. | . |
Yes we've got a space agency - but our industry needs 'Space Prize Australia' by Duncan Blake - PhD candidate, University of Adelaide Melbourne, Australia (SPX) Jul 03, 2018
The Australian Space Agency commenced operations on July 1 2018 with the ambition of tripling the Australian space economy by 2030. But with the Australian government investment of A$41 million, we should not expect anything like NASA (which has a budget more than 2,000 times greater). On the contrary, the impetus for growth must come from the Australian space industry itself - and that's why "Space Prize Australia" can work. The space industry in Australia is currently characterised by many small, independent and disparate enterprises in niche areas. Surviving in an increasingly competitive global market will require collaboration, pooled experience, and teamwork. In addition to the space agency, we need something to galvanise Australian enterprises in the space industry. But turning new technology into marketable commodities is a risky enterprise. Along that journey, a prize provides the opportunity to gain financial rewards for demonstrated achievement of milestones. It provides context to draw the attention of potential clients to the prospective commodities of Australian space start-ups. In the model of previously successful prizes in aeronautics and space, Space Prize Australia could drive an Australian space launch - where the satellite, components, launch vehicle, launch facility, operation, ground control station and user applications all come from Australia.
The Great Air Race It was known as the Great Air Race, and within five months of the announcement, six groups of former WWI airmen and their aircraft had formally registered to compete in the race. Four Australians - Captain Ross Smith, Lieutenant Keith Smith, Sergeant Wally Shiers, and Sergeant James Bennett - won the prize: Smith and his team landed at Fannie Bay Airfield in Darwin at 4.12 p.m. on December 10, 1919 and were instantly mobbed by almost the entire population of just under 1,500. Lieutenant Hudson Fysh, soon to be co-founder of the newly formed Qantas, was the first to greet the four airmen. Their trip was a bold demonstration of what Australians could do. It connected us to the global economy and community, put Australia at the forefront of global aviation, and provided inspiration and energy for the Australian aviation industry.
Other space prizes The Ansari X Prize was initiated in 1996 at a value of US$10 million. It was designed to reward the first non-government organisation to launch a reusable manned rocket into space twice within two weeks. The prize was won in 2004 by the Scaled Composites company led by Burt Rutan. Of greater significance is that it was estimated to have generated US$100 million in new technologies investments. The winning technology was licensed to the newly created Virgin Galactic, and Scaled Composites was later sold to aerospace and defence firm Northrop Grumman. With an initial target date of March 31 2018, the Google Lunar X Prize included rewards totalling US$30 million for the first privately funded team to place a spacecraft on the Moon, travel 500 metres and transmit high definition video and images back to Earth. Interim prizes were awarded, but no team was able to meet the challenge by the deadline. Nevertheless, it is estimated that it generated over US$300 million in investments.
Let's get started It could start with crowd-funding - so that everyday Australians can have a stake in the Australian space industry - and with philanthropy from wealthier individuals or groups. State governments may be interested. The states and territories have already demonstrated interest in and commitment to attracting space industry to their cities, and are seeking further opportunities to do so. Federal government agencies could chip in too. As well as the Australian Space Agency, Defence, Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology would benefit from the development of an Australian capability to launch Australian satellites on Australian rockets from Australian sites and operate them from Australian facilities. It is impossible to say how much could be raised as a prize pool from all those sources. But if it could be announced on 19 March 2019 - the 100th anniversary of the announcement of the Great Air Race - then AU$10m would seem apt. It's a figure of comparable significance to the Pounds 10,000 prize offered in 1919, and would be sufficient to attract several competitive teams.
Inspiration matters The prize would be a means to encourage and facilitate collaboration - potentially with benefits even for enterprises that don't win. The prize could be used, in part, to send the winners on a global tour, to meet with major clients, attend several major events and promote what Australia can do. It would attract global attention and inspiration and it would showcase Australian space capability to the world. Perhaps most importantly, it could inspire every Australian girl, boy, man and woman who looks up at the sky at night and wonders what she or he can achieve.
Related Links
Forget Galileo - UK space sector should look to young stars instead London, UK (SPX) Jun 19, 2018 "British security firms could be BANNED from helping EU with Galileo satellite project," the Mail Forget Galileo - UK space sector should look to young stars instead screamed. "Brexit to 'force work on Galileo sat-nav system out of UK'," said the BBC. Then Airbus offered to build a new UK system - "BREXIT REVENGE," said the Express. Scepticism followed - "Brexit Britain's space ambitions are an expensive waste of time," claimed Wired. Built as an alternative to the US GPS system, the E ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |