Space, Australia’s final frontier – Andy’s right!

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 15 May 2008 10:19

Opinion and Analysis

In an interview with the Australian Associated Press (AAP), printed in Australia’s “The Age” newspaper, Andy Thomas is quoted as telling Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, in a March meeting when Rudd was in the US, that “Australia was one of the few developed countries that does not have any kind of leap into the space economy”.

Thomas was quoted as noting that Australia “doesn't have a space program and it doesn't have a space office and in that sense it's kind of behind the curve."

Thomas told the AAP that: "I think, personally, a serious study should be undertaken to find out how Australia could enter into the satellite business in a way that preserves its interests”.

Thomas also noted how the cost of entering the space race had lowered dramatically, with micro-satellites becoming more common, while also bemoaning Australia’s complete disassociation with NASA’s plan to go to the Moon by 2020 and to Mars by 2035.

Thomas was quoted by the AAP as saying: “We are in the days now of micro-satellites and nano-satellites. You can make cheap, low-cost satellites just as they made cheap low-cost unmanned aeroplanes. You can make low-cost launch systems because the satellites are so small - tiny satellites that carry microcameras or sensors and you launch one and it might only have a 10-day life in orbit or a year.”

Thomas continued: "That's the technical area where Australia could really make a big impact because you couple that with facilities like the Woomera test range and you really are in a good position. But it's the national will and national commitment and bipartisan support that's needed."

Of course, Dr Andy Thomas is absolutely correct. Space is the final frontier, after all.

Australia should not be left behind by our own inaction. Just as we were willing participants in the US coalition of the willing, off to invade this country or that, so should we be willing participants in making our own mark in space.

History – and our own descendants – will judge us much more favourably if we took the initiative to get serious about space now, rather than waiting decades more while the rest of the world overtakes us and sells us technology we could be instrumental in helping to create.

Kevin Rudd, I hope you’re listening to Australia’s first space man. He knows what he’s talking about!