Draft plan calls for Australia to ramp up space R&D

Academy proposes lead scientist, priority research areas and missions to boost orbital activities

Australia’s government should appoint a “lead scientist” to the Australian Space Agency and develop a set of space missions to stimulate development, a draft plan has proposed.

A discussion paper released this month by the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Space and Radio Science said the country lacks a co-ordinated space strategy, particularly around basic research and skills development. The plan also urged the government to add space to its list of priority research areas.