Submission: Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability

Foreword

We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability launched by Senator the Hon. Arthur Sinodinos, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science on July 13, 2017.

This submission provides a Western Australian perspective to this review and whilst it is acknowledged the scope is to look at existing space capabilities, there are opportunities to leverage off the significant technological capacity WA already has in a wide range of other industries in upstream and downstream applications.

Continuing to grow Australia’s space industry presents significant opportunities for our nation and in particular for Western Australia.

At present, we believe there are two streams for WA to make a contribution to a national space program;

Through further growing our capability as an Australian hub for space research and;
Applying and further developing existing technologies to the space sector including robotics, autonomous vehicles, remote operations technology, drones, geospatial awareness systems, 3D imagery, systems design and integration, big data capability and the manufacture of precision instruments and equipment.

This submission deals directly with the first stream, with the second recommended to be examined in greater detail by Commonwealth Government in the course of this review.

Representing Western Australia, we are continually impressed with work being undertaken across our industrial and research centres, much of which is already being done to support space projects around the globe.

With this in mind, we strongly believe the creation of a national space agency, which brings bringing together all space related activities currently taking place in Australia would serve the best interests of this growing industry. We also believe there is a strong case to have a significant part of a new agency based in Western Australia, as we possess 7 of the 8 space industry capabilities defined by the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability Issues Paper.

We acknowledge and thank Regional Development Australia (RDA) Perth, the University of Western Australia, and Curtin University of Technology for supplying information for this submission.

We commend this submission to the panel and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to further discussions as the review moves forward.

Yours sincerely,

The Global Space Industry

The following extract of the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability Issues Paper defines the scope of space industry for the purposes of the review and this submission, noting Western Australia is capable in every category with the exception of having a launch capability.

Globally, the space industry employs approximately 900,000 people across national space administrations and private operations, not including many thousands more who work in universities and the R&D sector. [1]

A key driver of growth on the global level is the democratisation of space with the increasing interest in developing space capabilities by governments and the private sector, a trend expected to accelerate in the future.[2] Supply chains for space projects are also becoming increasingly internationalised as space programs and projects seek to take advantage of capability developed by government and industrial centres around the globe.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimate the space economy represented USD $256.3 billion in revenue in 2013 and the UK Space Agency expect this figure to grow to GBP £400 billion (USD $512 billion) by 2030. [3]

Space Industry in Australia

In Australia, growth in the global space industry is being driven by the use and increased development of small satellites, greater utilisation of space-related information and data and new private and government sector entrants to the space industry.[4]

A 2017 report found that although the Australian space sector hires around 10,000 people and produces an annual revenue of up to $4 billion, the industry is underperforming compared to the size of Australia’s overall economy due to a lack of pro-active investment.^[5] To counter this, the Commonwealth Government has sought to capitalise on recent successes in the space technology sector, investing in initiatives to promote and add value to future space operations.

Nationally, the Commonwealth Government has also incentivised space technology investment with programs such as the Space Concession Program, which allows the duty-free importation of goods intended for space projects.^[6] For WA specifically, the State and Commonwealth Governments have provided funding for the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, a joint venture between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and four Perth universities. The centre is also supported by the Western Australian and Australian Government.

In creating a national space agency, Australia would join nations such as Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Norway and other OECD nations who have taken advantage of the global space economy and made significant contributions to research and technology development in this important industry.

The Case for Western Australia

Western Australia’s geographic position combined with its extensive remote areas has, since the 1960’s, made the state an attractive destination for major space projects. WA’s history in space science and technology dates back to the construction of the Muchea Tracking Station in 1960, one of two Australian facilities partly responsible for the tracking and communication with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft when the space race started to gain momentum. Since then, WA has become home to several civilian and military space facilities, and is fast becoming a leading hub for space science and technology in both civilian and defence applications.

Much of WA possesses the ideal combination of low population density, minimal electromagnetic interference, and high air quality, creating ideal conditions for radio antennae, telescopes, and other sensitive electronic measuring devices necessary for both civilian and defence space projects. Furthermore, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have supported the space technology sector with regulatory measures such as the creation of the Australian Radio Quiet Zone WA surrounding the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory to protect sensitive radio equipment from interference.^[7]

The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre will process large quantities of data coming from the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and its two precursor projects^[8]. Furthermore, the presence of world-class facilities serves to attract other high-tech enterprises, including from the defence sector. A 2015 independent report commissioned by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science found that WA was the third-highest employer in the industry.^[9] However, this only reflected employment by Australian private companies, and did not include the many government employees or those engaged by foreign organisations, or the hundreds of academics and researchers now employed in the sector in WA.

