http://www.skyandtelescope.com.au 15Research was part of Australia’s first
space Cooperative Research Centre, and
in 2002 was involved in the launch and
tracking of FedSat, a 58-kg Australian
microsatellite.
Finally, it has been suggested that
the coming of the new space agency
might make the time right once more
for attempting to produce a true, home-
grown Australian astronaut.
There have been three Australian-
born astronauts: Philip K. Chapman,
who trained for lunar flights during the
Apollo years but left the program in July
1972; Paul Scully-Power, who flew as a
payload specialist aboard space shuttle
Challenger in 1984; and Andy Thomas,
who made several space shuttle flights
between 1996 and 2005. All three had
become US citizens.
“Until now, anyone wanting to
become an astronaut had the odds
stacked against them,” said Andrew
Dempster, Director of the Australian
Centre for Space Engineering Research
at the University of New South Wales.
“They had to become citizens of
another country, like the US, and then
work hard to get into a space agency like
NASA. That won’t be the case any more:
in fact, the first home-grown astronaut
may only be years away. And he or she
has probably been dreaming about this
for years.”in 1960 with the signing of a bi-lateral
treaty on space vehicle tracking.”
“This treaty remains the foundation
for a continued co-operative program
between Australia and the United States.”Space is looking up
There were lots of other exciting
announcements made at the International
Astronautical Congress. For instance,
the Australian National University’s
(ANU) Research School of Astronomy
and Astrophysics (RSAA) has signed a
new agreement with the University of
NSW Canberra on building and testing
satellites and space instruments.
The agreement will leverage the
capabilities of ANU’s Advanced
Instrumental Technology Centre
(AITC). Hosted at the ANU Mount
Stromlo Observatory, the AITC
is claimed to be Australia’s most
sophisticated space testing facility,
featuring equipment that can reproduce
the vibration shock of rocket launches
and the temperature extremes
experienced in the vacuum of space.
Meanwhile, UNSW Canberra has
announced that it will partner with
the French Space Agency, CNES, to
“fast-track Australia’s ability to deliver
world-class space technology and
innovation” through the establishment
of a Concurrent Design Facility.
Professor Russell Boyce, Director of
UNSW Canberra Space, said the Facility
will provide the means to “capture
the critical design elements of a space
mission” through CNES software
and training that will link individual
elements into engineering models of
entire systems.
“At its heart, this partnership is all
about bringing together the right people
in the same place to design a space
mission,” Professor Boyce said. “The
world-class CNES software enables us to
go toe-to-toe with other agencies.”
In a similar move, the ANU
has signed a memorandum of
understanding with the German
national space agency, DLR (Deutsches
Zentrum fuer Luft Raumfahrt)
for co-operation in fields such asresearch and development for the
next generation of fast, low-noise
infrared detectors; lightweight/low-cost
strategies for 2-metre-plus-class optical
and infra-red telescopes; adaptive optics
and guide-star lasers; and space debris
tracking and deflection.
“We are already collaborating
closely with many researchers based
in Germany and I hope this MOU will
open up new opportunities to make
a positive impact through research
and development,” said ANU Vice-
Chancellor Professor, Brian Schmidt.
The University of South Australia is
seizing opportunities in space, too, and
has welcomed the establishment of a
national space agency.
“At UniSA we are keen to support the
goals of the agency and we have already
been working to establish a Cooperative
Research Centre for Innovative Space
Solutions that will further strengthen
Australian research into satellite
technologies and space systems and
their commercialisation,” said UniSA
Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research,
Professor Tanya Monro.
Monro said the University has
worked with industry for more than
25 years on national and international
projects in satellite communications
and remote sensing. The university’s
Institute for TelecommunicationsAIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE
The NovaSAR satellite undergoing
tests in an anechoic chamber.