RMIT is currently looking for a Research Fellow, Space Tracking/Geodesy to join their Satellite Positioning for Atmosphere, Climate and Environment (SPACE) Research Centre.
The Role description includes:
Reporting to the Director of SPACE Research Centre RMIT University and Manager Modelling Analysis of EOSSS (EOS Space Systems Pty Ltd), you will be required to undertake research in the SPACE Research Centre specifically for the ASRP Grant project. You will work primarily on space tracking, real-time orbit determination (OD), atmospheric mass density modelling, space conjunction analysis, satellite laser ranging (SLR) and precise point positioning (PPP).
For more information, head here.
NBNCo is currently looking for a Project Coordinator - Satellite, with the role description:
Working within the Network Architecture and Technology (NA&T) group the Project Coordinator - Satellite will be responsible for overall project coordination and administration activities within the satellite engineering delivery team.
For more information, head here.
Happy Space job hunting!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Sold-Out Australasia Satellite Forum held in Sydney
The 2012 Australasia Satellite Forum was held in Sydney on the 16th of April, to a sold out audience of Asia-Pacific Satellite executives and industry representatives.
The key-note address was given by Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker, whose speech can be found here. The speech devotes a lot of time to the National Broadband Network and coalition criticism on it. He does go on to deliver in-principle support to satellite services delivering broadband to rural Australia, whilst reminding the forum of the Aussat issues. Whilst it is good to see the coalition engaging in this type of forum, it would be far more interesting to know the coalitions future policies regarding the space and satellite telecommunications sector.
The forum also attracted industry experts from NewSat, NBNCo, Arianespace, Optus, Telstra, Thales Alenia Space, Space Systems Loral, Hughes, and many other companies.
The day's program can still be found here.
The key-note address was given by Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker, whose speech can be found here. The speech devotes a lot of time to the National Broadband Network and coalition criticism on it. He does go on to deliver in-principle support to satellite services delivering broadband to rural Australia, whilst reminding the forum of the Aussat issues. Whilst it is good to see the coalition engaging in this type of forum, it would be far more interesting to know the coalitions future policies regarding the space and satellite telecommunications sector.
The forum also attracted industry experts from NewSat, NBNCo, Arianespace, Optus, Telstra, Thales Alenia Space, Space Systems Loral, Hughes, and many other companies.
The day's program can still be found here.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Australia and South Africa jointly awarded SKA Telescope
In a widely expected, but somewhat controversial decision, the Square Kilometer Array facility has been awarded to both Australia and South Africa.
It is understood that Australia / New Zealand have been awarded the low frequency component for the SKA, whereas South Africa has been awarded the mid frequency component.
The press release states:
"The majority of SKA dishes in Phase 1 will be built in South Africa, combined with MeerKAT. Further SKA dishes will be added to the ASKAP array in Australia. All the dishes and the mid frequency aperture arrays for Phase II of the SKA will be built in Southern Africa while the low frequency aperture array antennas for Phase I and II will be built in Australia."
Congratulations to all involved from both Australia and South Africa. Whilst I'm sure everyone would have wanted the whole facility, it is a great reward to two deserving sites.
For the full press release head here.
It is understood that Australia / New Zealand have been awarded the low frequency component for the SKA, whereas South Africa has been awarded the mid frequency component.
The press release states:
"The majority of SKA dishes in Phase 1 will be built in South Africa, combined with MeerKAT. Further SKA dishes will be added to the ASKAP array in Australia. All the dishes and the mid frequency aperture arrays for Phase II of the SKA will be built in Southern Africa while the low frequency aperture array antennas for Phase I and II will be built in Australia."
Congratulations to all involved from both Australia and South Africa. Whilst I'm sure everyone would have wanted the whole facility, it is a great reward to two deserving sites.
For the full press release head here.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Australian Budget Ignores Space, Threatens Future
The 2012-2013 Australian Federal Government budget has left the space industry out in the cold, with no new funding announced. This places the Australian Space Policy Unit and the Australian Space Research Program with just 12 months of funding left before they could in theory be shutdown.
Since the seed funding for the Australian Space Industry was announced back in the 2009-2010 budget, no new funding to sustain long term space activities has been announced. Whilst the original small investment has seen a resurgence in Space activities in Australia, a cloud now hangs over what will happen beyond the next financial year, placing the industry on edge as to what the long term future will be.
The Space Policy Unit is expected to release the first Australian National Space Industry Policy in the third quarter of this year, which will hopefully provide a strong direction for the industry together with the announcement of new funding that matches or exceeds current funding amounts.
Announcing a National Space Industry Policy with no funding would effectively undo some of the great achievements made over the last few years, and risk many of the economic benefits that the Space Industry brings to Australia.
All hopes rest with the upcoming policy to provide certainty for the Space Industry.
Since the seed funding for the Australian Space Industry was announced back in the 2009-2010 budget, no new funding to sustain long term space activities has been announced. Whilst the original small investment has seen a resurgence in Space activities in Australia, a cloud now hangs over what will happen beyond the next financial year, placing the industry on edge as to what the long term future will be.
