Space Technology Outreach activities in Iran: Past, Present and Future horizons

Paper number

IAC-12,E1,6,11,x15848

Author

Ms. Mahsa Taheran, Iran

Year

2012

Abstract

Iran space activities started in 1971 with the membership in the International Telecommunication Union, and continued with the establishment of the” satellite Utilization Plan” at Iran’s Management and Planning Organization in 1974. In three years, Iran Remote Sensing Center and a ground station for receiving satellite imagery were established. In 2003, Iran Space Agency started its activities, and centralized the space activities of the Iran Remote Sensing Center, Telecommunication Company of Iran, and Iran Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. Iran, one of the 24 founding members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, became an orbital-launch-capable nation in 2009.

In recent years, space activities have gained some attention by custodians, experts, professionals and young interested students. Many youths groups hold programs to support public awareness and organizations like Iranian Space Agency (ISA) and Aerospace Research Institute (ARI) make noticeable efforts in outreach aspects, While Projects such as StarPeace, celebrating National day of space technology, World Space Week, Yuri’s night, national and international CanSat competition and space related conferences are specified to enrich outreach and scientific student and young professional-based activities, there has been no study to evaluate the outcomes of these activities among public, and public opinion on the space activities. 

Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the outreach, educational, and capacity building activities in Iran, and the development of these aspects as part of the public and non-governmental space activities, using the published information, interviews with individuals involved, and surveys to evaluate the effectiveness, and weaknesses of such activities. This work will also reflect the public opinion of space activities in Iran.\underline{}

Abstract document

IAC-12,E1,6,11,x15848.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)