An Australian Space Agency At Last? 189
Dante_J writes "In the Australian Federal budget presented last night, as well as big national infrastructure spending, an amount of $48.6 million over four years was allocated for an 'Australian Space Science Program.' Normally a space program is managed by a space agency.
Does this now mean that Australia will follow the recommendations of the Senate Space Science report and give up its rather inadequate title of the only top-20 GDP nation not to have one? With nations like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Bulgaria forming or maintaining space agencies, this government infrastructure is obviously not limited to G-20 nations. Discussions to combine Australian and New Zealand airspace have been undertaken; should that translate to aerospace too, and both nations form an ANZAC space agency together?"
Re:g'day mate (Score:5, Interesting)
Well drag me to hell...what does an island nation, sitting well below the equator, need with a space program anyhow.
Because future technology may come out of space science and astrophysics. Things like GPS and satellite communications are already here now. But to really benefit from advancements, you have to be properly in it.
And then there's the 'prestige' of not having to send people overseas. It's a good thing that space science is getting funded in Australia along side other scientific disciplines and hospitals.
It's all about satellite remote sensing. (Score:2, Interesting)
Australia is heavily involved in a number of satellite remote sensing initiatives. There is currently a push on to get international coordination on satellite sensor specs. I think this is about getting Australia a seat at that table.
As an Australian... (Score:1, Interesting)
As an Australian, my stance on this is the opposite to my usual stance on the subject of collaboration with New Zealand; I would support this, where for other projects I usually wouldn't, because having both countries involved will make it significantly more difficult for either government (and especially the Australian government) to keep details secret or integrate it into the military. I would love for it to start as, and stay, a strictly civilian organization.
I can understand the historical reasons for the early space programs being military in nature; but in modern times there is no excuse; in fact, it's saber-rattling to create such an institution under such a structure.
Re:As an Australian... (Score:3, Interesting)
riiiight. Cause outsourcing our satellite imaging to the americans is just so much more peaceful than doing it ourselves.
ANZSA (Score:4, Interesting)
The Australian New Zealand Army Corp Space Agency?
I'd prefer ANZSA - sounds like answer (in an aussie ascent)
You ask it, they find it!
Re:Not enough (Score:3, Interesting)
Given that you're a UQ follower, I would have thought you'd be for giving the cash to the scramjet (Hypersonics) lab. Those guys can make little money go a very long way [spacenewsfeed.co.uk]. It would certainly be deserved.
Such a shame the original dude had a stroke. His understudy shows promise though.
Re:ASP (Score:3, Interesting)
Now, can we actually achieve less, but have the remains fall on Canberra's parliament during a full sitting
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:As an Australian... (Score:4, Interesting)
Well I'm no Australian but considering the size of your population I seriously doubt promoting mostly national projects would help your scientists and the overall return on investment.
If all these European countries (having roughly a population similar to yours) have founded the ESA, this is precisely to share costs and having bigger projects. (see for example the special relationship between Canada and ESA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESA [wikipedia.org] Why not Australia as well?
Re:Possible NZ Contribution (Score:3, Interesting)
More telling would have been saying how he never came back.
New Zealand is a very small, very young, country. Many of our best and brightest go overseas. Possibly the experience is part of what makes them our best and brightest. Furthermore, getting funding for large projects just isn't going to happen in a country of just over four million people. I think you would find that we aren't so unhappy that we lost them, we're just happy that they achieved an important role in the world.