News Australia To Create National Space Agency

[Nicholas Kang]

ABC News: Australian space agency to employ thousands and tap $420b industry, Government says

BBC News: Australia to create national space agency

The Federal Government will detail the long-term plans at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, where the Opposition will also reveal its own plan.

Acting Industry Minister Michaelia Cash said the sector was growing fast globally, and Australia needed to be a part of it.

Labor welcomes announcement
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Federal Labor will today announce plans to double the size of Australia's space industry within five years of building an Australian Space, Science and Industry Agency.

Labor's science and research spokesman Kim Carr said the new agency would oversee the creation of thousands of new jobs in Australia. He told the ABC the domestic industry has the skills and technology to cash in on the multi-billion dollar industry, but risks being left behind by other nations.

"We are dependent on other countries who can choose their own national interest over and above ours," he said.

"We certainly need to be able to protect our domestic interests, we need to build our industry capability and we need to secure the jobs of the future for Australia.

Senator Carr welcomed the Government's space announcement but said it was "belated", pointing out that many in the science community have been saying it's overdue.

Prominent scientists, including Australian-born astronaut Andrew Thomas, have also called for the establishment of national space agency.

The industry has grown by about 10 per cent each year since the late 1990s.

Australia already has significant involvement in national and international space activities, but a dedicated agency would help shape the development of a cohesive space program and provide a stronger platform for collaboration.

[ame="https://twitter.com/SenatorCash/status/912103737308491776"]Michaelia Cash on Twitter: "Turnbull Govt to establish national space agency to take advantage of the exciting opportunities of the new space race #iac2017 #auspol https://t.co/hZ4ucptrXK"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/political_alert/status/912084464167092224"]Political Alert on Twitter: "A Shorten Labor Government will create an Australian Space Science and Industry Agency #auspol https://t.co/BSVqQaS0cw"[/ame]

Congrats to Aussies! :thumbup:

 

[Urwumpe]

Welcome in the club :yes:

Now, where is the barbie? :cook:

 

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-41030229

Australia is to be a launch partner on the UK's innovative new small radar satellite, NovaSAR.
The spacecraft, which will track shipping and forestry change from orbit, is due to launch on an Indian rocket early next year.
Australia's main research organisation, CSIRO, has signed a 10% share in NovaSAR's data.
The deal comes on the heels of an announcement that the country will soon get a national space agency.