The Space Policy Unit is expected to release the first Australian National Space Industry Policy in the third quarter of this year, which will hopefully provide a strong direction for the industry together with the announcement of new funding that matches or exceeds current funding amounts.
Announcing a National Space Industry Policy with no funding would effectively undo some of the great achievements made over the last few years, and risk many of the economic benefits that the Space Industry brings to Australia.
All hopes rest with the upcoming policy to provide certainty for the Space Industry.
Climate R3 Workshop to be held in Perth in late May
The Second Climate Regional Readiness Review (Climate R3) workshop will be held from the 22nd to the 25th of May 2012 in Perth, and will be held together with the APRSAF Space Applications for Environment (SAFE).
The 2nd Climate R3 workshop will further develop the Climate R3 initiative which was born out of an Australian proposal at the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) -17 held in Melbourne in 2010. The initiative is aimed at undertaking a regional readiness review for Key Climate Missions, and determining the ability of APRSAF countries to benefit from space derived data and information.
SAFE aims to establish prototype platforms for the development of solution (service) oriented application systems for climate change mitigation and adaptation by using space based earth observation technology. This workshop will report on the five on-going prototyping projects endorsed by APRSAF and review possible new prototyping projects.
The Australian Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research & Tertiary Education and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will co-host the second Climate R3.For further information, head over to the space.gov.au Climate R3 webpage here.
The 2nd Climate R3 workshop will further develop the Climate R3 initiative which was born out of an Australian proposal at the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) -17 held in Melbourne in 2010. The initiative is aimed at undertaking a regional readiness review for Key Climate Missions, and determining the ability of APRSAF countries to benefit from space derived data and information.
SAFE aims to establish prototype platforms for the development of solution (service) oriented application systems for climate change mitigation and adaptation by using space based earth observation technology. This workshop will report on the five on-going prototyping projects endorsed by APRSAF and review possible new prototyping projects.
The Australian Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research & Tertiary Education and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will co-host the second Climate R3.For further information, head over to the space.gov.au Climate R3 webpage here.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Australian Space Funding - Back down to Earth or Ready to Launch?
As we approach the announcement of the 2012/2013 Budget, the space industry is staring down a cross roads of its future in Australia.
Winding the clock back to the 2009/2010 Federal Budget, $48.6 Million was budgeted accross the next four years for two things - $40 Million to setup the Australian Space Research Program (ASRP), and $8.6 Million to setup the Space Policy Unit (SPU).
The ASRP has seen 14 grants awarded across the four selection rounds. Of these, there were 4 grants awarded under Stream A (Education) and 10 awarded under Stream B (Space Science and Innovation). A total of 61 different organisations have been part of the ASRP, and the program requires that recipients match grant funding by at least 1 to 1, so over $80 Million in value has been created by the program. Overall the ASRP has been a stunning success, and has re-established a small, but growing space industry in a relatively short time frame.
The Space Policy Unit was funded $8.5 million across the 4 year period, to help coordinate Australia's national and international civil space activities, including partnerships with international space agencies. In this time, the SPU has made great strides in starting to coordinate the plethora of space activities in Australia, develop the Principles for a National Space Industry Policy, and helped Australia step back onto the international space stage - particularly becoming active in international space policy again.
At an average of $12.2 Million per year, the results achieved have been very impressive, however, all of this funding expires at the end of the 2012/2013 budget.
Compare this with the US$17.7 Billion that NASA is allocated for each year, and you start to get a feeling for the severity of the lack of funding for Space in Australia.
Now this is not to say that Australia doesn't spend a lot on space or that space doesn't deliver value to the Australian economy. In the recent times we have seen several parts of the government actively involved in the Space domain - recently the NBNCo signed a deal with Space Systems Loral for 2 Ka-band telecommunications satellites for $620 Million, the defence department has spent $927 Million on joining the Wideband Global Satellite Communications constellation, a joint Australian / U.S. Space Surveillance facility was announced for W.A., and Geoscience Australia valued the contribution of Earth Observation to the Australian economy at over $3.3 Billion.
At this point - we need to ask ourselves, is a meagre $12.2 million per year spent by the Australian Government worth it? Is it enough?
Clearly the investments made in the SPU and the ASRP have been both worth it, and at the very least the Australian government needs to commit in this year's budget to extending this funding for the next five years. If this commitment is not made, the SPU and ASRP would effectively shut down at the end of next year's budget - a disastrous outcome for Australia.
Furthermore, the SPU and ASRP funding should be expanded - to deliver a national space policy and start undertaking more ambitious space projects that address Australia's national priorities.
In doing so, we should draw together the various government departments that are actively involved in Space to more effectively and efficiently apply our limited resources. We should also examine long term strategies of how we can develop more self-reliance, and avoid sending giant cheques overseas every time we need to purchase critical space infrastructure.
Back in November 2008, the Australian Senate produced a landmark report into Australia's Space Sector entitled: Lost in Space? Setting a new direction forAustralia's space science and industry sector. Since then we've made great strides - but it is now time to accelerate, not to go back to where we were then.
