Space is the place – for war or peace

If a war in space does take place, the devastation would be long-lasting and perhaps irreversible. We must work towards civil and commercial activities that enhance capabilities and promote peace in space.

A new generation of private space stations

Commercial launch vehicles have begun to dominate operations to take payloads into orbit, and now private space stations are set to take to the skies.

Russia’s reckless anti-satellite test

In blowing up a satellite and endangering the space environment for decades to come, Putin’s aggressive and reckless regime has seriously damaged the prospects for meaningful progress in arms control in space.

Space invaders

Scientists warn that without good biosecurity measures ‘alien organisms’ on Earth may become a reality stranger than fiction.

Boosting space capabilities through AUKUS

A common AUKUS approach to rapid launch to reconstitute lost capabilities, as well as defensive space control to defend critical systems, would help safeguard against Russian and Chinese attacks on vital orbital systems.

The big picture

A series of satellites fitted with hyperspectral sensors could become a key component in Australia’s space capabilities, providing data with applications in climate science, disaster management, water resource monitoring, agriculture, and land use.

Australia needs a national space strategy

The Australian Space Agency released a civil space strategy in 2019, but Defence hasn’t followed suit. It’s time for a national space strategy to guide how Australia protects its security interests in a contested high frontier.

New satellite system would enhance water quality management

Analysis conducted at UNSW Canberra has demonstrated that a new space-based Earth observation system would be a valuable piece of infrastructure for monitoring and managing Australia’s inland and coastal waterbodies.

One giant leap for Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s jaunt to the edge of space may look like a publicity stunt, but it’s actually another small step towards an exciting future of commercial space travel.

CSIRO opens satellite offering for Australian Earth observation

Australian researchers in industries like agriculture and natural disaster management can now apply to direct the Earth observation satellite NovaSAR-1 by accessing Australia’s share of the satellite through CSIRO. This will mark the first time Australia has managed its own source of Earth observation data.

Adelaide’s mission to Mars

Research that could help materials be found in space more easily, enable satellites to swarm together and extend the reach of telecommunications is being kick-started by new funding.

The start of a new space age

Australians can take pride in their contribution to the first space age in the second half of the 20th century, but effort is needed if we are to optimise our position in this new era.