Defence Space Sector

Over the past four decades the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has invested in the development of space technologies, especially satellite communications technology in close collaboration with the United States. The ADF’s space technologies now have a significant footprint across WA.

One of the most significant ongoing ADF investments in this area is Joint Project 2008, which seeks to establish a Next Generation Satellite Communication (NEXTGEN SATCOM) system by the mid-2020s, allowing all-weather satellite communications with ADF assets around the

world. Defence expects to spend an estimated $507 million on Joint Project 2008 nationwide, between 2016 and 2019, with multiple related contracts being fulfilled in WA.[10]

In June 2017, the Commonwealth Government committed an additional $500 million towards improving ADF access to commercial satellites.[11] Existing facilities such as Jindalee Operational Radar Network are scheduled to undergo upgrades.[12]

Presently, WA is host to the following Defence space facilities:

Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station, Kojarena.[13] Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), US National Security Agency (NSA). Satellite antennae: Support US WGS system and Indian Ocean satellite communications monitoring. Ultra-high frequency Satellite Ground Systems (UHF SGS): Supports Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite phone network and NEXTGEN SATCOM. BAE Systems contracted to build new satellite communications facility as part of $94 million JP 2008 Phase 3F contract. Completion expected in late 2017.

Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt, Exmouth.[14] ADF, US Air Force. C-Band Space Surveillance Radar and Space Surveillance Telescope (SST, planned): Capable of detecting and tracking orbiting debris and other small objects. USAir Force plans to move the SST from the US to the station by 2020. Surveillance radar relocated from Antigua.

HMAS Stirling, Garden Island. [15] UHF SGS: Supports the ADF’s next generation (NEXTGEN) satellite communication (SATCOM) system, which uses the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system to provide long-distance communications to ADF assets around the world. Second UHF SGS installed as part of Joint Project (JP) 2008 Phase 3E. Intelsat contracted to provide UHF Communications Monitoring System (CSM) and In-Orbit Testing (system) for JP 2008 Phase 5A.

The ADF hosts other space-related facilities at three of its WA installations. At HMAS Stirling, Ultra-High Frequency Satellite Ground Systems (UHF SGS) have been installed as part of Joint Project 2008). At the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS) in Kojarena, Australian and US intelligence personnel work collaboratively as part of the ECHELON signals intelligence program, using the facility to monitor the communications activity of geosynchronous satellites over the Indian Ocean. At the same time, a UHF SGS on the station supports Australian use of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), a US Navy-run satellite phone network, in addition to the NEXTGEN SATCOM system.

A 2013 agreement between the US and Australia will bring the US Air Force’s Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) to the Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt. The telescope, in addition to surveillance radar which arrived in early 2017, will detect and track space debris orbiting the earth as part of the US Space Surveillance Network. In 2014 the Australian defence technology company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) won a joint bid with Lockheed Martin to construct an entirely new space debris tracking centre, also in Exmouth.[16]

On 18 June 2017, Defence Minister Marise Payne announced plans for a $500 million investment by the Commonwealth to enhance Defence’s space surveillance and reconnaissance operations. The Commonwealth intends to improve this capability using commercial space providers rather than dedicated military infrastructure. It will use existing satellite assets to provide the imagery, however it will be processed in new ground facilities in Australia costing more than $14 million to build. The Minister stated that “Defence’s enhanced access to these satellites will increase Australia’s capacity to maintain surveillance and improve situational awareness for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other national security agencies through the provision of high-quality imagery.” This by necessity will include existing WA facilities.

Civilian Space Sector

Western Australia is home to a wide variety of civilian space and satellite technology facilities, serving a range of needs from international telecommunications to space exploration. WA’s most significant recent achievement in this area has been the 2012 decision to co-host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.[17] The SKA Organisation, a consortium of ten participating countries,[18] will deploy tens of thousands of small radio antennae at a site in the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. The project operates in conjunction with a related site in South Africa. The telescope that comprises these antennae will expose the secrets of the universe and provide the most detailed satellite imagery and data in the world.

