[SatNews] Tuscany, Italy, is going to be the setting for a gathering of various countries and global organizations who will work on space-communications infrastructure.
Representatives from more than 80 countries and international organizations worldwide are expected to meet from October 20 to 22, 2010, to create a concept for space-based communications infrastructure, owned and operated by a multi-national cooperative. As of this writing, 58 countries representing the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia regions have confirmed their participation by nominating delegates to this global initiative — the number continues to increase weekly as more countries, particularly those from the developing world, recognize the advantages of a shared space-based satellite program.
Small satellite technology has reached maturity and more countries see the need for satellite-based technology in many fields. Up until now, it has not been possible to establish a sufficiently affordable and transparent capability to allow all nations to participate in a global cooperative framework of MBR situational awareness. More than 75 members of an international organizing committee are making the priority to ensure global participation in formulating and implementing the Shared Small Satellites concept using a fractional ownership model. The goal is to achieve a low-cost, internationally shared space-based data collection and distribution backbone with exceptionally low barriers to entry for participating nations and high mutual benefits in the fields of safety, security, and governance for all involved.
The CANEUS Shared Small Satellites Conference in Italy will be the largest international Small Satellites for CSSP meeting bringing together end-users, satellite developers, policy-makers, and funding organizations from both developing and developed countries. UN COPUOS, APEC, NATO, IALA, IAA, EC, MOWCA-Africa, to name a few, will play a major role in defining the issues that face the safety and security of all involved countries, which will be addressed by the CANEUS Shared Small Satellites Concept.
