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Australia joins UK space radar mission | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Australia is to be a launch partner on the UK's innovative new small radar satellite, NovaSAR. | |
The spacecraft, which will track shipping and forestry change from orbit, is due to launch on an Indian rocket early next year. | |
Australia's main research organisation, CSIRO, has signed a 10% share in NovaSAR's data. | Australia's main research organisation, CSIRO, has signed a 10% share in NovaSAR's data. |
The deal comes on the heels of an announcement that the country will soon get a national space agency. | The deal comes on the heels of an announcement that the country will soon get a national space agency. |
This future body will no doubt look to secure many more such collaborations, to enable Australian scientists and entrepreneurs to exploit the latest Earth observation information. | This future body will no doubt look to secure many more such collaborations, to enable Australian scientists and entrepreneurs to exploit the latest Earth observation information. |
NovaSAR (PDF) has been built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited in Guilford, in southern England, with the aid of a £21m UK government grant. | NovaSAR (PDF) has been built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited in Guilford, in southern England, with the aid of a £21m UK government grant. |
The 3m-long platform, which looks like a cheese-grater, is regarded as an "operational demonstrator" - that is to say, it will showcase a capability but with the intention that its data is put to good use to develop services. | The 3m-long platform, which looks like a cheese-grater, is regarded as an "operational demonstrator" - that is to say, it will showcase a capability but with the intention that its data is put to good use to develop services. |
Radar works at wavelengths that allow it to pierce cloud to see the surface of the Earth in all weathers, and in darkness. | Radar works at wavelengths that allow it to pierce cloud to see the surface of the Earth in all weathers, and in darkness. |
NovaSAR will use this vision to make forestry assessments in the tropics (frequent cloud) and at high latitude (poor light conditions); to support disaster relief (radar is very good at sensing flood water); and to monitor shipping routes. | NovaSAR will use this vision to make forestry assessments in the tropics (frequent cloud) and at high latitude (poor light conditions); to support disaster relief (radar is very good at sensing flood water); and to monitor shipping routes. |
This third application is enhanced by the addition of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) sensor onboard the satellite. | This third application is enhanced by the addition of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) sensor onboard the satellite. |
All ships over 300 gross tonnes are required to fit AIS transponders that broadcast details about their voyage. | All ships over 300 gross tonnes are required to fit AIS transponders that broadcast details about their voyage. |
Spotting from orbit those vessels that have their AIS disabled is often a sign of illegal actors, such as smugglers or trawlers attempting to net fish in no-take zones. | Spotting from orbit those vessels that have their AIS disabled is often a sign of illegal actors, such as smugglers or trawlers attempting to net fish in no-take zones. |
Radar plus AIS is seen as something of a killer application in maritime policing. | Radar plus AIS is seen as something of a killer application in maritime policing. |
Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will get a 10% share of the tasking and data-acquisition capabilities of NovaSAR. | Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will get a 10% share of the tasking and data-acquisition capabilities of NovaSAR. |
Dr Dave Williams from CSIRO said the deal represented a significant investment in Australia's space capability. | Dr Dave Williams from CSIRO said the deal represented a significant investment in Australia's space capability. |
"The aim is to manage the NovaSAR satellite as a natural extension of the significant role CSIRO already plays in managing a range of national facilities, on behalf of the Australian community of scientists and for the benefit of the nation. | "The aim is to manage the NovaSAR satellite as a natural extension of the significant role CSIRO already plays in managing a range of national facilities, on behalf of the Australian community of scientists and for the benefit of the nation. |
"Because we'll be able to direct the satellite's activity, it provides significant opportunities to support a wide range of existing research, further develop Australia's earth observation data analytics expertise, and create new opportunities in the field of remote sensing." | "Because we'll be able to direct the satellite's activity, it provides significant opportunities to support a wide range of existing research, further develop Australia's earth observation data analytics expertise, and create new opportunities in the field of remote sensing." |
Dr Williams was the chief executive of the UK Space Agency before taking up his role at CSIRO. | Dr Williams was the chief executive of the UK Space Agency before taking up his role at CSIRO. |
NovaSAR is trying to address the interest in smaller, lower cost solutions to satellite radar. | NovaSAR is trying to address the interest in smaller, lower cost solutions to satellite radar. |
Traditionally, these spacecraft have been large, power-hungry beasts that gather imagery which, by its very nature, leads to very big data volumes. | Traditionally, these spacecraft have been large, power-hungry beasts that gather imagery which, by its very nature, leads to very big data volumes. |
Managing all this in a compact package is challenging. | Managing all this in a compact package is challenging. |
SSTL, working with its parent company Airbus, has produced what it thinks is one answer: something that is very capable but still compact enough (430kg) to fit on a cheaper rocket. | SSTL, working with its parent company Airbus, has produced what it thinks is one answer: something that is very capable but still compact enough (430kg) to fit on a cheaper rocket. |
"We've gone for some specific radar applications, some specific modes," explained Luis Gomes, SSTL's commercial director. "But we'll aim to investigate other possibilities once we're in orbit. | "We've gone for some specific radar applications, some specific modes," explained Luis Gomes, SSTL's commercial director. "But we'll aim to investigate other possibilities once we're in orbit. |
"We'd like to have a go at radar interferometry, to sense landslides for example. It wasn't designed for that purpose but we want to see if it's possible," he told BBC News. | "We'd like to have a go at radar interferometry, to sense landslides for example. It wasn't designed for that purpose but we want to see if it's possible," he told BBC News. |
A number of companies are building spacecraft that are much smaller even than NovaSAR. | A number of companies are building spacecraft that are much smaller even than NovaSAR. |
Capella Space (US) and ICEYE (Finland) have plans for radar constellations based on cubesats - satellites with bodies that are built from 10cm blocks. | Capella Space (US) and ICEYE (Finland) have plans for radar constellations based on cubesats - satellites with bodies that are built from 10cm blocks. |
The SSTL/CSIRO deal was signed in Adelaide on Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress. | The SSTL/CSIRO deal was signed in Adelaide on Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |