The National Space Program was a set of policies and organisations under the
Hawke and
Keating Governments created with the goals of developing a national space industry in Australia.
When the
Howard Government came to power in 1996 the program was abolished following the advice of the
Bureau of Industry Economics. The National Space Program was generally considered a failure by most media after its demise. During its existence it was crippled by a lack of budget, and multiple
white elephant projects.
Background
Although Australia has had space interests dating back to the
Apollo program, prior to the establishment of the NSP Australia had had no unified space policy. At the time of the implementation of the program, Australia had separate space related programs under the
Department of Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to:
Current departments of defence
* Department of Defence (Australia)
* Department of National Defence (Canada)
* Department of Defence (Ireland)
* Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
,
CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government
The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentar ...
, the
Department of Transport and Communications
The Department of Transport and Communications was an Australian government department that existed between July 1987 and December 1993.
History
The Department of Transport and Communications was one of 16 'super-ministries' announced ...
, multiple other departments, as well as multiple private and university programs.
In response to the disorganised state of the industry, the
Hawke Government commissioned the
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences for a report into the state of Australia's space industry. The report, nicknamed the "Madigan Report", was completed in June 1985 and recommended the establishment of a space office, and focusing Australia's space industry towards ground-sensing capabilities.
The report also recommended that A$100 million be budgeted over five years for Australian space programs.
Structure
The National Space Program was primarily made up of the Australian Space Office and the Australian Space Board/Council. The Australian Space Board (replaced with the Australian Space Council in 1994) was formed to advise the
Minister for Industry, Technology, and Commerce and government on national space policy, particularly in relation to commercial space programs. The ASO was established shortly afterwards to act as secretariat and to manage the day-to-day running of the policies created by the ASB. The National Space Program also encompassed to a lesser degree the ''CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications'', the ''Defence Science and Technology Office'' space projects, and various committees and offices dedicated to certain uses of space technology.
The ASO itself was made up of 20 people.
Funding
The National Space Program was budgeted as part of the government's Science and Technology budget. Of the A$90 – 120 million dollars dedicated to "Industry and Space" grants each year,
the National Space Program received between A$3 million and A$6 million.
At the time of the program's demise, over A$500 million was spent annually on satellite programs, mostly internationally.
From the inception of the program to its abolition the government spent a total of A$106 million
on the program. The table below describes how the funding was allocated for the majority of its lifetime:
Objectives
The objectives of the National Space Program varied over the years it existed, however in 1987 the objectives were stated as:
*
o promotecommercially viable industries, and industry activities which are export oriented and internationally competitive, based on space technologies
*
o provide
O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
an environment supportive of innovation through greater involvement of local industry in space research and development activities, and
*
o provide
O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
support for
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
and other international space programs as required under international agreements
These objectives were updated in 1992 to the following:
* Identification and implementation of the policies and programs required for the development of efficient internationally competitive industries based on space-related technologies;
* development of a policy framework for access to space goods and services of a national importance, and the identification and implementation of appropriate action by the Commonwealth, States and private sectors, and
* provision of support for
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
and other international space programs as required under international agreements.
History
The foundations of the NSP were set up within the
Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce
The Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and March 1993.
History
The Department was created by the Hawke Government in December 1984, a substantia ...
in July 1985 in anticipation of the ''Madigan report''.
That year the
Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce
The Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and March 1993.
History
The Department was created by the Hawke Government in December 1984, a substantia ...
gave a A$500,000 grant to the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
to fund the development of an existing
ultraviolet spectroscopy
Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength from 10 nm (with a corresponding frequency around 30 PHz) to 400 nm (750 THz), shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation i ...
telescope project. The grant was the first of a total A$2.6 million invested into the project.
The next year the NSP began in earnest with the creation of the Australian Space Board, which reported to the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce on matters to do with space program funding, particularly pertaining to commercial and private industry space interests. Although the Madigan report had recommended the establishment of a dedicated space agency, this would not happen until the next year with the creation of the
Australian Space Office. That year the government also announced the formation of the NSP, specifying the major goal was "To encourage greater involvement by Australian industry in space research and development activities to promote development of commercially viable industries based on space technologies". Additionally funding for the program was increased from A$3.2 million to A$5.4 million, of which A$4 million went to the ASO. For the rest of the life of the program funding remained around A$6 million annually.
In 1992, the telescope developed under the program, ''Endeavour'', was launched.
In 1994, the ASB was replaced with the
Australian Space Council (ASC) and a new five-year plan was introduced.
Additionally a Remote Sensing Board was established to provide a broader perspective on remote sensing policy matters. In its year of existence it published a study detailing an Australian Earth Observation Network.
From the years 1994 to 1996 a total of A$750,000 was contributed towards a collaborative program with
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
to develop
hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that exceeds 5 times the speed of sound, often stated as starting at speeds of Mach 5 and above.
The precise Mach number at which a craft can be said to be flying at hypersonic speed varies, since in ...
technologies.
In 1996 the ASC, ASO, and all funding for the program was abolished by the incumbent
Howard Government following a review by the
Bureau of Industry Economics,
with only a few satellite programs remaining.
