After leaving railways he was snapped up by Japan's National Space Development Agency and was its president until he retired in 1977.

ECONOMIST: Hideo Shima

Criticised for developing launch vehicles that cost twice as much as American or European rockets, the National Space Development Agency has been trying to streamline operations.

ECONOMIST: The land of disappointments | The

"We've just collected images over Mali, which we've handed over to the armed forces because we believe they will be helpful to them in the peacekeeping mission over there, " says Seidu Mohammed, director-general of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

BBC: Nigeria's space race

One of the key presentations at the conference was given by Dr Giovanna Tinetti who's leading the Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory, or EChO, mission recently selected for further development by the European Space Agency.

BBC: From counting to characterising exoplanets

Late Wednesday, the House passed the NASA Reauthorization Act following the Senate's approval, giving NASA the authority to move forward with President Barack Obama's strategy for the agency, including encouraging commercial development of space transportation systems.

CNN: Congress approves $19 billion for NASA but layoffs loom

The US space agency is scheduled to retire its space shuttles next year, and has begun the development of a new human space launch "architecture" called Constellation.

BBC: Spaceship passes critical review

The money, from the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), will be used to build a library extension and increase seminar and lecture space.

BBC: Tremough Campus