Australia’s Support for the US Space Program

Australian support for NASA

In 2019, Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced that $150 million dollars would be set aside as a commitment by Australia to support the planned US mission to Mars.

After attending a State Dinner with US President Trump, Scott Morrison visited Nasa on 20^th September 2019 and took the opportunity to make the announcement that the commitment will strengthen the ties between Australian business and NASA.

The investment in Australian business and technology will support NASA’s plans to launch expeditions to both the moon and to Mars.

Mr Morrison said that Australian businesses and researchers have “immense knowledge and capabilities in projects that can support NASA’s Moon to Mars mission, such as Project Artemis and the Lunar Gateway”. He went on to state that… “The Australian Space Agency will work closely with Nasa to identify how they can best support their missions, after the signing of a joint statement of intent on expanding cooperation”.

Australian Space Program

Australia has a longstanding history of collaboration and support for the United States’ space program.

The partnership between the two countries in space exploration and technology dates back several decades and continues to this day. Here are some key aspects of Australia’s support for the US space program:

Ground Stations and Tracking Facilities:

Australia provides critical ground stations and tracking facilities that support the communication and tracking of US space missions. The most prominent facility is the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC), operated by NASA’s Deep Space Network. The CDSCC plays a crucial role in tracking and communicating with various NASA spacecraft, including those exploring the solar system and beyond.

Launch Support:

Australia has been involved in launching US satellites and space missions. The Woomera Test Range in South Australia was a key facility used by the United States for missile testing during the Cold War. It has also been utilized for launching sounding rockets and smaller satellites in collaboration with American agencies.

Space Surveillance and Tracking:

Australia actively contributes to space situational awareness and tracking of space debris. The Australian Space Surveillance and Tracking Centre (ASSTC), located in Western Australia, collaborates with international partners, including the United States, to monitor and track objects in space. This information helps in maintaining the safety and security of space activities.

Research and Development:

Australia engages in research and development projects with US space agencies, including NASA. Collaborative efforts involve areas such as space technology, astronomy, astrophysics, and planetary science. These partnerships enhance scientific knowledge, technological advancements, and the exchange of expertise between the two countries.

Satellite Communications:

Australia hosts ground stations for various commercial and military satellite communication systems. These facilities provide support to US satellite operators and contribute to global communication networks.

International Cooperation:

Australia actively participates in international space programs, including those led by the United States. It collaborates with other countries on space exploration initiatives, such as the International Space Station (ISS) program, where Australian astronauts have participated in missions alongside their American counterparts.

Australia’s support for the US space program is a result of strong bilateral ties, shared values, and mutual interests. The collaboration extends beyond space exploration and encompasses a wide range of areas, including defense, scientific research, and technological innovation.

The First Moon Landing

Zoron11 Apollo 11 Moon Mission, Lunar Missions, The Planets November 26, 2022December 6, 2022Apollo 11, Lunar Missions, Moon Landing

Buzz Aldrin stepped on to the moon in a photo taken by Neil Armstron in 1969

As the world reflected on the 50^th anniversary of the moon landing, in 2019, we were once again setting our sights on our return to the moon, the first time we will have taken that giant leap since the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.

Lunar Missions

The Chinese Chang’e 4 Lunar Mission

Zoron11 Lunar Missions February 29, 2020March 1, 2020Chinese Lunar Mission, Lunar Missions

The Chinese Chang’e 4 Lunar Mission is a robotic spacecraft mission, being part of the second phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. It achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon on 3rd January 2019.

The far side of the moon, China space mission — The Far Side of The Moon

The mission is the follow-up to Chang’e 3, the first Chinese landing on the Moon. Like its predecessors, the mission is named after Chang’e, the Chinese Moon goddess. The spacecraft was originally built as a backup for Chang’e 3 and became available after Chang’e 3 landed successfully in 2013. The configuration of Chang’e 4 was adjusted to meet new scientific and performance objectives.

The Chang’e 4 mission was first scheduled for launch in 2015 as part of the second phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. But the adjusted objectives and design of the mission created delays, and the launch did not happen until 7th December 2018.

The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 12th December 2018 and the orbit’s perilune was lowered to 15 km (9.3 mi) on 30th December that year.

The Landing Module touched down on 3rd January 2019 at 02:26 UTC, shortly after lunar sunrise over the Von Kármán crater in the large South Pole-Aitken basin.

The Stages of The Chang’e 4 Lunar Mission

Stage 1 A communication relay satellite, Queqiao, was first launched to a halo orbit near the Earth–Moon L2 point in May 2018.

Stage 2 The robotic lander and Yutu-2 rover were launched on 7th December 2018

Stage 3 The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 12th December 2018

Stage 4 Landing on the Moon’s far side on 3^rd January 2019

The Phases of The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program

The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program was designed to be conducted in four phases of increasing technological advancement:

The first phase was simply reaching lunar orbit, a task completed by Chang’e 1 in 2007 and Chang’e 2 in 2010.

The second phase was landing and roving on the Moon, as Chang’e 3 did in 2013 and Chang’e 4 did in 2019.

The third phase is collecting lunar samples from the near-side and sending them to Earth, a task for the future Chang’e 5 and Chang’e 6 missions.

The fourth phase consists of development of a robotic research station near the Moon’s south pole. The program aims to facilitate a manned lunar landing in the 2030s and possibly build an outpost near the south pole.

This mission will attempt to determine the age and composition of an unexplored region of the Moon, as well as develop technologies required for later stages of the program.

Read more about Lunar Exploration

Apollo 12 Moon Mission

Zoron11 Apollo 11 Moon Mission, Lunar Missions October 10, 2019October 10, 2019Lunar Missions, moon missions, the moon

The incredible journey of Apollo 12 lives on as a symbol for those who one day may revive the instinct to travel beyond our planet in search of clues to the origins of our world and our place in the cosmos.