Caribbean Space Society - Newsletter #1

Caribbean Space Society

Yuri’s Night 04/12/2019 | Program Director: Mclee Kerolle | IG: @newerspace

Announcement

Get Involved

On behalf of the Institute of Caribbean Studies and all space enthusiasts commemorating International Day of Human Space Flight 2019 (also known Yuri’s Night), the Caribbean Space Society (CSS) is celebrating one of humanity’s greatest achievements in space with a commitment to leading the way for a unified Caribbean presence among the global space community!

CSS has partnered with the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (ECCTAI), AvDyne, and the Major Anderson Tuskegee Aviation Maintenance Academy (MATAMA) to encourage students with Caribbean heritage to engage and get involved in the aerospace industry with the help of grants and scholarships.

Part of CSS’ commitment includes establishing strategic partnerships with representatives of universities and institutions involved in space activities, as well as gaining membership status with international space organizations.

If you would like to know where you can celebrate Yuri’s Night or get involved with CSS, feel free to follow these links: -

Yuri’s Night Caribbean Space Society

Caribbean Space Agenda Question, with the number of space agencies around the world and satellites in low-earth orbit, why does the Caribbean need a space agenda? One word; representation. One of the basic tenants of 1967 Outer Space Treaty is that space is for the benefit of all mankind. As a practical matter, that benefit has been limited to traditional world powers. However, with the advent of New Space and the development of reusable technology, countries that typically did not have the access to enter the space industry are now becoming part of the market. Yet, while the Caribbean is composed of 26 countries and about 7000 islands, there is a noticeable absence of a Caribbean presence in the international space community. For instance, out of the 29 participating countries and international organizations at the 2018 International Space Forum- The Latin American and Caribbean Chapter, there was only 1 participating Caribbean country and organization

Caribbean Sea viewed from the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA

United Nations’ 2030 Agenda

“…there was only 1 participating Caribbean country and organization”

Furthermore, the need for Caribbean representation in the international space community coincides with the United Nations’ Space 2030 Agenda: Space as a driver for peace. Having Caribbean nations represented under a unified space agenda helps develop the global dialogue for the peaceful uses of outer space as a catalyst for innovative space diplomacy. Moreover, one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s 2030 agenda for the Caribbean is to promote beneficial engagement with the global economy. CSS believes that there is no better industry to accomplish this goal than the space industry. Caribbean involvement in the global space economy has the potential to improve disaster prediction analysis, communication, transportation, infrastructure and agriculture of the Caribbean at large. A global space economy is as inevitable as Caribbean representation in space.

Status of Caribbean Space Despite the lack of a unified Caribbean representation in the international space community, Caribbean countries and people have always displayed desire and initiative in the space industry. For instance, in 2005 with the support of governmental, academic, and business institutions, a proposal was developed to establish the Caribbean Spaceport (CSP) on the Netherland Antilles island of Curacao. Advantages that would have set CSP apart from other spaceports included the existing hightech infrastructure found at Hato International Airport (long enough to deal with launches for the suborbital spacecraft) and Curaçao’s fully developed tourism infrastructure. Unfortunately, the status of the spaceport seems to be on an indefinite hiatus.

More recently, in 2018, the Global Startup Ecosystem (GSE) announced plans to launch the Haiti Space Agency (HSA) with government and private sector partners in Haiti. HSA is an independent space agency that aims to harness the power of the blockchain to increase access to space, as well as become responsible for the civilian space programs, aeronautics, and the commercialized use of space technologies to accelerate industrial development. While some of the objectives of the HSA include developing the space sector in Haiti and the Latin American region, the CSS plans to expand on that objective and continue to develop the space sector in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean is ready to carve out its place in space history!

04/12/2019 | Program Director: Mclee Kerolle | IG: @newerspace

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