According to the announcement
made by the Victoria Government, La Trobe University has helped
cement Victoria as a leader in space technology with an advanced
high-resolution camera that was developed and constructed in partnership with
the German
Aerospace Centre.
An advanced high-resolution camera is set
to cement Victoria further as a leader in space technology. This camera is
designed to be launched into space in order to more accurately monitor the
Earth’s ecosystem.
La Trobe University, in collaboration with
German Aerospace Centre, developed and constructed the camera, which was
launched at the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre
in Florida. It was on-board Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon rocket overnight.
It will take the camera three days before
reaching the International Space Station where it will be integrated onto the
station’s imaging platform. While there, it will monitor bushfires, floods, ash
clouds, storms, rainfall, and drought across the world.
The camera will be transmitting data to the
School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at La Trobe and to the ESS Weathertech,
which have established a ground station to receive imagery, once it is
installed.
ESS Weathertech, a Melbourne-based company,
is an advanced technology company specialising in solutions in environmental
and allied fields such as meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, atmospheric,
fire weather and other specialised engineering fields, supplying to government,
defence, research, institutional, aviation industries and the private
sector.
The partnership between La Trobe and the
German Aerospace Centre is notable for an Australian university and
demonstrates Victoria’s capabilities in developing and manufacturing space
technology.
The campaign for Victoria to play a key
role in the new Australian
Space Agency was stepped up by the Andrews Labor Government. This is
being done by the Victoria Government to grow the state’s already thriving
space industry, creating more jobs for the people as well as boosting the
economy.
Victoria has the experience and knowledge
to make sure the new agency thrives. With one in five Australian space-related
science and technology companies based in the state, Victoria is well
positioned to coordinate national and international collaboration on space and
attract global investment.
Aerospace research, development and manufacturing
are being carried out in Victoria by some of the world’s biggest names in
aerospace such as Lockheed
Martin, Thales, Boeing, and BAE Systems.
It is being forecasted that the global
space industry will be worth more than A$1 trillion by 2040. Victoria can help
boost Australia’s share of this market to tens of billions of dollars,
potentially creating 20,000 jobs across the country.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben
Carroll said, “We know that Victoria is a world-leader in space technology and
the German Aerospace Centre’s partnership with La Trobe University cements that
position.”
He added, “This high-resolution camera is a
real game-changer. It’ll help monitor
natural disasters and environmental changes across the globe, some 400
kilometres in outer space.”
La Trobe Engineering Senior Lecturer and
Entrepreneur in Residence Dr Peter Moar said, “La Trobe University is very much
at the forefront of space technology. This project cements Victoria’s position
as world-leader for space research and engineering.”
He added, “This is a ground-breaking
achievement for engineering in Australia and will help governments and
emergency services world-wide.”
A recent
announcement highlighted how Australia has earmarked A$41 million for the
country to establish its first national space agency over the next 4 years.