Australian Space 2011 - What to Expect?

After my round up of the Australian Space Scene for 2010, I thought it would be good to take a quick look at what we might expect in 2011.

The first thing that is happening in 2011, and in fact, has just kicked-off, is the ISU's Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program in Adelaide. This will bring a certain focus of the Space world back to Australia, but perhaps most importantly, it is a great example of a build up of intellectual infrastructure in Australia. Put simply, we need Space experts, and more of them, to create and be involved in the projects of tomorrow for Australia. It has always been a bit of a chicken and egg problem in Australia, without any Space projects, why choose a space career; and without any space professionals, how can we realistically achieve space projects? Well, this should help solve that problem.

The next development this year, is the tender, and awarding of two Ka-Band satellites by NBNCo. This means that the Australian Space Market will be back on the radar of the big Satellite Prime Contractors throughout America and Europe. Whilst the satellites are not going to be built here, it is likely that there will be a local content requirement in the project, and this may bring some good technology transfer to Australia. It will also stimulate the industry as the Satellite Prime Contractors look to various Australian companies for teaming opportunities.

Most importantly, we will finally see the release of the Australian National Space Policy that the Space Policy Unit has been working on since its creation. We know a few things that it will focus on, such as providing a vision for Australia’s use for space, and linking that back to Australia’s economic, environmental, social, defence and national security goals; looking at how to enhance the space industry – and create Australian space jobs; and how to enhance Australia’s international space relationships.

It will hopefully outline what will replace the highly successful Australian Space Research Program, and will also look at areas of Australian research and education in the space domain. Certainly what has been done well in the past year or two, is a strong and methodical build-up of evidence as to why Australia should be involved in Space. In doing this, an Australian space policy should be both sustainable and supported by both sides of parliament.

We might see more movement on the Defence Department's plans for a Radar Surveillance satellite which was announced in the last white paper, and I'm very confident we'll hear more about Space Surveillance in Australia - both the partnership with the US and the proposed facility at Exmouth.

We’ll definitely hear a lot more about the Square Kilometre Array and the Australian / New Zealand bid, and having a solid National Space Policy should help our case.

So that is a few highlights that we will hopefully see in 2011 - and I'm sure that there are many more exciting things that I haven't mentioned. It is shaping up to be a very big year in Space for Australia – I hope you’re looking forward to it as much as I am!