Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization

What Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization does

The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Beijing, China, established in 2008 under a multilateral convention. Its membership comprises eight sovereign states—Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, and Turkey—plus Indonesia as a signatory and Mexico as an observer. APSCO's mission is to promote cooperative use of space science, technology, and applications among developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region through shared infrastructure, joint research, and capacity building, rather than through commercial product sales.

APSCO's product portfolio centers on five cooperative networks: the Data Sharing Service Platform (DSSP), which distributes Chinese satellite remote-sensing imagery (Gaofen, Ziyuan, Haiyang, Huanjing constellations) to member states; the Small Multi-Mission Satellites (SMMS) constellation, linking existing and planned Earth-observation satellites from member states; the APOSOS ground-based optical telescope network for space-object detection and collision avoidance; the Disaster Monitoring Network for earthquakes, droughts, floods, and landslides; and the International GNSS Monitoring and Assessment (IGMA) service. The organization also operates a Student Small Satellite (SSS) program—covering SSS-1 (30 kg micro-satellite) and SSS-2A/2B (3U CubeSats)—and an Education and Training Center that delivers degree programs (MASTA, PhD cohorts) in partnership with Beihang, HIT, NPU, ZJU, and BIT universities, alongside annual short-term trainings (150+ trainees) and youth competitions. AI/ML is applied as an enhancement layer on the DSSP and for predictive analytics in mineral prospecting and disaster monitoring.

APSCO is funded by member-state contributions and in-kind support and does not charge commercial fees for its services. Decision-making resides with a Council of ministerial representatives; the Secretary-General, currently Ms. Jiang Hui (since 21 February 2025), heads the secretariat. Revenue, headcount, and budget figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization maintains permanent observer status at the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) and partnerships with UN-OOSA, UN-ESCAP, ESA, IAF, IAA, GEO, and various Chinese space and research institutions.

Name

Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization

Legal name

Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization

Website

https://apsco.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is a Beijing-headquartered inter-governmental body serving eight Asia-Pacific member states with shared satellite-data platforms, space-object tracking networks, disaster-monitoring systems, GNSS services, and joint space-technology education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Cooperation Services

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (9271), International Affairs (928120), Satellite Telecommunications (5174)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Foreign Governments (8888), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Space cooperation programs
• Satellite data sharing
• Space object observation
• Disaster monitoring services
• Space technology education

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Member State Contributions: APSCO is funded through contributions from its member states. As an inter-governmental organization, it does not operate on commercial revenue models but rather through government allocations and collaborative funding arrangements among member countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an inter-governmental organization that facilitates multilateral space cooperation among its 8 member states. Its core offerings include the Data Sharing Service Platform (DSSP) for satellite remote sensing data access, the APOSOS Ground-Based Space Object Observation Network for space situational awareness, a Small Multi-Mission Satellites (SMMS) Constellation, a Disaster Monitoring Network, and the International GNSS Monitoring and Assessment (IGMA) service. It also delivers space technology education, degree programs, and the Student Small Satellite (SSS) training program through partnerships with leading universities.