Projects
Communications
AUSSAT
In the mid eighties the
Hughes Aircraft Company
The Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded on February 14, 1934 by Howard Hughes in Glendale, California, as a division of Hughes Tool Company. The company was known for producing, among other produ ...
was awarded a contract to build a new generation of
AUSSAT communications satellites. Although this was not a program funded by the NSP, the ASO signed an
offsets agreement with Hughes to provide a program of work for Australian industry in the development of AUSSAT's satellites. ASO hoped the offset obligations would help develop the space manufacturing industry in Australia.
As part of the project Australian companies were given contracts by Hughes to supply A$22 million of equipment, of which A$7.85 million was invested into new facilities and increasing their workforce.
Satellite Communications Working Party (SCWP)
In 1988, the ASB created the SCWP to provide specialist advice on the future development of a commercial satellite communications industry. The aim of the SCWP was to formulate a national strategy for the satellite communications industry.
L-Band Mobile Satellite Systems (LMSS) Office
The LMSS Office was formed by recommendation of the SCWP to assist Australian industry to better understand the nature of commercial opportunities with
L-Band
The L band is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designation for the range of frequencies in the radio spectrum from 1 to 2 gigahertz (GHz). This is at the top end of the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, at the lower en ...
mobile satellite systems.
The office was established in November 1989,
and with the entry of
Telecom Australia
Telstra Group Limited is an Australian telecommunications company that builds and operates telecommunications networks and markets voice, mobile, internet access, pay television and other products and services. It is a member of the S&P/ASX 20 ...
as a partner of AUSSAT it was seen as a guarantee that LMSS would be commercially viable. However, shortly after a review, Telecom Australia withdrew from the partnership, delaying efforts.
The LMSS Office was shut down afterwards.
Space Industry Development Centres
In 1991, the program started a ''Space Industry Development Centres'' (SIDCs) initiative directed at the development of an Australian commercial space industry. The program aimed to convince private industry to divert R&D resources into space related ventures in collaboration with University research centres.
The SIDCs program was especially interested in increasing the space communications industry.
The government hoped the initiative would create Australian products and services capable of competing in international markets.
By 1996, SIDCs had been established in
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public research university in South East Queensland on the east coast of Australia. Formally founded in 1971, Griffith opened its doors in 1975, introducing Australia's first degrees in environmental science and Asian s ...
,
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public research university located in the urban coastal city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. QUT is located on two campuses in the Brisbane area viz. Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. The univ ...
, and the
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is a public research university in the Australian state of South Australia. It is a founding member of the Australian Technology Network of universities, and is the largest university in South Australi ...
.
Launch services
Cape York spaceport
The
Cape York spaceport project was by far the most famous of the NSP's initiatives. Both spaceport projects were primarily considered because of the geographic advantages of launching space craft inside Australia, however commercial viability was uncertain.
By 1992, the Cape York project was scrapped. By the end of the program the NSP had allocated over A$2 million of funds towards the project with uncertainty that the project would ever proceed.
Woomera spaceport
The
Woomera spaceport was the second spaceport proposal, designed to take advantage of the emerging market for placing lightsats (<1000 kg satellites) into
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial objects in outer space are in LEO, with an altitude never mor ...
. The location of a lightsat in Australia was attractive due to its geographical location and general stability. The Woomera program never got out of planning before the downfall of the program.
Remote sensing
The remote sensing projects of the NSP were the most successful of the NSP initiatives, with many of the programs living on today under different departments or its decedents.
It also received the most funding of all the areas, totaling 48.2% of awarded funds.
The remote sensing developments funded under the program were vital to a range of public goods and services including meteorology, resource management, mapping, and research conducted by the CSIRO. The mining industry was the largest user of remote sensing techniques, making up half of the entire market capital.
Endeavour satellite
The ''Endeavour'' project was the first and largest of the successful NSP programs. Receiving over A$10 million in funding over the lifetime of the program,
the satellite telescope was built primarily to test the Australian developed low light detector array. The satellite was developed by the CSIRO and built by
Canberra
Canberra ( )
is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
based company, Auspace Ltd.
On 23 January 1992, the telescope was launched on the
Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' as part of flight
STS-42
STS-42 was a NASA Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' mission with the Spacelab module. Liftoff was originally scheduled for 8:45 EST (13:45 UTC) on January 22, 1992, but the launch was delayed due to weather constraints. ''Discovery'' successfully ...
, however the test failed due to various technical difficulties experienced in the third stage of flight.
[CSIRO Space Industry News, No. 44, p. 2, Feb. 1992]
By the end of the satellite program the ''Endeavour'' had flown twice.
Along Track Scanning Radiometer
The ''
Along Track Scanning Radiometer'' (ATSR) was a joint venture between
Auspace and
British Aerospace Australia to build and use remote sensing equipment for use on the
European ERS-2 spacecraft in 1995. The project evolved into the Advanced ATSR (AATSR) program in 1999,
which was in use until 2012.
See also
*
Australian Space Agency
*
Australian Space Research Institute
*
Australian Space Office
*
Australian Space Council
*
Australian Space Board
References
{{Spaceflight
Space programme of Australia
Engineering projects
Public policy in Australia
1986 establishments in Australia
1996 disestablishments in Australia