The Australian Space Development Conference is a biennial
meeting which brings together members of the Australian and international space
community to review developments in Australian space activity and discuss issues
of common concern.
The delegates to the 10th Australian Space Development
Conference at Adelaide on 22 July 2008 adopted on the voices the following
resolution with regard to the questions posed in the committee's interim
report:
-
Should Australia have a whole of government
space policy? Noting that the space environment, although considered to
constitute the common heritage of humankind, is becoming increasingly contested
and that Australia has a significant and increasing national dependence on
space‑based products and services, recommend the Australian Government to
develop a whole of government space policy which embraces national security,
economic, environmental, educational and broader social benefits;
-
What should be Australia’s role in pure space
science? Noting Australia’s achievements in and contribution to space
science and the Australian Government’s commitment to investing in science of
global excellence, encourage the Australian Government to invest in space
science in a considered and strategic way which maximises the national and
international collaborative benefit with existing investments in astronomy,
engineering, and other relevant disciplines;
-
In what areas of applied space science and industry does Australia
have a comparative advantage? Noting Australia’s geo-strategic
circumstance, identify comparative advantage in areas which include:
-
radio and optical astrophysics,
-
hypersonics,
-
autonomous systems/mining
-
space weather
-
application of earth observation to weather and climate
monitoring and natural disaster reduction
-
the design and construction of precision
instrumentation for astronomy and space flight;
-
imagery analysis, interpretation and forecasting,
especially through the use of advanced modelling and simulation and the use of
advanced artificial intelligence techniques, and
-
satellite communications, especially the design,
development and use of advanced antennas, coding and other techniques to gain
improvements in capacity, reliability and security of particular importance to
remote users;
-
Would greater involvement in space science be inspirational
for students and others? Noting a persistent view among science educators,
reinforced by strong anecdotal evidence that space inspires interest in the
broader physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, technology and innovation,
encourage the Australian Government to test this assertion with quantitative
research and to gather the experience of science educators around the world and
to devise ways and means to make best use of the Australian diaspora;
-
Is there an economic case for government assistance? Noting
that assured access to space-based utilities benefits all sectors of society to
meet myriad requirements recommend that the Australian and state governments
consider innovative national and international co-investment with industry such
as public-private partnership arrangements to meet identified needs and promote
development of space industry capability in Australia;
-
Is there a security case for government assistance? Noting
the heavy and increasing reliance on space by the Australian Defence Force
(ADF) and other national security authorities, encourage the Australian
Government to continue to invest in space capabilities which enhance the
operational capability of the ADF and strengthen Australia’s national security
overall, including by investing in a national space situational awareness;
-
Should Australia be making more use of
satellites? Noting that Australia is a sophisticated user of space applications
(communications, oceanographic and meteorological observation, positioning and
timing and geo-spatial data), recommend that the Australian Government commit
to strong participation in coordinated global earth observing systems and
embraces the importance of understanding space systems in their totality in
order to balance investment, technical and operational risks between nationally
owned future systems and other systems to which Australia has access and to
contribute to the design and operational utility of these systems;
-
Should there be a space cluster? Noting the
importance to the national economy of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and
the importance of SMEs to the national innovation system endorse the space
cluster, including tertiary education partners, as a method of fostering and
supporting the development, trialling and maturation of new technologies and
products which a space industry may be expected to generate;
-
Should Australia have (or join) a space
agency? Noting the Australian Government’s current modest commitment to
coordinated policy arrangements and noting a persistent call from industry and
other groups for stronger and more visible coordination of effort, recommend
that the Australian Government establishes a national coordination body
responsible for, and to show leadership in, all facets of Australia’s space
engagement, including relationships with international space agencies;
-
Should the Australian Government be giving more support
to the SKA? Noting and applauding the large investment already being made
by the Australian Government in the Australian SKA Pathfinder project as well
as the leadership role Australia is taking in the international SKA project and
noting the considerable scientific, economic, educational, social and broader
national benefit which the SKA project is expected to confer, recommend that
the Australian Government considers increasing its support for the SKA project,
specifically through programmes and processes which encourage and enhance early
Australian industry involvement;
-
Is Australian education adequate for a space future? Noting Australia’s
requirement to develop a highly literate and numerate society for current
living standards to be sustainably maintained and improved, recommend a
redoubling of effort to strengthen all sectors of the educational system,
including curriculum components which deal with all facets of the space
environment and supporting technologies.