[Levin]

Shabana Begum
PUBLISHED 7 HOURS AGO


SINGAPORE - Since the early 2000s, Singapore has been quietly and steadily inching its way up to make its mark in outer space.

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The space sector here currently comprises over 50 companies and more than 1,800 employees.

And over the past five years, more than 10 space and satellite-related start-ups have sprouted here

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In the early 2000s, Ms Tan and Mr Hung - who are trained in engineering and aerospace - were working at the Economic Development Board when they broached the idea of pioneering a space scene in Singapore.

"Fifteen years ago, there really wasn't very much of a sector. Talent was an issue. There were no start-ups. It was not the era of Elon Musk and if you talk about space, they will think you're crazy," recalled Mr Hung.

Their vision was met with scepticism.

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Together with like-minded individuals, Ms Tan and Mr Hung set up the Singapore Space and Technology Association - now known as SSTL - in 2007.

The organisation's work includes accelerating the commercialisation of space-related innovations, and building talent in the budding industry.

Singapore did not enter the space scene to compete with the larger space-faring nations and their advanced programmes and spacecraft. Instead, its domain primarily lies in building satellite components and developing disruptive technologies for small satellites.

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local start-up Zero-Error Systems was founded by veterans from the semiconductor industry. They observed that more satellite manufacturers use commercial semiconductor devices that are not designed to thrive in space. To close this gap, the start-up developed radiation-hardened electronics to protect the devices and extend satellites' lifespan.

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To date, Singapore has also sent 16 satellites into space, the majority of them built by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore - mainly for research and demonstration of new technology.


More info at: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/e...ace-sector

[Blasterlord2]

This is nonsense. Building satellite components need to invest heavily on measurement and testing facilities, many of which are expensive. Without enough business, no one will be willing to spend on these facilities.

For example, multipaction needs to be tested in a 'vacuum' environment, so does thermal testing. Even if you do the design but send the components overseas for testing a lot of money needs to be spent.

[sgxin]

This is nonsense. Building satellite components need to invest heavily on measurement and testing facilities, many of which are expensive. Without enough business, no one will be willing to spend on these facilities.

For example, multipaction needs to be tested in a 'vacuum' environment, so does thermal testing. Even if you do the design but send the components overseas for testing a lot of money needs to be spent.

Just like Spore has a thriving PC sector at Sim Lim Square, where many shops are able to assemble PCs.

[Blasterlord2]

The reason why there are some start-ups is because EDB has been throwing money at them. Hence, their expenses are paid for, so why not grab the money.