The General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS) was established in 1986 by Legislative Decree No. /8/ as a replacement of the National Center of Remote Sensing, which was established in 1980. Then the General Organization of Remote Sensing become later in accordance with the Legislative Decree No. /35/ of 2004 and its amendment by decree No. /69/ of 2013 directly related to the Ministry of Communications and Technology after having been connected to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and subsequently it became in accordance with Decree No. /23/ dated 3/7/2014 a General Body for Scientific Research of an administrative nature that enjoys prestigious personality, administrative and financial independence and is linked to the Minister of Communications and Technology after being under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The Minister of Communications and Technology under this decree exercises all duties and powers assigned to the Prime Minister.
The General organization of Remote Sensing shall carry out all tasks and works related to the use of space techniques, remote sensing and related research and development activities, with a view to localizing these technologies and investing them in a way that achieves national interests in the Syrian Arab Republic. It is considered a scientific reference specialized in this regard and it performs the following tasks:• Management and implementation of the Syrian space program, which includes the establishment of a data receiving station.
• Conduct studies, research and scientific experiments related to space science and remote sensing and implement related programs.
• Building an integrated scientific system in the field of development, manufacturing and control of satellites and receiving stations for sensor data, archiving and using it in various scientific and practical fields.
• Utilization of technologies for space science and remote sensing in the field of Earth observation and natural resources and management, environmental protection, early warning, disaster prevention, marine and air pollution and propose programs and studies to take advantage of these technologies and work towards their implementation.
• Supervising the trading, marketing and sale of sensor data in accordance with the provisions of the relevant regulations.
• Preparing, training and qualifying specialists and technical staff in various scientific and practical disciplines related to the work of GORS inside and outside the Syrian Arab Republic.
• Recruitment of experts according to the laws and regulations in force.
• Enhancing scientific cooperation with various bodies concerned with the work of GORS and between them.
• Follow-up of international activity in space science and remote sensing, as to achieve national interests, and the representation of the Syrian Arab Republic in agencies in space science and remote sensing.
• Proposals on relevant Arab, regional and international treaties and conventions.
• Establish the necessary facilities for the work of GORS in various scientific and practical aspects, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.
• Organizing specialized conferences, seminars and workshops in the field of space science and remote sensing, the latest of which is the 17th International Symposium entitled (Management of Space Techniques and Applications).
• Participate in the implementation of comprehensive development plans that contribute to the development of the individual and society in the Syrian Arab Republic, in relation to the competences of GORS.
Decree No. /23/ of 2007 added to the work of GORS the functions of a space agency. The decree includes the mandate of GORS to establish an integrated scientific system, including the manufacture of various components of space such as receiving earth stations and satellites and all systems that serve this field. Where GORS was consuming these technologies and buying the raw material, which is the space image that was not available in time, shape or quality, which ensures optimal investment of this type of data in the service of development projects.Therefore, it was necessary to think of a permanent source to obtain the space image, which provides the requirements of the work in an instantaneous, direct and timely manner. In addition to the scientific and technical aspect related to the employment and development of the acquisition of this technology to develop a fingerprint for Syria in the field of space, in accordance with the memorandum of justification presented to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers that has been discussed and approved.
The first phase of the Syrian space program was implemented by inauguration of the ground receiving station for satellite data under the patronage of the Prime Minister at the headquarters of the General organization of Remote Sensing at the date of placing it under investment through the signing of two reception contracts from Russian Konopus and BKA satellites.
The second stage includes possessing of a Syrian satellite.
GORS is currently working on amending Decree No. /23/ so that it will have a single reference to GORS that combines the Law 14/2011 and the amended Decree so that it is compatible with the work reality of GORS.
The General organization of Remote Sensing shall carry out all tasks and works related to the use of space techniques, remote sensing and related research and development activities, with a view to localizing these technologies and investing them in a way that achieves national interests in the Syrian Arab Republic. It is considered a scientific reference specialized in this regard and it performs the following tasks:• Management and implementation of the Syrian space program, which includes the establishment of a data receiving station.
• Conduct studies, research and scientific experiments related to space science and remote sensing and implement related programs.
• Building an integrated scientific system in the field of development, manufacturing and control of satellites and receiving stations for sensor data, archiving and using it in various scientific and practical fields.
• Utilization of technologies for space science and remote sensing in the field of Earth observation and natural resources and management, environmental protection, early warning, disaster prevention, marine and air pollution and propose programs and studies to take advantage of these technologies and work towards their implementation.
• Supervising the trading, marketing and sale of sensor data in accordance with the provisions of the relevant regulations.
• Preparing, training and qualifying specialists and technical staff in various scientific and practical disciplines related to the work of GORS inside and outside the Syrian Arab Republic.
• Recruitment of experts according to the laws and regulations in force.
• Enhancing scientific cooperation with various bodies concerned with the work of GORS and between them.
• Follow-up of international activity in space science and remote sensing, as to achieve national interests, and the representation of the Syrian Arab Republic in agencies in space science and remote sensing.
• Proposals on relevant Arab, regional and international treaties and conventions.
• Establish the necessary facilities for the work of GORS in various scientific and practical aspects, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.
• Organizing specialized conferences, seminars and workshops in the field of space science and remote sensing, the latest of which is the 17th International Symposium entitled (Management of Space Techniques and Applications).
• Participate in the implementation of comprehensive development plans that contribute to the development of the individual and society in the Syrian Arab Republic, in relation to the competences of GORS.
Decree No. /23/ of 2007 added to the work of GORS the functions of a space agency. The decree includes the mandate of GORS to establish an integrated scientific system, including the manufacture of various components of space such as receiving earth stations and satellites and all systems that serve this field. Where GORS was consuming these technologies and buying the raw material, which is the space image that was not available in time, shape or quality, which ensures optimal investment of this type of data in the service of development projects.Therefore, it was necessary to think of a permanent source to obtain the space image, which provides the requirements of the work in an instantaneous, direct and timely manner. In addition to the scientific and technical aspect related to the employment and development of the acquisition of this technology to develop a fingerprint for Syria in the field of space, in accordance with the memorandum of justification presented to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers that has been discussed and approved.
The first phase of the Syrian space program was implemented by inauguration of the ground receiving station for satellite data under the patronage of the Prime Minister at the headquarters of the General organization of Remote Sensing at the date of placing it under investment through the signing of two reception contracts from Russian Konopus and BKA satellites.
The second stage includes possessing of a Syrian satellite.
GORS is currently working on amending Decree No. /23/ so that it will have a single reference to GORS that combines the Law 14/2011 and the amended Decree so that it is compatible with the work reality of GORS.