economic uplift of the country.

Badr-1 (Badr-A) was Pakistan's first indigenously developed satellite and was launched from the Xichang Launch Center, China on July 16, 1990 aboard a Chinese Long March 2E rocket. Badr-1 weighed 150 pounds. Originally designed for a circular orbit at 250-300 miles altitude, Badr-1 actually was inserted by the Long March rocket into an elliptical orbit of 127-615 miles. The satellite successfully completed its designed life.

SUPARCO started building the small amateur radio satellite in late 1986 with support from the Pakistan Amateur Radio Society. The satellite was named Badr inspired from the Urdu language word for 'new moon'. Badr-1 was planned to be launched on the US Space Shuttle, but the 1986 Challenger explosion and consequent delay in American flights changed the plan.

Pakistan’s second satellite was BADR-B. It was an Earth Observation Satellite and was launched on 10 December 2001 on a Zenit 2 rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. It was designed by Space Innovations Limited from the UK.

British National Space Centre

The British National Space Centre (BNSC) was a body of Her Majesty's Government, organised in 1985, that coordinated civil space activities for the UK. It was replaced on 1 April 2010 by the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA)

BNSC operated as a voluntary partnership of ten British government departments and agencies and research councils. The civil portion of the British space programme focused on space science, Earth observation, satellite telecommunications, and global navigation (for example GPS and Galileo). The latest version of the UK civil space strategy which defined the goals of BNSC was published in February 2008.

Notably the BNSC had a policy against human spaceflight,[5] and did not contribute to the International Space Station.

The BNSC was the third largest financial contributor to the General Budget of the European Space Agency, contributing 17.4%,[11] to its Science Programme and to its robotic exploration initiative the Aurora programme.


The BNSC partnership co-funded a private sector project led by Avanti Communications to build a satellite called HYLAS to provide broadband communications to rural and remote users. Current projects in the field of space science include LISA Pathfinder, for which UK industry is the prime contractor and UK universities are building key payload elements

Successful launch for Europe’s newest weather satellite

The UK Space Agency is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space. The UK's thriving space sector contributes £9.1 billion a year to the UK economy and directly employs 28.900 with an average growth rate of almost 7.5%. The Agency provides funding for a range of programmes via programmes such as the National Space Technology Programme and FP7 and works closely with national and international academic, education and community partners.

MetOp-B, the European polar orbiting weather satellite, was successfully launched on 17th September 2012 from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

From its polar orbit 817 kilometres above Earth, MetOp-B will provide a broad range of measurements vital to weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

Designed and manufactured by Astrium, MetOp-B is the second in a series of three weather satellites that the European Space Agency (ESA) and Eumetsat, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, have commissioned from Astrium. The satellites are being launched at intervals of five to six years (MetOp-A was launched in 2006 and MetOp-C is scheduled for launch orbit at the end of 2017).

Weather monitoring satellites are essential in guaranteeing the safety of citizens, infrastructure and industry in Europe and elsewhere. They alone possess the capability to provide weather and climate data spanning the whole planet and on a continual basis.

The MetOp satellites carry a host of sensitive instruments to provide key information on many variables such as temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction over oceans, ozone and other atmospheric gases.

Since MetOp-A is still in service, the two satellites will orbit in tandem, increasing this wealth of data even further.

US scientists Sign Deal to use China moon lander for research

A cooperative deal has been inked between a U.S. group and China to use that country's moon lander to conduct astronomical imaging from the lunar surface.

The International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) of Kamuela, Hawaii has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Beijing-based National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A signing ceremony took place in Kamuela on Sept. 4.

The deal is the first such U.S.-China collaboration centered on using China's Chang'e-3 moon lander now being readied for launch next year. NASA is not involved in this project.

Dedicated to astronomical research and public education, China's NAOC hosts the Lunar and Planetary Research Center and is the institute responsible for the ultraviolet lunar telescope to be carried onboard the Chang'e-3 lander. That instrument will be operated by The China National Space Administration's Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.

We Are The Wings Of Tomorrow 4 Space

                                                         Agenda 4 Peace Keepers 

Evolution of humanity was marked by vision. Such acumen sparked the treks of curiosity explorers. Caves, Forests, ancient kingdoms shed their secrets slowing, scholarship like industry. Assumed heightened dimensions. In this twenty-First Century, that dimension has evolved into space. Humanity has exceeded the reality of curiosity, galaxies and orbits can be the instruments of peace. Research  stands to improve developments in medicine advances were planetary life the abundant with minerals and soil replete with healing properties. If a system committed peace heads the launch to stars, aggressive and belligerent nations are able to extend their dictatorships.

Hudson Bailey (Press Secretary 4 PeaceKeeper Space Organization)

                                                         

Pope Benedict Makes first-ever papal call to space May 2011!

The first-ever call to space by a pope came through "Loud and clear" on Saturday, May 21,2011. Pope Benedict XVI commended astronauts for their courage, blessed them and extended special prayers to shuttle commander Mark Kelly, whose wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head.

From space,"I think it must be obvious to you that we all live together on this earth and how absurd it is that we fight and kill," said Benedict, speaking from the Vatican to the International Space Station, where the space shuttle Endeavour docked Wednesday during its final mission. "I know that Mark Kelly's wife was the victim of a serious attack, and I hope that her health continues to improve."

Johnson Space Center in Houston coordinated the call, planned by the Vatican and the European Space Agency. Benedict addressed a dozen American, Italian and Russian astronauts, acknowledging the scientific advancements, international cooperation and global unity fostered by their work.

Among them were several members of the Catholic Church, including Kelly, Col. Ron Garan, Col. Mike Fincke and Col. Roberto Vittori, who floated a coin given to him by the pope before the camera.

DiNardo leads group

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and Catholic leaders from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston watched the Holy Father's message live from Mission Control in Houston along with astronauts' families and some of the agency's Catholic employees.

NASA employees and former astronauts fill pews at the Catholic churches near Johnson Space Center, where pastors lead prayers for shuttle launches and cater to their space-loving parishes.

THE VATICAN SPACE PROGRAM

“They say there’s no atheists in foxholes, but there’s probably no atheists in rockets,” -Catholic Astronaut Col Mike Good, who believes his faith in God was solidified by the awe-inspiring views he saw from space.

NASA employees fill pews in churches surrounding Johnson Space Center, including Webster Presbyterian Church, called the “Church Of The Astronauts” when John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, Jerry Carr, Charlie Bassett & Roger Chaffee were active members of the congregation.

“The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has a special appreciation for all the people who work in the space program,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo

“As the space shuttle program comes to a close, the archdiocese is appreciative of the opportunity to join our Holy Father in commending the tireless work of NASA employees and affirming" as St. Paul says, "CHRIST FILLS ALL THE HEAVENS"

"Although NASA does not provide spiritual resources, religious objects—crosses, Bibles, icons, prayer cards—are among the most common personal items taken into space" said Johnson Space Center spokesman James Hartsfield.

“NASA people are more faith-filled, and this is their vocation, They have a position that pastors don’t have and can talk about the glory of God’s creation as seen from space” -Matt Walden, A worship leader who has worked at St. Paul’s.

Its shakeup with Galileo aside, the Catholic Church has historically affirmed astronomy and space exploration as a means to better know the universe, believed to be wholly good, majestic and made by God.

“The church is very open to scientific discoveries, and the Bible gives us a guide to interpret whatever science discovers,” said the Rev. Brendan Cahill, former rector of St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. “God has created the human person with the knowledge and curiosity to do this, to go to space. It affirms our Catholic faith.”