Iran Plans to Join 2 APSCO Projects

Iran is set to expand collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and join two of its existing projects.

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said, "Iran is ready to join two major APSCO projects namely, APOSOS and DSSP," the official website of the ministry reported.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the Secretary General of APSCO Li Xinjun in Tehran over the weekend.

APOSOS (Asia-Pacific ground-based Optical Space Observation),which is based in China started its space activities in 2008 focusing on educating and training human resources, executing joint programs in space and outer space and using satellites.

Jahromi said, “Iran has already installed a telescope in collaboration with APSCO. Our collaboration will increase as we join the two projects.”

APSCO’s DSSP (Data Sharing Service Platform) is another project proposed to member states in 2005. The aim of the project is to build a data sharing platform and provide full service of the space applications and space technology to maximize the level of spatial information application techniques to support  demands like geological support.

The ICT minister says the DSSP will help member states and other regional countries cut down costs.

In his opinion “The DSSP helps during natural disasters enabling member states to share technological expertise to decrease costs and dangers.”

Xinjun expressed optimism about bilateral collaboration saying his organization is willing to expand ties in light of the achievements made by Iran in the key technology sector.

APSCO is the second largest multilateral and intergovernmental space organization after the United Nations’ ESA. It has eight permanent members including Iran, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mongolia, Peru, Thailand and Turkey.