Res Communis

Disasters Charter: Flood in Panama

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Disasters Charter was activated for a Flood in Panama:

Flood in Panama

Type of Event: Floods, Landslides
Location of Event: Panama
Date of Charter Activation: 09/12/2010
Charter Requestor: USGS on behalf of SINAPROC/Panama
Project Management: CATHALAC – Centro del Agua del Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y el Caribe

Description of the Event:
Disastrous flooding and landslides in Panama caused by rains that have continued unabated for the past few weeks (caused by the same phenomenon which has caused devastating flooding and landslides in neighbouring Colombia and Venezuela).

The country is on “red – alert” and the flooding and landslides has caused suspension of operations of the Panama canal, a first in the Canals 95 – year history.

New South African Space Agency

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Source – Red Orbit:

South Africa Unveils National Space Agency

Posted on: Thursday, 9 December 2010, 13:27 CST

The minister of science and technology said that South Africa unveiled its national space agency on Thursday, aiming to become a leader in earth observation technology across the continent in 10 years.

“Our combined efforts at enhancing South Africa’s space capabilities will be of immense value to the scientific community in the Southern African region,” Naledi Pandor said, as quoted by the AFP news agency. . . . [Full Story]

DLR and NASA conclude bilateral framework agreement

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Source – DLR:

DLR and NASA conclude bilateral framework agreement
8 December 2010

The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and NASA concluded a framework agreement for bilateral cooperation in Washington D.C. on 8 December 2010. The agreement was signed by NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden and DLR Executive Board Chairman Johann-Dietrich Wörner. The partners have also agreed to cooperate on lunar research, through the Lunar Science Institute Agreement.

“Many space missions and projects can only be carried out through international cooperation, with NASA for example, because of their complexity and the associated costs. This is why DLR, as Germany’s national Space Agency and research Center, is endeavouring to set up bilateral collaborations such as this, in addition to its other commitments,” explained Prof. Wörner. “Both DLR and other German facilities active in space research will benefit from this agreement. This includes universities and research institutions such as the Max Planck Society, as well as companies in the German aerospace industry that are supported by DLR in its role as Germany’s Space Agency through the national space programme,” Wörner added.

The DLR Chairman also expressed his satisfaction that, shortly after publication of the new German Space Strategy, one of the strategic goals set out in it – increasing international cooperation – has been brought to fruition.

The NASA-DLR framework agreement encompasses cooperation in all relevant aspects of aerospace research. In terms of space, the emphasis will be on Earth observation and conducting research in the space environment, as well as space operations and planetary research. The collaboration includes joint development of space transportation systems and research platforms, as well as the operation of sounding rockets and balloons.

Aeronautics research is particularly concerned with computer-based simulations and the climate impacts of aviation, for which coordinated operations and missions by research aircraft are planned. Close cooperation in the field of flight control systems with NASA’s Ames Research Center is foreseen. In addition, the agreement also covers the exchange of research staff and scientific data. There will also be even closer cooperation in encouraging the development of young researchers.

The new agreement also offers Germany the opportunity to continue successful developments of recent years, such as radar technology. This will include TanDEM-L, a potential follow-up mission to TanDEM-X, which will make a significant contribution to climate research by monitoring global biomass.

Under the leadership of DLR, the German Network for Lunar Science and Exploration, GNLSE, coordinates all activities in the field of lunar research undertaken by universities and industrial partners. In the future, there will be close collaboration between German researchers and the NASA Lunar Science Institute, NLSI, to bring together their common expertise in planetary research, particularly lunar research. The focus will be on possibilities for exploring the Moon and concepts for creating infrastructure on the Moon, based on joint, comprehensive geological and physical lunar exploration.

NASA’s Press Release:

RELEASE : 10-324

NASA And German Aerospace Center Sign Civil Space Agreements

WASHINGTON — NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Chairman of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Executive Board Johann-Dietrich Worner signed a framework agreement for cooperative activities in aeronautics, exploration and the peaceful use of space Wednesday at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The agreement is intended to enhance cooperation between the two agencies during the next decade.

“NASA has a long history of successful cooperation with the government of Germany and an outstanding relationship with DLR,” Bolden said. “Today’s signing will further enhance our ability to work closely together in a variety of mutually beneficial activities in virtually every NASA mission area.”

The agreement sets forth the general terms and conditions for cooperation on a range of activities related to human spaceflight, exploration, aeronautics, global climate change and Earth and space science.

“Many space missions and projects can only be carried out through international cooperation, for example, with NASA, because of their great complexity and the associated costs,” Worner said. “This is why DLR, as Germany’s national space agency and research center, is endeavoring to set up bilateral collaborations such as this.”

Bolden and Worner also signed an agreement making DLR a NASA Lunar Science Institute associate partner. The institute brings together scientists from around the world to conduct collaborative research in lunar science.

Disasters Charter: Floods in Colombia

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Disasters Charter has been activated for Floods in Colombia:

Floods in Colombia

Type of Event: Floods, Landslide
Location of Event: Colombia
Date of Charter Activation: 06/12/2010
Charter Requestor: SIFEM
Project Management: CONAE

Description of the Event:
Days of torrential rain have brought widespread flooding to Colombia, destroying thousands of homes, killing at least 20 people and about 150 people missing.

A state of emergency has been declared in Santa Lucia and Bello.