It is time for Australia to re-commit to its space priorities in this year's budget.
Winding the clock back to the 2009/2010 Federal Budget, $48.6 Million was budgeted accross the next four years for two things - $40 Million to setup the Australian Space Research Program (ASRP), and $8.6 Million to setup the Space Policy Unit (SPU).
The ASRP has seen 14 grants awarded across the four selection rounds. Of these, there were 4 grants awarded under Stream A (Education) and 10 awarded under Stream B (Space Science and Innovation). A total of 61 different organisations have been part of the ASRP, and the program requires that recipients match grant funding by at least 1 to 1, so over $80 Million in value has been created by the program. Overall the ASRP has been a stunning success, and has re-established a small, but growing space industry in a relatively short time frame.
The Space Policy Unit was funded $8.5 million across the 4 year period, to help coordinate Australia's national and international civil space activities, including partnerships with international space agencies. In this time, the SPU has made great strides in starting to coordinate the plethora of space activities in Australia, develop the Principles for a National Space Industry Policy, and helped Australia step back onto the international space stage - particularly becoming active in international space policy again.
At an average of $12.2 Million per year, the results achieved have been very impressive, however, all of this funding expires at the end of the 2012/2013 budget.
Compare this with the US$17.7 Billion that NASA is allocated for each year, and you start to get a feeling for the severity of the lack of funding for Space in Australia.
Now this is not to say that Australia doesn't spend a lot on space or that space doesn't deliver value to the Australian economy. In the recent times we have seen several parts of the government actively involved in the Space domain - recently the NBNCo signed a deal with Space Systems Loral for 2 Ka-band telecommunications satellites for $620 Million, the defence department has spent $927 Million on joining the Wideband Global Satellite Communications constellation, a joint Australian / U.S. Space Surveillance facility was announced for W.A., and Geoscience Australia valued the contribution of Earth Observation to the Australian economy at over $3.3 Billion.
At this point - we need to ask ourselves, is a meagre $12.2 million per year spent by the Australian Government worth it? Is it enough?
Clearly the investments made in the SPU and the ASRP have been both worth it, and at the very least the Australian government needs to commit in this year's budget to extending this funding for the next five years. If this commitment is not made, the SPU and ASRP would effectively shut down at the end of next year's budget - a disastrous outcome for Australia.
Furthermore, the SPU and ASRP funding should be expanded - to deliver a national space policy and start undertaking more ambitious space projects that address Australia's national priorities.
In doing so, we should draw together the various government departments that are actively involved in Space to more effectively and efficiently apply our limited resources. We should also examine long term strategies of how we can develop more self-reliance, and avoid sending giant cheques overseas every time we need to purchase critical space infrastructure.
Back in November 2008, the Australian Senate produced a landmark report into Australia's Space Sector entitled: Lost in Space? Setting a new direction forAustralia's space science and industry sector. Since then we've made great strides - but it is now time to accelerate, not to go back to where we were then.
It is time for Australia to re-commit to its space priorities in this year's budget.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
SKA Board Postpones site selection decision, hints at compromise solution
The SKA Organisation met today as expected to discuss the site selection for the SKA facility.
In a media release posted here, the organisation noted:
"The Members wished to move ahead with the site selection process, and recognised that it is desirable to maintain an inclusive approach to SKA. They noted that it is important to maximise the value from the investments made by both candidate host regions. They therefore agreed to set up a small scientific working group to explore possible implementation options that would achieve this. This working group will report back to the Members at a meeting in mid-May; its report will provide additional information to facilitate the site decision for SKA.
The Board of the SKA Organisation met on 4 April, following the Members meeting, and discussed progress of the project. The Board approved an application for Associate Membership in the SKA Organisation from India (represented by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics)."
By suggesting that 'it is important to maximise the value from the investments made by both candidate host regions', rumours will continue that a compromise solution may be under examination. Such a decision might be politically a win-win outcome, but may not be the best technical solution for the SKA.
Perhaps a shame that a decision couldn't be made today, but at least Australia is still in the hunt.
In a media release posted here, the organisation noted:
"The Members wished to move ahead with the site selection process, and recognised that it is desirable to maintain an inclusive approach to SKA. They noted that it is important to maximise the value from the investments made by both candidate host regions. They therefore agreed to set up a small scientific working group to explore possible implementation options that would achieve this. This working group will report back to the Members at a meeting in mid-May; its report will provide additional information to facilitate the site decision for SKA.
The Board of the SKA Organisation met on 4 April, following the Members meeting, and discussed progress of the project. The Board approved an application for Associate Membership in the SKA Organisation from India (represented by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics)."
By suggesting that 'it is important to maximise the value from the investments made by both candidate host regions', rumours will continue that a compromise solution may be under examination. Such a decision might be politically a win-win outcome, but may not be the best technical solution for the SKA.
Perhaps a shame that a decision couldn't be made today, but at least Australia is still in the hunt.
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