Page 4681 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 31 October 2017
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led a very significant team Canberra presence so that our local industry partners could showcase their products to the 4½ thousand delegates from around the world who attended that conference.
MR PETTERSSON: Chief Minister, why is it critical that a future space agency be located in Canberra?
MR BARR: The commonwealth government has recently announced the establishment of an Australian space agency to be both an anchor for domestic industry coordination and a front door for international engagement.
With the largest concentration of decision-makers, government agencies, education and research institutions, diplomatic communities and industry bodies here in Canberra, this is simply the most logical location for the agency’s headquarters. But there is, of course, more to our city’s capability than just these public institutions and agencies. We have in Canberra some of the world-leading private sector companies working in the international space economy. We host one of three NASA deep space network stations in the world and Australia’s first laser-range facility tracking space debris is in Canberra.
Thanks to the recent MOU between ANU and UNSW Canberra, we have the ability to provide end-to-end design, manufacture, test and mission planning, and design and control capability for Australia’s next generation of micro and small-scale satellites. Apart from an actual launch site, the ACT is the perfect backyard for the agency to operate from, with a great mix of skills, expertise, capability and networks.
MS CHEYNE: Chief Minister, what have been some of the local success stories in space industry growth?
MR BARR: The Canberra born and bred company Electro Optic Systems, EOS, with market capitalisation worth nearly $200 million, has 34 years of world leadership in laser tracking space. EOS Space Systems, which is based at Mount Stromlo, focuses on commercial and defence requirements and has developed world renowned technologies and expertise in space surveillance through instruments and sensors to detect, track, classify and characterise space objects.
A recently established company, Skykraft, jointly owned by UNSW Canberra space staff and UNSW, has been created to develop, build, test and operate space sensors, complete spacecraft and entire missions for a variety of applications and services. The UNSW Canberra space team have jointly developed and built the Buccaneer satellite with Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group, and this satellite is currently awaiting launch.
They have both also signed a $10 million contract with the Royal Australian Air Force to produce a research, education and space capability program involving three spacecraft. Through the symbiotic partnership with UNSW Canberra space, these satellite missions form the foundation of Skykraft’s local heritage.
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