TYB
Joint Statement on U.S.-Singapore Space Dialogue
Oct 12, 2023
As called for in the March 2022 U.S.-Singapore Joint Leaders’ Statement, the United States and Singapore held the first bilateral Space Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2023. The U.S.-Singapore Space Dialogue is a platform designed to strengthen bilateral exchanges and entrench cooperation in civil space matters. It is yet another example of the expansion of cooperation between the United States and Singapore into emerging and frontier areas.
The U.S. delegation was led by Valda Vikmanis-Keller, Director, State Department Office of Space Affairs, and the Singapore delegation by Ronald Tong, Acting Executive Director, Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn). Both delegations were represented by a range of ministries and agencies involved in civil space activities.
Both sides agreed that earth observation is a priority area for bilateral cooperation. They discussed a range of programs that use satellites to better understand climate change and environmental conditions, prepare for and respond to disasters, and improve natural resource use. They agreed to consider possible joint projects in a range of areas including air quality research, fire and smoke haze detection and assessment, and the use of small satellites for earth observation.
The delegations recognized the potential for expanded cooperation on space-related use cases. One area of cooperation is in the maritime domain, where satellite remote sensing and communications will enhance maritime domain awareness and connectivity. This will support the broad range of government and commercial interests in security, ensure the safety of life at sea, protect the environment, and promote the development of digital and decarbonization solutions. Another area of cooperation is in the aviation domain whereby the provision of safe and efficient air traffic management can be enhanced with satellite voice and data communications over oceanic and remote areas. Satellite data communications will also become increasingly important for future aviation concepts of operations.
Both countries reviewed joint efforts to promote the sustainability of the outer space environment. This includes work in the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and other UN bodies, and work under the Artemis Accords, which seeks to establish guidelines to ensure safety and responsible behavior in outer space as countries explore the Moon and beyond. They also noted the importance of dealing with the growing problem of orbital debris.
Following the government-to-government discussions, both sides held a commercial Roundtable which brought together over twenty private space companies and research institutions from each of the two countries. The Roundtable was chaired by Richard DalBello, Director of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce, and Ronald Tong, Acting Executive Director, OSTIn. The session allowed industry representatives to better understand how the United States and Singapore promote their respective commercial space sectors and to outline their interests in bilateral cooperation. Existing partnerships were examined to help boost ties between the two commercial space sectors. A networking session was also held to discuss how to create new partnerships between the commercial space industries from the United States and Singapore.
Both countries agreed to continue work in the areas mentioned above and to explore other joint research and development collaborations, policy discussions, industry engagements, and educational exchanges.
https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-u-s-singapore-space-dialogue/
US Space Force pauses use of ChatGPT-like tools due to security fears: Report
Oct 12, 2023
The United States Space Force has temporarily banned its staff from using generative artificial tools while on duty to protect government data, according to reports.
Space Force members were informed that they “are not authorized” to web-based generative AI tools — to create text, images and other media unless specifically approved, according to an Oct. 12 report by Bloomberg, citing a memorandum addressed to the Guardian Workforce (Space Force members) on Sept. 29.
“Generative AI will undoubtedly revolutionize our workforce and enhance Guardian’s ability to operate at speed,” Lisa Costa, Space Force’s deputy chief of space operations for technology and innovation, reportedly said in the memorandum.
However, Costa cited concerns over current cybersecurity and data handling standards, explaining that AI and large language model (LLM) adoption needs to be more “responsible.”
The United States Space Force is a space service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces tasked with protecting the U.S. and allied interests in space.
The Space Force’s decision has already impacted at least 500 individuals using a generative AI platform called “Ask Sage,” according to Bloomberg, citing comments from Nick Chaillan, former chief software officer for the United States Air Force and Space Force.
Chaillan reportedly criticized the Space Force’s decision. “Clearly, this is going to put us years behind China,” he wrote in a September email complaining to Costa and other senior defense officials.
“It’s a very short-sighted decision,” Chaillan added.
Chaillan noted that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and its departments have developed generative AI tools of their own that meet data security standards.
Concerns that LLMs could leak private information to the public have been a fear for some governments in recent months.
Italy temporarily blocked AI chatbot ChatGPT in March, citing suspected breaches of data privacy rules before reversing its decision about a month later.
Tech giants such as Apple, Amazon and Samsung are among the firms that have also banned or restricted employees from using ChatGPT-like AI tools at work.
https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-space-force-bans-chat-gpt-ai-tools-security-concerns
UFO researcher: a specimen is also kept in Hungary
Oct 12, 2023
According to Hungarian UFO researcher János Kalmár, in 1996 a plane collided with a spaceship over the village of Pápa. An alien creature has been held in Hungary ever since.
UFO in Hungary Recently, on a Ryanair flight, both the passengers and the pilot sighted a UFO. János Kalmár, president of the Hungarian UFO Research Association, believes that the open air makes it easy for UFOs to fly over our surface.
The expert has been involved in UFO research for 30 years. According to Kalmár, when a phenomenon is reported, the evidence and the location are always carefully checked. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that many people cheat, which, according to the expert, harms the subject and the researcher.
Not all UFOs that shine
Kalmár jokes that “not everything is UFO that shines”. You have to investigate the reports carefully. The Hungarian expert recently attended a conference in Finland, where it was revealed that “aliens travel between galaxies in interstellar vehicles 800 kilometres long, 330 kilometres wide and 50 kilometres high.”
Kalmár also said that there is a UFO in Hungary, where a “little grey” has been detained since 1996. Although he has not seen it himself, he has been to the place where the alien has been kept for 27 years. In November, there will be a full-day conference in Budapest, which anyone can attend, rtl.hu reports.
https://dailynewshungary.com/ufo-researcher-a-specimen-is-also-kept-in-hungary/
Anybody got that meme of him in traffic?