Anglo Australian Observatory becomes fully Australian

On July 1st 2010, the Anglo Australian Observatory will become a fully Australian run facility. In doing so, it is understood to be changing its name to the Australian Astronomical Observatory.

 The Anglo-Australian Observatory (Image: Anglo Australian Observatory)

With a combined British / Australian heritage for over 35 years, it has been one of the most productive telescopes worldwide for its class.

The Australian Government has provided an additional $30 Million over the next 5 years to the telescope facility, with Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, Richard Marles, overseeing a historic ceremony to mark the change on the 25th of June, 2010.

Australia's SKA bid goes green

The Australian government has announced $47.3 Million in funding to provide clean, renewable energy to two of the precursor facilities currently being built in preparation for Australia and New Zealand to host the full Square Kilometer Array Facility.

The Pawsey High-Performance Computing Centre in Kensington will be powered by a geo-thermal demonstrator facility, with the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory using a new Solar Storage system.


The construction of the new energy projects will commence in November 2010, and be completed by Mid 2013.

The Australian government is once again showing its strong commitment to host the SKA project, with well over $200 Million in funding provided in new facilities so far to strengthen Australia's chances in hosting the full facility.

Recent Australian Government contracts in the Space domain

The Australian government has recently spent over $800,000 in a diverse range of Space contracts to Australian industry.

Whilst several contracts related to the current Space Policy Unit’s review of Australia’s Space capabilities, they are all very welcome as they will directly support Australian Space expertise, and enhance our overall industry direction.

At a quick glace, the recently awarded contracts include:

$474,743.50 to EOS Space Systems Pty Ltd to “Delivery of Satellite Laser Ranging Services at Mt Stromlo.”
$109,230 to Symbios Communications to “Review of Australia's Domestic Space Capabilities – Element”
$88,000 to Asia Pacific Aerospace Consultants to “Review of Australia's Domestic Space Capabilities – Element”
$77,930 to Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd to “Review on Domestic Space Capabilities - Element 1”
$45,858 to Mallesons Stephen Jaques for Advice on Australian Space Research Program
$18,200 to Waterfield Consulting to “facilitate the Space Industry Innovation Council Meetings”

Michael Green at APRSAF-16 shows interest in regional GPS

 (photo: APRSAF website)

 Having a read of the interview of Michael Green at APRSAF-16, which can be found here


Michael is quoted as saying “I know Japan has its Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, a regional GPS that is under development. We may want to have discussions concerning this kind of regional GPS or other initiatives in that area. That’s one of the things I’m considering.”

Is this something that Michael Green said off the top of his head? Or is the Australian government considering involvement in some sort of regional GPS?

I guess it does line up with one of the stated priorities of the Space Policy Unit – namely the navigation priority. Does anyone know anything further on this one?

Round 2 Applications for the Australian Space Research Program has closed

The Space Policy Unit has officially closed applications for round 2 of the Australian Space Research program. If it was as successful as Round 1, we should see some good competition, and even better projects funded for the Australian Space sector. No doubt many of those who missed out on grant money in round 1 will have re-entered in round 2. Round 2 is expected to be announced in July 2010, with Round 3 applications open from Aug/Sept 2010.

The Space Policy Unit has also released some guidance to applicants for the Australian Space Research Program which can be found here. In this presentation the Space Policy Unit highlights that 32 applications were received as part of Round 1, 12 within Stream A, and 20 within Stream B. Given only 1 Stream A and 3 Stream B projects were funded, this highlights just how competitive Round 1 was.

The Space Policy Unit has also identified that the Australian National Space Policy will be read by the end of 2010, perhaps a little behind expectations, but given they’re starting from the ground up, they’ll have a lot of work to do.

I also note that they’ve put 2013 as the end date for the Australian Space Research Program Funding. Lets hope this is because it will be replaced as part of an overall Australian National Space Policy, rather than just scrapped, without any thought, and destroying the gains made so far.

For further information on the Australian Space Research Program, head here.

Melbourne to Host the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum

 In November 2010, Melbourne will play host the 17th Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-17) meeting.


APRSAF was established in 1993 to “enhance the development of each country’s space program and to exchange views towards future cooperation in space activities in the Asia-Pacific Region”.


Australia has regularly participated in APRSAF meetings previously, and has even hosted a meeting before. But it is perhaps the timing that strikes me as interesting on this one. The Space Policy Unit will be hosting a major regional Space Agency forum, at almost the exact same time as they are scheduled to announce their new Australian National Space Policy. Perhaps this meeting will provide the opportunity to make a big announcement?


It would also serve the Rudd Governments other aims through developing international cooperation, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, and help Australia begin to show some diplomatic strength with major regional space players such as Japan, China, Korea and India.


