The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at the
International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany,
provides a framework for collaborative activities and the
exchange of information, technology and personnel between
both nations.
, UK Science Minister said:
When Brits first heard about Australia we thought it was
the final frontier, but now we can boldly go even further
together through this special space partnership
benefitting science, jobs and growth the world over.
This agreement is a great example of the importance of
international collaboration and how, through our modern
Industrial Strategy, we are working with our growing
space sector to ensure it continues to thrive.
Hon Karen Andrews MP, Australian Minister for Industry,
Science and Technology said:
Forging international partnerships is vital to building
Australia’s space industry and ensuring our businesses
can compete on the world stage,
These agreements with counterpart space agencies in
Canada and the United Kingdom will increase opportunities
to work together and share information, technology and
personnel between our nations.
They represent a significant step in Australia’s journey
with fellow spacefaring nations, and will help to grow
the capability and competitiveness of our domestic space
sector.
The agreement was signed between the UK Space Agency and
the Australian Space Agency, which was established on 1
July 2018. With 10,000 people already working in its space
sector, Australia has strong capabilities in areas such as
satellite data applications and the tracking of space
debris, as well as an established network of ground
stations to support communications and other space
technologies.
Dr Megan Clark AC, Head of the Australian Space Agency,
said:
UK and Australia are both committed to growing their
space industries and we welcome new cooperation between
UK and Australia in space including CSIRO’s partnership
with Surrey Satellite on the NovaSar earth observation
satellite and Airbus and UK Ministry of Defence on the
Zephyr.
The UK and Australia have a deep history and friendship
that includes long-term partnership in space science.
During the Space Race from the 1950s, the first British
Skylark and Black Arrow rockets were launched from Woomera
in Southern Australia.
This MoU builds on cooperation in space between the two
countries in the areas of space science, technology and
applications, space policy, law and regulation and human
capital development.
Joint work continues to this day with the launch last week
of the Surrey Satellite NovaSAR, which uses radar to view
the Earth through cloud cover. The satellite will share 10%
of its data with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia.
The International Astronautical Congress is an annual
meeting of global space agencies and industry which is
organised by the International Astronautical Federation, of
which the UK Space Agency is a voting member. The UK Space
Agency CEO Graham Turnock will address the conference (3
October) about the UK’s plans to thrive in the commercial
space age over the next decade by developing national
launch capabilities and supporting the growth of satellite
applications, while continuing to play a leading role as a
founding member of the European Space Agency.