Two precursor facilities to the SKA are now in operation. In addition to employing hundreds of staff during the construction phase, the SKA is expected to create about 200 permanent jobs on completion.

Curtin University and the University of Western Australia co-founded the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in 2009 to support the SKA. This Commonwealth and State Government-funded institution is now one of the best university-based radio astronomy research centres in the world, and has attracted about 100 national and international staff and postgraduate students.[19] ICRAR’s scientists are also working on projects in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, and other research teams in Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Another recent expansion of the civilian space technology sector is the opening of the West Australian Space Centre (WASC), about 40km outside Mingenew. The facility is the latest addition to several space facilities in the area, such as NASA’s MOBLAS 5 satellite ranging station in Yarragadee operated by Geoscience Australia.[20] WASC, which is owned by Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), signed up its first customer one year before opening, with the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General (CLTC) leasing two satellite dishes to support the Chinese civilian space program.[21]

Key civilian space facilities in WA include:

Square Kilometre Array (SKA), Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, Murchison. Using 130,000 antennae to provide world’s most powerful telescopic imagery and data. Precursor projects: Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP). Telescope antennae to be located in both Murchison and South Africa.

Deep Space Antenna 1 (DSA 1), New Norcia. European Space Agency (ESA). Tracks and communicates with spacecraft on deep-space missions, using a 35-metre antenna, a 4.5-metre dish and high-tech analysis systems. Also known as New Norcia Station (NNO).^[22]

Perth International Telecommunications Centre (PITC), Landsdale. Telstra, National Space Development Agency (NASDA Japan). Satellite Ground Stations (SGS): Telecommunications (Telstra), intelligence gathering, spacecraft tracking, telemetry and communications (NASDA). Hosted ESA operations until 2015.^[23]

West Australian Space Centre (WASC), Mingenew. Swedish Space Corporation, (SSC, owner), China Satellite Launch & Tracking Control General (CLTC, Chinese Government). Research, satellite laser ranging, spacecraft tracking and communications. While the WASC was launched in 2012, several Australian and foreign facilities have been in the Mingenew area for several decades, including Geoscience Australia, NASA, and the National Centre for Space Studies (Centre national d’études spatiales: CNES, France).

Learmonth Solar Observatory, Exmouth. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), US Air Force. Telescopes and spectro analysis equipment monitor solar activity and perform helioseismological research.

Curtin University of Technology

Curtin University is quickly becoming a world leader in space exploration and science with a number of significant programs currently underway or under development.

NASA strategic partnership

NASA has recognised Curtin as the formal representative of Australia’s planetary science community. This formal partnership allows ground-floor access for Australian researchers in mission concept development and enhanced opportunities for collaboration with US NASA teams. It has been a vehicle for the growth of an Australian planetary community and has driven increased collaboration and grant success. NASA colleagues are assisting in high level discussions regarding an Australian Space Agency; partnering with Curtin in the global expansion of the DFN; and assisting in building a capacity in mission engineering.

The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) Telescope

The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is a low-frequency radio telescope operating between 80 and 300 MHz. It is located at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia, the planned site of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) lowband telescope. The MWA is one of three telescopes designated as a precursor for the SKA. The MWA has been developed by an international collaboration, including partners from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and the United States.

The Desert Fireball Network (DFN)

The Desert Fireball Network (DFN) is a research project aiming to uncover the mysteries surrounding the formation of the solar system through the study of meteorites, fireballs and their pre-earth orbits.

The project is based at Curtin University and together with NASA, the DFN is expanding to a Global Fireball Observatory. Using an autonomous network of observatories and built from scratch with custom and consumer parts, these cameras track and triangulate fireballs, the fall positions of the meteorites and their pre-earth orbits from multiple viewpoints. Currently the DFN observatories cover a third of Australian skies, taking pictures all night, every night, and increasingly of the skies from other countries around the world.

Recovering these meteorites help address some of the biggest questions in planetary science including how our planetary system came into being, and how dust and gas produced a planet capable of supporting life.

Remote Sensing and Satellite Research Group (RSSRG)

The Remote Sensing and Satellite Research Group (RSSRG), based at Curtin University is part of a national and international network of scientists that undertake quantitative research in the field of Earth observations from space. RSSRG has long established links with key international agencies and universities. Access to international research cruises and undertaking research with advanced instruments deployed on NASA high altitude research aircraft are just two examples of such collaboration.

Curtin University has many graduates who visit and work in overseas laboratories under exchange arrangements, many of whom accept post-doctoral or employment positions in these establishments on completion of their higher degrees. RSSRG in recent times has been represented on several international remote sensing bodies including the International Radiation Commission (IRC), International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) and Education Working Group of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).

At the national level it is a participant in a number of Cooperative Research Centres and State – Federal research initiatives. RSSRG also coordinates a capacity building centre in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

To improve Australia’s capability in utilising the next generation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and to come to a fullest exploitation of the opportunities created, a new GNSS Research Centre has been established at Curtin University.

The group’s research program aims to develop theory, models and methods that will enable future GNSSs to fulfil the high accuracy and high-integrity requirements of tomorrow’s geospatial information needs in the Earth-, atmospheric- and space-sciences.

This GNSS program is also timely because of the forthcoming GNSS CORS network across Australia as part of the AuScope Geospatial program. This will provide an excellent large-area ‘field laboratory’ in which to test, then implement, the results generated by this program.

Proposal for Defence-related Research Centre on Space Capabilities

Curtin University currently has a proposal for a Defence themed Research Centre on Space Capabilities. The vision of the centre is to ‘Develop and deliver regional superiority in battle-space surveillance and intelligence collection through near space, ground tracking and signal processing innovation.’

The centre will build on Western Australia’s role as the national leader of radioastronomy and deep space research, leveraging off our role in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA), and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). CIRA is currently ranked in the top 5 university-based radio astronomy research centres in the world.

Key capabilities of the centre would include continuous satellite tracking, multiple object tracking and the capability to analyse data from the wide range of sensors and information received.

The University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is currently undertaking significant research and development in the space sector. In addition to those listed below, projects being undertaken at UWA include lunar weather and dust movements, and upgrades to the Yarragadee Laser Ranging Station near Dongara which will enable an optical time-transfer experiment with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Australian International Gravitational Research Centre (AIGRC)

The Australian International Gravitational Research Centre (AIGRC), established in 1990, is based in the School of Physics at the UWA. The Centre is part of the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy (ACIGA) and plays host to the Western Australian node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery.

The Centre played a significant role in discovering the first gravitational wave events in 2015. It is currently focusing on technology for gravitational wave detection, gravitational wave data analysis, multi-messenger astronomy and astrophysics and spin-off technologies. The AIGRC have a research facility at Gingin, 92 kilometres north of Perth. The AIGRC Gravity Discovery Centre and Gingin Observatory, the largest public astronomy centre in the southern hemisphere, have more than 20,000 people visit each year.

Zadko Observatory

The Zadko Observatory is located 70 kilometres north of Perth, close to the AIGRC research facility. The observatory scans the sky for potential debris and dangerous asteroids. It is an important tool used by UWA to inspire the next generation of astronomers through their school of Astronomy Research and Physics.

UWA has a contract with Airbus Safron Launchers to host space debris tracking sensors in the Zadko Observatory. A pilot study is proposed to investigate whether degradation of satellite surface materials, particularly solar panels, in the geosynchronous space environment can be detected from differences in spectral reflectance as measured by a ground based telescope.

Industrial Capability

The role of Western Australia’s advanced manufacturing and fabrication industries has the potential to significantly contribute to a growing national space industry.

Many of the projects and skills in WA’s existing industrial base and derived innovations in the resources and technology development sector are directly transferable or applicable to the global space industry. There is the potential to develop export opportunities and build local industry as a future fundamental input to Australia’s national space capability.

Western Australian universities and their global partners have decades of experience collaborating in areas such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, remote operations technology, drones, geospatial awareness systems, 3D imagery, systems design and integration, big data capability and the manufacture of precision instruments and equipment.

Currently Western Australia’s manufacturing sector accounts for 17% of total state export earnings, worth $21.9 billion. There are about 8,900 manufacturing business in Western Australia employing approximately 90,000 people. The majority of these businesses are classified small to medium, and many are producing high-end and bespoke equipment for a wide range of applications. [24]

As evidence of industry’s acknowledgment of the benefits of government investment in advanced technology projects such as the Square Kilometre Array, Cisco Systems established their 8th international innovation centre at Curtin University in 2016 in partnership with Woodside Energy named ‘Innovation Central Perth’. Data 61 became a formal partner in the centre in August 2017.

Innovation Central Perth is providing a service to industry, government and research organisations facing digital disruption to solve new problems and build proof of concept solutions that can then be scaled or commercialised. Using design thinking and agile development principles, the centre focuses on demand driven challenges that if solved, can deliver true economic, environmental or social impact.

The centre is able to access Curtin University capabilities in modelling, optimisation, data analysis and visualisation and also draws on Cisco technologies and partners, Data 61 products and services and Woodside’s industry experience. A key feature of the centre is to assist organisations to translate technology solutions across sectors with automation and remote operation having obvious applications in the space industry.

Since opening in January 2016, the Centre has engaged with more than 200 small, medium and large companies and 30 government agencies and departments. It has established more than 70 projects that are at different levels of progress from concept development through to completion or in some cases, even failure. Companies engaged include those in the fields of robotics, automation, data analytics, cybersecurity, platform development, defence, process automation, mining, oil & gas, agriculture and facility management.

Structure of an Australian Space Agency

There are two relevant models on which an Australian Space Agency could be based. The first, the UK Space Agency, whose goals align closely with those the Australian Government are seeking to achieve. That is to bring national space activities under one roof with a view to increasing long-term capabilities.

The second is NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) located at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The facility undertakes space related research and development around advanced robotics and technology, astronomy, earth sciences and planetary exploration. The structure is unique because it is managed by Caltech, thereby drawing a large number of staff from the University’s faculty and taking a more academic approach to developing and applying new capabilities.

We believe a combination of both models would be best suited to achieve the Commonwealth Government’s objectives. A model based on the UK Space Agency with a research and commercialisation focussed JPL type facility based in Western Australia, in collaboration with WA’s universities and research institutions.

UK Space Agency

The UK Space Agency was created in 2010 to succeed the British National Space Centre. The agency has primary responsibility for overseeing national policy and regulation, providing advice to ministers and facilitating investment in new capabilities and technology. One of the agency’s key goals is to win sustainable economic growth from the space sector by facilitating interaction between academia and industry.

To meet national needs, the UK Space Agency is responsible for ensuring that the UK retains and grows a strategic capability in space-based systems, technologies, science and applications.[25]

The agency is an executive body of the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills with an annual budget in 2013/14 of 320 million GBP of which 60 million is provided for national and bilateral programmes and administration, and 260 million is provided to the ESA. In total the agency have approximately 60 staff in programme administration, policy and technical areas.

Agency Structure

The full breakdown of structure by focus area can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/organisation-chart-uk-space-agency

There are four areas that underpin the agency’s operation:

Policy – responsible for the relationship with the European Union (EU), regulation, security and communications;
Growth – responsible for industry engagement, education and skills, the ‘space’ gateway and technology strategy;
Programmes – responsible for exploration, space science, and project delivery;
Operations and resources – responsible for administrative functions.

The agency’s aim is to achieve a total sector value of 40 billion GBP by 2030 by pursuing six key themes:

Growth through exports – winning a larger share of the global market;
Growth through exploiting new opportunities – new use of space such as climate change services;
Growth through smarter government – using space across the public sector to deliver more efficient services;
Education for growth – education for space and space for education;
Science as an enable of growth – exploring and studying our universe to train the next generation;
Growth through innovation – new technologies and applications of space.

In addition, the UK Space Agency has three significant overarching drivers for growth, in making the UK the best place to grow space businesses through enabling policy and regulation, increasing the UK’s returns from the EU and growing exports through creating new industry in a more strategic approach to the space industry, and increasing access to finance and investment in new technologies. There is also a large focus on growing the number of SMEs involved in space related activities.

Satellite Applications Catapult

In addition to the UK Space Agency, the country’s innovation agency, Innovate UK founded the Satellite Applications Catapult (Catapult) in 2013. Catapult assists UK innovators to take advantage of the wide range of applications of satellite technology.

Catapult is a fully independent not-for-profit which facilitates collaboration between industry academia and government, and provides facilities for classified data testing and technology development. [26]

Catapult also provides facilities and co-working spaces for the UK innovators to solve challenges relating to space and satellite applications and technology.There is also the capability to test and demonstrate new technologies.

