Maldives Space Research Organisation

Join the Maldivian Delegation to IAC 2026! 🇲🇻🌍🚀

The Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) is inviting Expressions of Interest from Maldivians who are passionate about space, science, technology, innovation, education, and policy to join the Maldivian Delegation to the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026 in Antalya, Turkey.

This is a unique opportunity to:
✨ Explore the global space sector
🎤 Attend keynote presentations, technical sessions, exhibitions, and panel discussions
🤝 Network with international experts, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers
🛰️ Discover how space technologies can benefit the Maldives
🇲🇻 Contribute to strengthening the Maldives' presence in the global space community

A limited number of delegates will be selected for sponsorship under the following categories:
▶️ Fully Funded
▶️ Partially Funded
▶️ Registration Covered

📅 Submission Deadline: Thursday, 18 September, 23:45 HRS

Link: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/jEKXUFMiqi

#MSROmv #IAC2026

🌊🛰️ We are pleased to announce the launch of project POSEIDON (Pollution Observation from Space: Environmental Imagery for Detections in the Oceans & Nearshore).

Funded under the European Union's Horizon Europe programme, this EUR 5 million three-year project will focus on detection, characterisation, forecasting, and source attribution to improve the identification of:

- oil spills,
- sewage discharge,
- chemical pollutants,
- and marine litter

released by vessels in and around the Maldives, while supporting stronger compliance with international maritime regulations such as MARPOL (imo.org/en/about/conve…)

A combination of Earth Observation (EO) data, including optical, SAR, multispectral and hyperspectral satellite imagery; in-situ environmental water quality measurements; and hydrodynamic modelling together with advanced AI-enabled analytics will be used to better understand pollution pathways, track pollution both forward and back in time, and ultimately, identify the source of pollution.

The outcomes are expected to support:

✅ Stronger environmental regulation and enforcement

✅ Enhanced water security and desalination planning

✅ More sustainable maritime operating practices

✅ Protection of the natural capital that underpins tourism, fisheries, and community wellbeing

We look forward to working with our international partners to drive this innovative project forward and strengthen maritime environmental protection in the Maldives and across the wider Indian Ocean.

@EU_Commission @KSAT_Kongsberg @EOMAP @ghgsat @SeoulNatlUni @fugro Clean Ocean, Institute for Energy Technology, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST), Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)

#POSEIDON #Maldives #MSRO

🌏🤝 Strengthening Space Cooperation and Building Global Momentum into 2026

The Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) entered 2026 at the forefront of global space diplomacy and ocean sustainability, representing the hashtag#Maldives at the highest levels while expanding the coalition of partners, investors, and allies working alongside us.

🇺🇳🌐UNCOPUOS (Vienna)

A historic first: the Maldives' formal participation as a Member, represented by Madin Maseeh and Raushan Ali Firaq, at both the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in February and the Legal Subcommittee in April 2026.

🇸🇬 Singapore Space Summit 2026

MSRO signed a Letter of Intent with the Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn), now formalised as the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS). The partnership focuses on equatorial advantages and the intersection of space and hashtag#oceansustainability: hashtag#bluecarbon, mangrove, and marine pollution hashtag#monitoring.

👑 Sustainable Markets Initiative's Annual CEO Summit (London)

Madin participated in the Summit, joining the roundtable on the space economy and advancing His Majesty's hashtag#TerraCarta and hashtag#AstraCarta initiatives. He had the honour of meeting His Majesty King Charles III and held productive discussions with SMI leadership on philanthropy, ocean stewardship, and space cooperation.

🇨🇳 China Space Day (Chengdu)

Madin, Nashwan Matheen, PhD, and Shiyaz Waheed held high-level engagements at hashtag#ChinaSpaceDay, including key partnership signings to be announced soon.

🔬 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (New York)

Madin joined a high-level panel alongside representatives from the Seychelles, South Korea, North America, and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Director. MSRO also joined a side event co-organised by UNOOSA and PVBLIC Foundation.

