William Atkins
Wednesday, 12 November 2008 22:02
Science -
Space
Page 2 of 4
The Herald Sun article “
Australia needs space program, says Senate report” states,
“’The committee believes it is not good enough for Australia to be lost in space,’ the report said.”
And, the Herald Sun continues to state,
“The Australian government should have a space policy and, like most other comparable countries, an agency to implement it.”
The Report even made this interesting statement:
“Entering 'Australia space' into the Google search engine gives the website of the National Space Society of Australia, followed by that of the Australian Space Research Institute (and then the Lost in Space Australian Fan Club!). There is no sign of the relevant parts of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.”
In another statement within the Report, it says,
“The former CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems described how he by default was sometimes [regarded] overseas as representing Australian space science: I was introduced at a number of international for[ums] …as head of the closest thing Australia had to a space agency… it was a tag with which I was quite uncomfortable because I had no executive authority to act or represent the whole or even part of government, unlike the majority of colleagues around the table…”
Within the Report, Dr Bruce Middleton, former Executive Director of the Australian Space Office between 1987 and 1993 is said to have the opinion that:
“… Australia is making a serious mistake in not investing significant public funds in space, in addition to the funds invested by individual government agencies in pursuit of their own missions.”
Middleton states,
“I believe that by not investing we are missing out on opportunities and making ourselves more dependent on others. I believe our current policy on space short-changes the educational, scientific, technological, innovation, industrial, environmental, public good and national security objectives of national policy. I believe we will pay a heavier price in the future if we continue not to invest.”
Page three talks about the possibility of an Australian NASA.