Product overview

APSCO is an inter-governmental space cooperation organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of space technology products and services to its Member States (Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, and Türkiye). The core offerings include the Data Sharing Service Platform (DSSP) for satellite remote sensing data access, the Small Multi-Mission Satellites (SMMS) Constellation for shared Earth observation, and the APOSOS Ground-Based Space Object Observation Network for space situational awareness. Supporting infrastructure includes the Disaster Monitoring Network, Space Application Network with GNSS monitoring, and the Education and Training Center providing degree programs (MASTA, PhD programs with multiple Chinese universities) and short-term trainings. Knowledge-sharing is facilitated through the International Symposium and Space Law and Policy Forum. The organization also runs the Student Small Satellite (SSS) Program providing hands-on satellite development training, and has launched AI-enhanced value-added services on the DSSP platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data Sharing Service Platform (DSSP) Satellite remote sensing data sharing platform enabling Member States to access and download imagery from Chinese satellites (Gaofen, Ziyuan, HJ, CBERS) for disaster management, scientific research, and urban planning. Integrates AI/ML for enhanced data processing.
• Student Small Satellite (SSS) Program Educational satellite development initiative involving APSCO Member States. Includes SSS-1 micro-satellite (30kg) and SSS-2A/2B CubeSats (4.0kg each) for hands-on training in satellite design, manufacturing, testing, and operations.
• Education and Training Center Network of online education and training facilities connecting APSCO headquarters with sub-centers in Member States. Provides degree programs, short-term trainings, and professional development courses in space technology.
• APSCO International Symposium Annual knowledge-sharing platform bringing together experts to discuss space cooperation topics including food security, earthquake monitoring, communication satellites, GNSS, and telemedicine.
• Space Law and Policy Forum Biennial forum for building capacity in space law and policy among Member States, promoting exchange on national space legislation and supporting space governance development.
• APSCO Space Law Alliance (ASLA) Framework for advancing space law and policy research and cooperation among Member States and international partners.
• Space Segment Network and Interconnection of Ground Systems (SMMS Constellation) Joint Small Multi-Mission Satellites (SMMS) Constellation Program forming a network of existing and planned satellites from Member States, connected through ground receiving stations for shared data access.
• APOSOS (Asia-Pacific Ground-Based Space Object Observation System) Ground-based space observation network using optical trackers (150-500mm telescopes) for space object detection, tracking, and cataloging. Provides collision avoidance and early warning services for Member State space assets.
• Disaster Monitoring Network Multi-hazard monitoring system covering drought, flood, landslide, earthquake, and tsunami. Includes SOAP platform for seismic-ionospheric observation, GIMI platform for ionospheric monitoring, and GNSS terminals for emergency management.
• International GNSS Monitoring and Assessment (IGMA) Network for monitoring and assessing GNSS services (GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo) across Member States, improving service quality and reliability through shared data analysis.
• Space Application Network Collection of specialized applications including radiometric calibration services, ionosphere modeling, Ka-band rain attenuation research, telemedicine, and tele-education initiatives.
• MASTA Program (Master Program on Space Technology Applications) Master's degree program conducted with Beihang University covering Remote Sensing & GIS, Satellite Communications, GNSS, and Micro-Satellite Technology. Fully sponsored with Chinese Government Scholarships.
• New Generation Cultivating Programs Youth development initiatives including Space Science Schools, CANSAT International Competition, APSCO Youth Space Contest, and Space Maker Marathon to cultivate interest in space science among students.
• Online Earth Observation Course Free self-paced online course on Earth Observation for Sustainable Development, launched with UN-SPIDER Beijing Office, Wuhan University and UNU-INWEH, covering use of Chinese satellite data over 4-6 weeks with 4 modules.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 150 trainees trained annually from member states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Galactic EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026APSCO delegation visited Galactic Energy test facilities in Chizhou for payload launch and launch service partnership discussions to benefit member states.
• UN-SPIDER Beijing OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Jointly launched free online course on Earth Observation for Sustainable Development with UN-SPIDER Beijing Office, Wuhan University, and UNU-INWEH during 69th UNCOPUOS session.
• Wuhan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Jointly launched free online course on Earth Observation for Sustainable Development with UN-SPIDER and UNU-INWEH.
• UNU-INWEH (United Nations University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Jointly launched free online course on Earth Observation for Sustainable Development with UN-SPIDER and Wuhan University.
• China Communications Industry Association (CCIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Signed MoU in December 2025 with GLAC and CARSA for cooperation in satellite communications, navigation and remote sensing for urban governance and smart city applications.
• Global Navigation Satellite System and Location-Based Services Association of China (GLAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Part of four-party MoU with APSCO, CCIA, and CARSA for space technology applications in urban management and smart city development.
• Chinese Association for Remote Sensing Applications (CARSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Part of four-party MoU for joint case collection on space technology empowering urban governance, to be incorporated into capacity building training resources.
• China Commercial Aerospace Innovation Consortium (CCAIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Cooperating with CCAIC to bring together commercial aerospace enterprises and innovation entities for urban governance applications.
• Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Cooperating university for PhD programs starting from 2018 on disciplines including control science, aerospace science, and manufacturing engineering.
• Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Cooperating university for PhD and Master programs starting from 2018 on navigation, guidance, control, and aerospace science.
• ChinaRS Geoinformatics Co. Ltd.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Donated Data Sharing Service Platform Cloud Mart with new functions and improved user access for data downloads.
• China National Space Administration (CNSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2013CNSA provides satellite remote sensing data through cooperation agreement. China Earthquake Administration provides technical leadership for earthquake research projects. CNSA supports piggy-back launch arrangements for SSS constellation.
• China Center for Resource Satellite Data & Application (CRESDA)coreTechnology or Integration · 15 April 2011Selected as successful bidder for development of APSCO Data Sharing Service Platform. Operates the DSSP providing satellite data to member states.
• Beihang UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Leading university for Student Small Satellite project. Provides MASTA Master Program on Space Technology Applications with Chinese Government Scholarships. Hosts APSCO Education and Training Center.
• United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN-OOSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO has permanent observer status at UN-COPUOS and collaborates with UN-OOSA for organizing joint workshops on Space Law & Policy. Participates in all COPUOS activities including Scientific and Technical Sub-committee and Legal Sub-committee sessions.
• United Nations - ESCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO maintains cooperative relationship with UN-ESCAP for Asia-Pacific regional space initiatives and development programs.
• UN-RCSSTEAP (Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia-Pacific)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of expert group meetings on space education curricula development with RCSSTEAP.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO maintains communication and partnership with ESA for international cooperation and space activities.
• Group on Earth Observations (GEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO is an Observer of GEO and participates in all major events contributing to the architectural design of GEOSS.
• International Astronautical Federation (IAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO organizes annual exhibitions for promotion at IAF International Astronautical Congress. Holds partnership status with IAF.
• International Space Science Institute Beijing (ISSI-BJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU for joint organization of Space Science Schools and other relevant activities. Co-organized first Space Science School in Thailand in 2016.
• Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organizer of APSCO Youth Space Contest in 2017 held in Beijing.
• International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO maintains partnership and collaboration with IAA for international cooperation.
• Space FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPSCO maintains communication and partnership with Space Foundation.
• China Earthquake Administration (CEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Ground-Based Ionospheric Monitoring and Information Sharing Platform (GIMI) project and ionosphere modeling research.
• Zhejiang University (ZJU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating university for Master and PhD programs starting from 2026, offering disciplines in mechanical engineering, energy engineering, electronics, control science, and more.
• Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating university for Master and PhD programs offering programs in aerospace engineering, mechatronics, optics, electronics, computer science, and more.
• TUBITAK UZAY (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading role in Radiometric Calibration of Satellite Sensors project. Co-organizing SSS Summer Camp. Leading university TUBITAK-UZAY for SSS-2B CubeSat development.
• China Research Institute of Radio Wave Propagation (CRIRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading role in Ionosphere Modeling through Study of Radio Wave Propagation and Solar Activity project.
• Shanghai Jiaotong UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract signed for SSS-2A CubeSat development. Co-organizing Third Summer Camp of SSS Project in Shanghai.
• National Institute of Natural Hazards (NINH), ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading implementation of Earthquake Research Project Phase II including SOAP platform development.
• National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC)coreTechnology or IntegrationHosts APOSOS Data Centre for space object observation data sharing and joint observation operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF): Japan-initiated regional space cooperation forum covering the same Asia-Pacific geography as APSCO. It is the most direct competitor for member-state engagement, with overlapping themes of Earth observation, disaster management, and education, and represents the alternative platform for countries hesitant to join a China-led body.
• UN Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia-Pacific (RCSSTEAP): UN-affiliated education center covering the same Asia-Pacific region. APSCO co-organizes expert group meetings on space education curricula with RCSSTEAP, making it a closely cooperating peer in space-technology capacity building and degree programs.
• China Center for Resource Satellite Data & Application (CRESDA): Operates the DSSP on behalf of APSCO and was the successful bidder for its development. Although CRESDA is a national entity rather than inter-governmental, it is the closest operational peer — it provides the satellite data pipeline that defines APSCO's primary data-sharing product.