📡International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

MSRO continued participating in ITU processes during the April meetings, represented by Hassan Hameed, as part of Working Party 4C studying more efficient use of orbit and spectrum resources.

🚀🤝🌊 Alongside these engagements, MSRO deepened relationships across the global space and ocean community, both on a strategic partnerships and capital level.

Madin and Rajeeshwaran Moorthy FRAeS engaged stakeholders at the World Economic Forum (Davos) on the future of space financing. Tom Gardner and Leonard de Guzman advanced a range of collaborations, including at Space-Comm, Oceanology International (London), and the Space Foundation Space Symposium (Colorado), while Emil C. L. progressed financing discussions with investors and blue economy partners at the CC Forum Investment in Sustainable Development" (London) and BlueTech Center Event 2026 (Svenborg).

✨🏝️ These efforts continue to strengthen MSRO’s position as a bridge between hashtag#SIDS and the global space economy.

A busy first two quarters, with many more exciting announcements ahead soon!

Sustainable Island Living?

The fifth post in this series, which is being carried out as part of the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO)'s ongoing collaboration with the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), shows the past 56 years of development on Kudafari island. 🏝

In contrast to the Male’ region (Post 4 of 7), Kudafari is a better example of the development road which many inhabited islands across Maldivian atolls have taken. Growth in the community has led to much of the land area being needed for housing and other supporting infrastructure. 🏘🛠

A harbour is seen as essential for a community which is connected to the outside world solely through maritime traffic. ⚓️🚢 Land reclamation of which only a little has been carried out in Kudafari (south side of the harbour) is perceived as necessary.

But these developments generally lead to changes to the environment, especially along the coast. 🌊 In the case of Kudafari the southern coastline has significantly eroded while the western side of the island continues to face ongoing erosion (50 metres of localised erosion in the past 20 years).

How will these islands change in the next 50 years? 🕰

Will they all follow the direction of the Greater Male’ Region, which is one of the most densely populated regions of the world with all the issues associated with high dense urban regions? Or will these islands be able to find a balance between improving the quality of life for the residents while maintaining a semblance of the laid-back and slow lifestyle reminiscent of the olden days of island living?

What is clear is that many of the current development practices are not sustainable. 🌱 A more holistic planning process which takes into consideration the natural capital of the islands in proposed developments will be key.

Please reach out to us if you would like to learn more about how to support #MSRO and #NCAP’s work.

Image courtesy of NCAP. Collection: DOS, Sortie: 13M/RAF/1414, Frame: 0246 (24 February 1969) ncap.org

As part of our ongoing timelapse series with @ncap_uk we’re excited to share a striking side-by-side of the Greater Malé region—capturing 56 years of transformation, from 1969 to 2025. 🌍✨

Here’s what the images reveal:
🏗️ A threefold expansion of the airport runway
🌊 Major land reclamation at Malé, Gulhifalhi & Thilafushi
🏝️ Two entirely new islands: Kudagiri & Feydhoo Finolhu
🌬️ Coastal erosion at Kurumba, the Maldives’ first resort

And the sea?
🚢 In 1969: one lone vessel.

In 2025: a sea full of movement—vessels in motion and large ships anchored offshore.

This transformation highlights just how rapidly the Malé region has evolved—strategically, economically, and environmentally. It’s a vivid reminder of why real-time monitoring and planning tools are essential for safe, sustainable futures.

📡 Follow @msromv as we continue uncovering the Maldives’ changing landscapes—linking the past to the present to inform the future.

Want to collaborate or support the project? Get in touch—we’d love to hear from you.

#MSRO #NCAP #Maldives #RemoteSensing #CoastalChange #MaritimeDomainAwareness #TimelapseSeries #ClimateAdaptation #EnvironmentalMonitoring #CoralReefs #SatelliteImagery #SIDS #GreaterMaleRegion #Kudagiri #Gulhifalhu #Kurumbaa #Sentinel