UAE Space Agency and US Strategic Command sign SSA agreement

The United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) and the US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) have agreed to share space situational awareness (SSA) services.

The agreement was signed at the 32nd Space Symposium held in Colorado by Dr Khalifa Al Romaithi, the UAESA Chairman, and US Air Force Maj. Gen. Clinton E. Crosier, USSTRATCOM Director of Plans and Policy.

"We are proud to sign this important agreement that further solidifies the bilateral UAE and US space relationship and will contribute to the protection of important assets of both countries in orbit," said Al Romaithi.

"Not only does it represent a joint commitment to space safety and security, but it also represents yet another mission area in which the United States and United Arab Emirates are forging an ever stronger partnership," said Crosier.

The aim of the agreement is to enhance awareness and increase safety of spaceflight operations by sharing information, crucial for launch support, satellite manoeuvre planning, support for on-orbit anomalies, and on-orbit conjunction assessments.

The US already shares space situational awareness data with ten other nations. STRATCOM also shares information with two intergovernmental organizations the European Space Agency and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites and more than 50 commercial satellite entities.

Source:WAM