Within the Catapult program is the Disruptive Innovation for Space Program (DISP). The DISP gives access to rapid prototyping, automated testing and manufacturing technologies. It is envisioned the DISP will take new technologies from proof of concept stage to scaling and full deployment on space assets and programs. [27]

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded R&D centre managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) under a contractual arrangement renewed every five years. The JPL has roots tracing back to 1936 becoming part of NASA in 1958. The JPL operates facilities across the continental United States, Spain and Australia. It currently has an annual budget of around $1.8 billion not including major projects, and a staff of 5,500, most of which are employed by Caltech.

The JPL has been a part of over 100 space missions many of which have leveraged off the capability built up by academics and staff at Caltech over its long history with research into rockets and later rocket payloads. The JPL are responsible for the Mars Rover Missions, Cassini Space Probe, and Voyager 1, the farthest human made object from Earth.

The JPL’s activities across the astronomy, physics and telecommunications disciplines bear striking similarities to the capabilities in Western Australia and many of the collaborations being undertaken by the University of Western Australia and Curtin University of Technology.

Aside from many of the well-known space exploration projects that have occurred with the JPL’s involvement, the organisation has also been responsible for building and operating NASA’s Deep Space Network of Antenna Stations, and managing collaborative projects such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite in partnership with the UK and the Netherlands.

Lessons in Australian Defence Industry

In developing Australia’s space industry, there are lessons to be learnt in further developing Australia’s space sector from the Commonwealth Government’s approach to developing long-term sovereign industrial capabilities in defence industry.

The 2016 Defence White Paper, launched by Defence Minister Senator the Hon. Marise Payne in February 2016, took a completely new approach to building sovereign capability in Australia’s national defence industry. This was the first time local industry was viewed as a fundamental input to military capability by a Commonwealth Government, an approach that is not only proving successful in Australia, but has worked in many other nations.

As part of the White Paper process, two other documents were launched – the 2016 Integrated Investment Plan and 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement. These two documents outline how defence plans to invest in and collaborate with local industry to deliver projects and capability which align with defence’s strategic goals.

The Defence Industry Policy Statement outlines the Commonwealth’s new approach to Defence Industry which includes the foundation of the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), Defence Innovation Hub, Defence Innovation Portal and Next Generation Technologies Fund.

The CDIC commenced operation in the second half of 2016 with a presence in each state through the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. The CDIC brings together a large number of defence industry related programs. The CDIC has three core features, industry development, innovation and competitiveness, and opening export markets.

The industry development stream seeks to develop Australian industry capability in line with major defence projects and ensure appropriate skills and training are delivered to support new industry growth.

The innovation and competitiveness stream contains the Defence Innovation Portal and associated funding. Its aim is to ensure local businesses and innovators are equipped with the appropriate resources to meet the challenges being faced by Defence.

The competitiveness and exports stream provides resources and advice to Australian SMEs through the Defence Industry Innovation Centre. Through this stream, the Commonwealth also provides business with opportunities to access global supply chains of international prime contractors through the Global Supply Chain Program and participation in a number of national and international trade events.

To achieve its objectives, the CDIC has been funded through a $230 million investment through to the decade 2025-26.

In addition to the CDIC, the Defence Innovation Hub started operations in the second half of 2016. The aim of the organisation is to provide resources, advice and funding to take strategic projects and innovations from the concept stage through to service implementation.

The Defence Innovation Hub and associated programs such as the Capability Technology Demonstrator (CTD), Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluations (RPDE), Defence Innovation Realisation Fund (DIRF) and Priority Industry Capability Development Fund (PICDF), have been funded with a $640 million investment through to the decade 2025-26.

Defence has also started the Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF) with the strategic aim to ensure Australia maintains an edge over its adversaries on the battlefield. NGTF investment is focused on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space capabilities, enhanced human performance and medical countermeasures.

The Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) and Next Generation Technologies Fund align the strategic goals of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to appropriate advice and funding streams.

Industry should be viewed by a new Australian Space Agency in a similar way it is viewed by Defence, which is as a fundamental input to capability. Australia, particularly Western Australia has a large number of companies with capabilities relevant to the space sector in areas such as advanced and high end fabrication and manufacturing, robotics and remote operations. Industry and academia should have the ability to submit unsolicited proposals in line with identified strategic objectives to a new agency through a model based on those created for Defence.

