Australia set to create nation’s first space agency
Australia is set to announce the country’s first space agency. Although the emphasis will apparently be on the commercial utilization of space, researchers are hoping there will be purely scientific efforts as well.
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I think we’ve covered this boondoggle/gravy train/sinecure quite adequately already.
Tau.Neutrino said:
Australia set to create nation’s first space agencyAustralia is set to announce the country’s first space agency. Although the emphasis will apparently be on the commercial utilization of space, researchers are hoping there will be purely scientific efforts as well.
more…
There are so many facets to this. Like dozens of facets.
We already have the joint NASA + CSIRO joint deep space facility in Canberra.
We already have a CSIRO space data coordination centre. Eg. We buy space data for meteorology from Japan.
The defence department is cooperating with singapore in space based surveillance (maritime?) and communications.
Electro optics systems runs its own Russian made satellite and satellite testing operation out of Mt Stromlo.
Satellite communications systems are being made in Adelaide.
Every university and his dog are starting up nanosats in Australia. Testing out ion thrusters and Earth observation cameras among other things.
DSTO (as it was formerly named) had experience in running Fedsat.
And we still have the people around who ran the previous Australian space agency that was both started and killed by Howard.
Optus Australia runs a fleet of Aurtralian communications satellites.
That’s so far.
The new space agency will be an umbrella organisation for most of that …
and hopefully much more.
Tau.Neutrino said:
Australia set to create nation’s first space agencyAustralia is set to announce the country’s first space agency. Although the emphasis will apparently be on the commercial utilization of space, researchers are hoping there will be purely scientific efforts as well.
more…
This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia – all welcome!
NEW VENUE: Cinema Theatre (80.02.02), Building 80, Level 2, Room 2, Swanston Academic Building at RMIT University, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne
NEW TIME: 6:30 – 9:00 pm
The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association’s YouTube channel – SAA.TV.
Countdown to an Australian Space Agency
On 8 May 2018, as part of the 2018-19 Budget, the Australian Government announced the establishment of an Australian Space Agency with ongoing funding starting at $26 million over the next four years. The Agency will also be able to draw on a pool of $15 million, from 2019-20, to invest in specific international space projects which are considered to be beneficial to Australia.
2018-19 Budget Media release
On 14 May 2018, the Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash released the Report on the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability and announced the Australian Government Response to the Review’s Report. Minister Cash also announced the appointment of Dr Megan Clark AC as the interim Head of the Australian Space Agency.
View the media release
View the response Australian Government response (PDF 339KB)
View the Expert Reference Panel Report Review of Australia’s space Industry Capability (PDF 3.1MB)
The Australian Space Agency will commence operations on 1 July 2018.
The Agency will have four core responsibilities:
support the development of Australia’s space industry so that it can compete effectively in the global space sector
coordinate domestic activities in Australia’s space sector
engage closely with key stakeholders, including state and territory governments, to identify opportunities to harness industry advantages and create a globally competitive space industry in Australia
facilitate international space engagement, both in policy and industry forums, to build the networks needed to develop Australia’s space capability and ensure our industry players can access global supply chains.