Broad incumbents

• European Space Agency (ESA): The most prominent inter-governmental space cooperation organization; comparable in mission (multilateral space science and applications), governance model (council of member states), and product portfolio (data sharing, Earth observation, navigation, training). APSCO is a smaller, Asia-Pacific-focused analog to ESA.
• Group on Earth Observations (GEO): Intergovernmental partnership on Earth observation data sharing and GEOSS architecture. APSCO is an observer of GEO and participates in GEOSS design, making it a cooperating peer in the global Earth-observation data-sharing ecosystem that APSCO's DSSP plugs into.
• International Astronautical Federation (IAF): Global space-cooperation federation of which APSCO is a partner; both convene international symposia and congresses (APSCO holds annual exhibitions at the IAC). Comparable as a convening platform for space-sector dialogue, though IAF is a federation rather than an operational agency.
• UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN-OOSA): UN body coordinating international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space. APSCO holds permanent observer status at UN-COPUOS and runs joint programs with UN-OOSA, making it a direct cooperating peer in multilateral space governance and capacity building.

Emerging players

• International Space Science Institute Beijing (ISSI-BJ): Beijing-based space science research institute that co-organized the first APSCO Space Science School in Thailand (2016) under a long-standing MoU. Comparable as a scientific-cooperation counterpart supporting APSCO's training and knowledge-sharing agenda.
• African Space Agency (AfriSA / African Union Space Council): Newly constituted continental intergovernmental space body for Africa. Comparable in structure (intergovernmental mandate, member-state contributions, focus on capacity building for developing nations) and serves as a potential partner or parallel model for regional space cooperation.

Others

• International Academy of Astronautics (IAA): Independent academy of space experts that partners with APSCO for international cooperation activities. While not a direct operational peer, IAA functions as a peer institution in convening space-science expertise that complements APSCO's mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apsco_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asia-pacificspacecooperationorganization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization