Australia ? A Little Late ? May Be Joining The Space Race

Australia from space

To date, the sparsely populated nation of Australia?s engagement with the far flung reaches of space has been�Australia-born astronaut Andy Thomas and regular stories about farmers in the outback discovering space junk in their dirt-red fields. Thomas?s achievement is significant because to be accepted by NASA he had to gain American citizenship. It has been this issue that has denied young Australian geeklets even the simple dream of one day travelling to the moon. But, perhaps, not for much longer ?

The Canberra-based Australian�Academy�of Science and associated space researchers have spent four years developing a blueprint for Australia to enter the space race. OK, stop laughing: yes, it?s true that Australia may be a little late. Maybe we?ve given the rest of the world a bit of a head start, but at least if this proposal gets approved, future generations of Australian geeks can realize the no-longer-impossible dream of heading into orbit. The proposed investment over the next 10 years to get the Australian flag into space: $140 million AUD. No, that isn?t a typo. While NASA will no doubt have easily over $10 billion USD to play with in any given financial year, Australia?s fledgling program will be running their spaceships and�satellites on the fumes of an oily rag at $14 million a year. (Note: As of this writing, the Australian dollar and the American dollar are worth very nearly the same amount.)

Still, as an Aussie geek I?m hoping this goes through. It may be problematic that one of the first proposed trips is a scientific probe heading straight at the Sun ? that doesn?t do much for the hopes of�ambitious�young would-be Australian astronauts ? but you have to start somewhere.

So look out, world! Australia is going to bring its own sensibility and culture to the far flung reaches of our solar system ? and beyond.

(via abc.net.au)

QUANTA COMPUTER RESEARCH IN MOTION ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS SAIC