The Suez Canal, Egypt.
Image capture by Axelspace.
Axelspace Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Space Systems (“J-spacesystems”) to promote the use of satellite data in the field of capacity building and human resource development.
Since 2012, J-spacesystems has engaged in capacity building programs in order to contribute to SDGs and address global social issues through the use of satellite data. To date, these programs have reached over 100 individuals in 30 countries around the world. In the past these programs have sought to reduce costs by using freely available satellite imagery, which does not always offer satisfactory imaging frequency or resolution for analysis. Furthermore, imagery of more specific locations and observation requests are unavailable.
AxelGlobe is Axelspace’s next generation Earth observation (EO) platform that will offer convenient access to imaging data at the resolution of 2.5 meters – a level which is rarely seen in freely available data. With four launches planned in 2020, the AxelGlobe constellation will soon comprise five satellites and offer the ability to image any location on Earth once every three days. By 2022, we plan to further expand the constellation to offer updated imaging on a daily basis.
Artistic rendition of an Axelspace smallsat. Image is courtesy of the company.
Through this partnership, Axelspace and J-spacesystems will use AxelGlobe data to meet the high resolution and high frequency needs of the aforementioned capacity building programs (including support for programs such as the Japanese Government’s ABE Initiative*1), as well as promote the broader use of such data to address issues raised by program participants. In doing so, our companies hope to make a substantial contribution to achieving SDGs.
*1 ABE Initiative At the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in June 2013, Japan unveiled a public-private partnership program to support stable and sustainable economic development in Africa. In his keynote speech, Prime Minister Abe announced the Africa Business Education Initiative for Youth (“ABE Initiative”), a five-year program offering 1,000 young people in Africa opportunities to pursue undergraduate and graduate education at Japanese universities, as well as internships at Japanese companies. As highlighted in the “Proposal by the Public-Private Council for the Promotion of TICAD V”, this initiative seeks to support human resource development in both the private and public sectors of Africa, deepen awareness of Japanese technology and companies among African nations, and increase the number of Africans visiting Japan. Additionally, the “ABE Initiative 3.0” was announced at TICAD VII as a six-year program with the goal of training 3,000 individuals. For further details please refer to the following website:
www.jica.go.jp/english/countries/africa/internship.html
www.jica.go.jp/africahiroba/business/detail/03/ku57pq00001jwm0b-att/abc_pamphlet_en.pdf