For more information on the APRSAF go here.

JAXA's Hayabusa spacecraft to land at Woomera

The Japanese Space Agency (JAXA)'s Hayabusa spacecraft will be landing in the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia in June. In doing so, the Hayabusa spacecraft will be the first spacecraft to perform an Asteroid sample return mission.

Launched in May of 2003, the spacecraft met up with the Itokawa asteroid in 2005. Whilst its sample mission was not fully successful, it is highly likely that some asteroid material has entered into the sample chamber, and will be able to be analysed upon landing.

Australia will be playing a significant role in assisting JAXA in the spacecraft landing and recovery, particularly through the Woomera range support activities. I'd also be interested to find out which government departments are actually involved in the coordination - clearly Innovation and Defence, but who is doing what?

Both the Innovation Minister Kim Carr, and Defence Minister John Faulkner issued a joint ministerial media release on the Hayabusa landing which can be found here.

Another good step in the ever increasing pace of Australian Space activities.

Good luck to everyone involved in the landing!

Australian Space Research Program Round 2 Open

The Australian Government Space portal has announced that Round 2 of the Australian Space Research Program is Open. Applications are due by the 6th of May 2010, with hard copies due a week later.

Interestingly, they are holding 2 information sessions on the Program including:

* Canberra - 2pm, Monday 29 March 2010
* Adelaide - 2pm, Wednesday 31 March 2010

This seems to be a good step, to get some broader understanding and support within both Academia and Industry of how to apply for this funding.

So, for those of you who missed out on round one, here's your next shot at it. For more information, head to:

http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industry/Space/Pages/AustralianSpaceResearchProgram.aspx

Australian Space Research Program - Round 1

Friday saw Innovation Minister Kim Carr announce the four successful projects for round 1 funding under the new Australia Space Research Program.

The round 1 winners include:

Pathways to Space: empowering the internet generation
which includes Uni of NSW, Uni of Sydney, Powerhouse Museum and Cisco Systems Australia, who have received a total funding of just under $1 Million.

The project is intended to promote space related science and engineering careers to year 10 to 12 students, through the setup of a "living laboratory" at the Powerhouse museum. It also includes links to be established with both the Australia Centre for Field Robotics and the Australian Centre for Astrobiology.

Scramjet-based access-to-space systems
which includes a whole host of players such as the University of Queensland, the University of Adelaide, AIMTEK, the Australian Youth Aerospace Forum, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Research and Technology Australia, Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Deutschese Zentrum fuer Luft –und Raumfahrt, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Teakle Composites Pty Ltd, University of Minnesota, University of New South Wales, University of Southern Queensland. They have received a total grant of $5 Million.

The project is intended to be the first phase of a roadmap to develop a scramjet-based access-to-space industry. It's interesting to see the sheer number of parties involved in this one. The University of Queensland has already got some great runs on the board in this area, and it is fantastic to see further government support for this cutting edge work.

Antarctic Broadband – Definition and Capability Development
which includes: Aerospace Research Pty Ltd, the Australian National University, EM Solutions Pty Ltd, Environmental Systems and Services Pty Ltd, Joseph Mark Pty Ltd, The Tauri Group LLC, the University of Toronto. A grant total of $2.1 Million.

The project, as its title suggests is aimed at the definition and early development of a broadband satellite communications for the Antarctic. The announcement also includes the phrase "The project includes activities to build capacity and expertise in design, implementation and support of small-satellite communications systems in Australia", which perhaps suggests some broader future ideas for their work.

and last but not least:
Platform Technologies for Space, Atmosphere and Climate
which includes RMIT University, the Bureau of Meteorology, Curtin University of Technology, Electro Optic Systems Space System, GPSat Systems Australia Pty Ltd, National Space Organisation Taiwan, NOAA’s World Data Centre for Metrology, the University of New South Wales. They were awarded funds of just over $2.8Million.

The announcement includes the following project description "Advanced platform technologies will be developed for space-related research, including in-space tracking and navigation, precise positioning, space weather, atmospheric modelling and climate monitoring. New algorithms and enhanced atmospheric models will be developed in the context of new generation navigation and geo-environmental satellite programs to enhance Australia’s capability in space research."
Perhaps this one is a little less specific in exactly what will be achieved, but nevertheless, a highly qualified group, who will no doubt come up with some great results.

So, the overall verdict....

Spot On!

It has spread the funding amongst some highly qualified consortiums in Australia, with links overseas. It is also spreading funds amongst some great niche capabilities, whilst also providing funds for some new ideas and real Australian specific programs, which are just not provided when you leave it to the market.

A big congratulations to all winners of Round 1, and I look forward to the next few rounds.