Main Image: Picture taken at the International Space University's Space Studies Program 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal

Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) is committed towards helping the Maldives benefit from the use of Outer Space related technologies, science and education. MSRO youth-led by a team of passionate Maldivians and is a result of an inspiring international collaboration of more than 100 members from around the world wanting to help Maldives survive against climate change.

This kind of international collaboration is a hallmark of the space community, and is now a part of our ethos.

Mission and Vision

MSRO’s mission is to create a space sector in the Maldives that can help us become more climate resilient, protect our maritime domain, diversify our economy and empower our locals using science and education of space. MSRO’s vision is to help Maldives become a spacefaring nation that makes significant contributions to the exploration and use of space.

Current Projects

1. Goidhoo Earth Observation Project (GEOP) Pilot: MSRO is currently working with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology alongside international experts and local councils in building climate resilience and modeling effective earth observation use in policy making with a pilot project in Goidhoo Atoll, commencing early 2023. The output of this pilot would include a report and climate model dashboard for local councils and relevant authorities to use for evidence based decision making. Once successful, we aim to scale this to be applicable to other atolls as well.
    
2. Maritime Domain Awareness Project (MDAP): MSRO is also working with the Ministry of Defense on protecting our maritime domain, using satellites and AI to build monitoring, awareness and response capabilities that can help combat maritime security related issues like illegal fishing in our EEZ.
   
   
3. Space for Island Nations Conference (SINC2023): MSRO is organising the first space-related conference in Maldives, alongside the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Tourism, our international and national partners and sponsors. The conference aims to bring together government stakeholders, space agencies, innovative companies, NGOs, and relevant experts to harness the potential for solutions using space-related technologies for the problems that Island Nations face and the opportunities presented by them for the space sector. 
   
   
   

MSRO’s Founding Story

MSRO was founded in 2022 by the first Maldivian to attend the International Space University and its Space Studies Program 2022 (SSP22). During the program 100+ space experts rallied behind our founder and his idea of helping the Maldives survive the climate crisis using space. After the program, MSRO’s founder and international advisors attended the biggest annual space conference, International Astronautical Congress (IAC2022) in Paris and built strategic partnerships with space agencies, research centers and other space companies. 

MSRO is eternally grateful to the SSP22 cohort, International Space University (ISU) and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), AIR Center, and Portugal Space for having helped us start the first dedicated space organisation in the Maldives.