Media Release
November 22 2010
Space - Australia's final frontier?
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Australia
might not be launching rockets, training astronauts or developing space
probes, but our involvement in space is significant, according to a
leading space science expert.
Professor Andrew Parfitt from the
University of South Australia says while salient signs of a space
industry are not often visible, Australia’s participation in space is
essential and valued.
“Australia is very good at space science and technology, and the
processing of satellite data, and we make an important contribution
without actually launching our own rockets,” he says.
“We contribute a value-add to the data we get from space and we’ve got a
lot of scientific expertise here. Geographically, Australia is
responsible for one eighth of the world’s surface, so accessing
satellites as they pass over this part of the world has been a critical
component of our space activities.”
Prof Parfitt, who will give a free public lecture
‘Space – Australia’s Final Frontier?’ on November 30, says Australia
is hugely reliant on space science and its associated technologies and
services. This ranges across areas including telecommunications, earth
observation and navigation and the application of these technologies and
services to many aspects of business and daily life.
“There’s a whole range of services we use every day that wouldn’t be
possible without space,” Prof Parfitt says.
“The GPS in your car, the timing stamp when you get money from an ATM,
and forecasting the weather seven to 10 days in advance are among the
things we might take for granted that we couldn’t do any other way than
by using space.”
Prof Parfitt’s public lecture will focus on Australia’s participation in
space and explore the challenges and opportunities that space provides
in the future.
UniSA through its Institute of
Telecommunications Research and its expertise in communication
technologies for satellite remote sensing has for many years been at the
forefront of space research and education in Australia. In January UniSA
will launch the Southern Hemisphere Space Program in partnership with
the International Space University where professionals, graduates and
senior undergraduates will participate in the intensive five-week
live-in program. Graduates from the program are also eligible to
continue further studies via the
Graduate Certificate in Space Studies at
Mawson Lakes
campus.
Prof Parfitt, who is a member of the Australian Government’s Space
Industry Innovation Council, will give his public lecture as part of
UniSA’s Knowledge Works lecture series. The lecture will be held on
Tuesday November 30 at 6pm at Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building,
City West Campus. Go to
www.unisa.edu.au/knowledgeworks/ to register.
Media contact
- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au