3, 2, 1…liftoff! The science of launching rockets from Australia

Australia’s space agency will officially commence operations on July 1 2018. The creation of an Australian space port would be the next logical step to help develop Australia’s space industry.

Australia’s future in space

After decades of prevarication, the arrival of the Australian Space Agency is a very welcome development. Business is buzzing with the potential for expanding space-related work and Defence has never been better equipped with space-enabled platforms and technology.

Australia needs its own sovereign launch capability

Developing a sustainable, flexible and responsive sovereign launch capability in Australia could underpin the creation of a competitive space industry in this country.

The new space race in Asia

While Australia takes its first tentative steps into the space sector with the creation of a small Federal agency, the major space powers in Asia – Japan, China and India – are ramping up their programmes, with national security playing an ever greater role in their activities.

An astronaut’s view of Australia’s proposed space agency

Former NASA astronaut Pamela Melroy has moved to Adelaide to work with the emerging Australian space industry and offers her thoughts on the government’s new agency.

Climbing out of the ‘gravity well’ towards a more prosperous future

Nations which dare to climb the ‘gravity well’ and colonise the solar system will boost their economy, jump start their technology and secure leadership on this planet and beyond.

Don’t let the final frontier slip further away

Australia depends on satellite data for everything from defence surveillance and weather forecasting to restocking supermarket shelves and synchronising mobile phone conversations. The creation of a new space agency should see a blossoming of Australian space services.

Shorten in space

Labor is promising an investment of up to AU$35 million in a new space agency if it wins the next election, but co-investment from industry and universities must help get the program off the ground.

Australia’s integrated space ecosystem

Our fledgeling Australian space agency will be born into a mix of competing government, university and commercial interests says Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch. Continuing our history of ‘aiming high’ will ensure that the space agency delivers an enduring and integrated space ecosystem.

Prospecting – asteroid mining

It is time to invest in research that focusses on asteroid mining says Arunkumar Rathinam, PhD. Candidate at the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER).

Priorities for space

After considered discussions with space science and technology colleagues, Professor Frederick Menk shares his perspective on the purpose of a national space agency and how it can best serve Australia.

Space, a uniquely Australian opportunity

Martin Duursma, a partner at Main Sequence Ventures (The CSIRO Innovation Fund) suggests that 2018 will be the year that the Australian space ecosystem kicks into high gear.