NT, space agency partner to nurture local space sector

By on 11 August, 2020

Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Hon. Michael Gunner and Dr. Megan Clark AC. Image credit: MP Karen Andrews/Twitter.

The Australian Space Agency and Northern Territory have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate to develop the territory’s local industry, and help it harness space-related benefits.

In line with agreements the agency has signed with other Australian states and territories, the MoU with the NT will see the territory work together to nurture local capacity in space activities, as well as drive uptake of space-derived data and analytics capability.

Agency head Dr. Megan Clark AC said that the partnership will develop the growing profile of space infrastructure in the NT.

“Growing the Northern Territory’s space sector improves other parts of the local economy through the application of space technologies to areas like bushfire tracking, emergency management, and agriculture,” she said.

“Existing infrastructure from ground stations such as the indigenous, owned and operated, Centre for Appropriate Technology, and the Alice Springs Balloon Launching Facility show the capability that exists within the Northern Territory.”

According to material released by the agency, the new agreement highlights opportunities to engage internationally and regionally on space activities, and the announcement bodes well for Equatorial Launch Australia’s Arnhem Space Complex at Nhulunbuy.

“The proximity of the Territory to the equator also means advantages for commercial rocket launch. The Agency has the role of ensuring the regulatory environment for space launch activities balances safety and entrepreneurship,” Dr. Clark said.

Stay up to date by getting stories like this delivered to your mailbox.
Sign up to receive our free weekly Spatial Source newsletter.

You may also like to read:


, , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Newsletter

Sign up now to stay up to date about all the news from Spatial Source. You will get a newsletter every week with the latest news.

Interview: Tori Murrant, GIS analyst
Having stumbled across the geospatial sector at university, ...
Testing SouthPAN and commercial GNSS services
UNSW surveying students were challenged to put a range of So...
Here’s what’s in our latest issue!
Learn about the metaverse, mapmaking, 3D scanning, RINEX, hy...
Modern Methods of Construction Roadshow
The events will show how the latest software, tools and tech...
Real-time LiDAR mapping system
The Brumby LiDAR rapidly produces point clouds by removing t...