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This means that the agency will survey existing capabilities, gaps and moon, we also received the first
most definitely not be conducting needs of the local space industry. That communications back to Earth
space missions, but will play a included a national tour speaking with from the Curiosity rover once it had
supportive role to industry, and everyone from Defence through to landed on Mars.
importantly, will ensure Australia has startups to collect this information to Our meteorologists have been
a seat and a voice at the table during inform the government on the creation using satellite weather detection
international space conversations. of the agency. capabilities since the early 1960s
This initial funding will enable the As a former CEO of CSIRO, she even if it was only in 1970 that our
agency to support local businesses in is more than qualified for the job first weather satellite was launched
the global space sector, coordinate with the experience and respect - into space with the help of NASA.
domestic activities, engage with domestically and internationally. The Expert Reference Group
stakeholders, and help build the “We need to get back in the game,” found that our current space
country’s international networks. So it Dr Clark told the ABC’s 7.30 program industry employs 10,000 people
is an exciting time for Australian space in August. already and generates around
businesses of all sizes which have been “We were right there at the very $3.9 billion annually.
slogging it on their own for decades. beginning in the ’60s, we were one of The nation’s strongest space
In all, the Australian Government the first nations into space.” capability lies in earth observation
has committed to investing One of the government’s aims in and other space data processing.
$300 million in space. Beyond getting back in the space game is the We’re becoming increasingly
the agency’s ongoing operational creation of high tech space industry sophisticated in how we use satellite
funding, no less than $225 million, jobs. Minister Cash said the formation imagery to inform our society,
will go towards upgrading and of the agency was a great milestone from agriculture, to climate change
improving GNSS precise positioning for Australia, not just for our progress impact monitoring, through services
technology. The impacts of this will in science, but for the economic strategy during times of emergencies
reach many Australians as it takes opportunities it presents. like bushfires.
GNSS positioning from metres to “This means up to 20,000 high- Some of our most significant work
centimetres and allows for automation level jobs created across Australia.” is in space operations, especially
across agriculture, mining and even That is an extraordinary figure. within astronomy. As we have long
enabling safe autonomous vehicles on But where are all these skilled and been the world’s ‘ear’ listening to
roads in the future. knowledgeable people going to come space, we have developed fantastic
Meanwhile a further $36.9 million from? Australia’s industry is already ground station networks and
will go towards an earth observation facing a STEM (science, technology, infrastructure, with multiple entities
(EO) platform called Digital Earth engineering and mathematics) crisis, being able to communicate, track
Australia, which will collate global with employers routinely citing and monitor satellites in orbit. Our
satellite images of Australia, enabling that they are struggling to recruit astronomy capability is advanced
public usage of this powerful data, applicants with appropriate STEM and world class, as evidenced by the
supporting current earth observation skills and that they are having to rely Square Kilometre Array being built
businesses and capabilities and on recruiting people from overseas. in Western Australia.
enabling new ideas and opportunities Today’s school students are just not “Some may argue that Australia
for the development of new capabilities. aware of the opportunities opening may be late to the party, but we are
The space agency’s first priorities up to them. Many kids dream of entering a time where the space
are to establish a charter and to becoming an astronaut, and while that sector is moving from the realm
develop an overarching strategy and may be off the cards for most, a job of government to the commercial
investment plan for Australia’s space with a space focus is most definitely world,” Dr Clark said in a message
industry. At the helm of the agency in reach. But a major communication to mark the launch of the Australian
is Dr Megan Clark as its interim and education effort is needed to Space Agency.
head. Minister Cash said Dr Clark’s make young Australians aware of “Our agency will be one of
experience and respect – domestically the agency and the increasing career the most industry-focused space
and internationally – are great assets opportunities in STEM and space. agencies in the world, engaged
for the new agency. That will be vital to ensure a long internationally and demonstrating
The agency’s initial priorities term, sustainable Australian space Australia can be a leader and a
include: industry. responsible global citizen, drawing
» Communications technologies, Australia already has a proud on our home-grown Aussie
services and ground stations. history in space. ingenuity.
» Space Situational Awareness (SSA) During the Cold War we had one “No other industry can inspire
and debris monitoring. of the world’s busiest space ports, nations quite like space, where
» Positioning, navigation and timing Woomera in central South Australia. ‘No other human ambition can set its sights on
(PNT) infrastructure. From here we launched Britain’s interplanetary missions, colonisation
» Earth Observation (EO) services. sounding rockets into space. industry beyond Earth and the opportunity
» Research and development. Australia also continues to play a of finding new life. We can dream
» Remote asset management. critical role in space communications. can inspire this big because of the space-based
» Developing a strategy to position Due to our unique geographical technologies that have connected the
Australia as an international leader positioning on the globe, we are nations quite world in unprecedented ways, and
in specialised space capabilities. the ideal ‘ear’ for everyone needing in the coming decades Australia has
to listen out for communications. like space.’ the opportunity to become a global
Dr Clark led an Expert Reference We received Armstrong’s first leader in pushing Earth’s links with
Group (ERG) over the last year to communication back from the DR MEGAN CLARK space even further.”
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