Conclusion and Recommendations

With consistent growth in the global space industry paired with Australia’s current activities and capabilities in the space sector, a decision to form an Australian Space Agency will provide exciting opportunities to develop new industries and jobs across Australia.

Identifying key priorities in line with global trends and founding an Australian Space Agency, which brings space activities under one roof, would give Australian universities and industry a much greater level of guidance and focus for research. Critically, providing the appropriate resources to industry and academia in terms of advice and funding would enable Australia to take advantage of a greater share of the global space economy, allow our nation to contribute to global space capability, and participate in a number of international bodies relating to space.

In preparing this submission, we acknowledge the significant capability and activities being undertaken by universities and the private sector nationwide, in addition to research and development by Government bodies such as the CSIRO.

Given the significant capability and global leadership Western Australia has demonstrated in the space sector, any plans for a national space agency must include a footprint in Western Australia, particularly given we possess 7of the 8 space industry capabilities defined by the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability Issues Paper.

We present four recommendations for consideration as part of this review.

Recommendation 1

The Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science form an Australian Space Agency which has a national footprint.

Recommendation 2

The Commonwealth Government review the model of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory with a view to establishing a facility in partnership with universities in Western Australia.

Recommendation 3

The Commonwealth Government adapt lessons learnt from the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) and Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF), and apply those models to the industry development component of a new Australian Space Agency.

Recommendation 4

The Commonwealth Government further review other related technologies resident in Australia’s research institutions and industry which can be applied and adapted to the space sector. These include robotics, autonomous vehicles, remote operations technology, drones, geospatial awareness systems, 3D imagery, systems design and integration, big data capability and the manufacture of precision instruments and equipment.

^[1] OECD (2014), The Space Economy at a Glance 2014, OECD Publishing.

^[2] Ibid

[3] Robert Waters, 2014. Making the UK the Place for Space. UK Space Agency.

^[4] Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability: Issues Paper, 2017

[5] Space Industry Association of Australia, 2017 ‘Advancing Australia in Space: SIAA White Paper’, pp. 4-5. 21 March. Available from: http://www.spaceindustry.com.au/Documents/SIAA%20White%20Paper%20-%20Advancing%20Australia%20in%20Space.pdf

[6] Business.gov. Available from: https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/space-concession

[7] Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Australia Telescope National Facility. Available from: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/askap/ARQZWA.html

[8] Pawsey Supercomputing Centre. ‘The Square Kilometre Array’. Available from: https://www.pawsey.org.au/research/the-square-kilometre-array/

[9] Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, p.47. Available from: https://industry.gov.au/industry/IndustrySectors/space/SpaceIndustryDevelopment/Pages/SelectiveReviewAustralianSpaceCapabilities.aspx

^[10] Space News. Available from: http://spacenews.com/australias-military-including-commercial-capacity-in-its-satellite-communications-plans/

^[11] Australian Department of Defence. Available from: https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-releases/500-million-enhanced-satellite-capability

^[12] https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/289-bae-systems-backs-jorn-solution-as-tender-decision-nears

[13] Defense-Aerospace.com. Available from: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/96421/us-to-build-defense-satellite-station-in-australia.html; Australian Defence Magazine: http://www.australiandefence.com.au/6FE012F8-5056-8C22-C9D39DC99A192DDA

[14] Space.com Available from: https://www.space.com/34452-darpa-hands-over-space-tracking-telescope-to-the-air-force.html; Australian Department of Defence: Available from: https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-releases/australias-space-surveillance-radar-reaches-full-operational

[15] Space.com Available from: https://www.space.com/34452-darpa-hands-over-space-tracking-telescope-to-the-air-force.html; Australian Department of Defence: Available from: https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-releases/australias-space-surveillance-radar-reaches-full-operational

[16] Lockheed Martin. Available from: http://www.lockheedmartin.com.au/au/what-we-do/space-systems/space-fence.html

[17] Square Kilometre Array Australia. Available from: http://www.ska.gov.au/About/Pages/SKAOrganisation.aspx

[18] These countries are: Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

[19] International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. Available from: http://www.icrar.org/about/