BAS Observer November 2017

10 BAS OBSERVER Lost in space . . . Australia dwindled from space leader to also-ran in 50 years By Kerrie Dougherty (PhD candidate, UNSW) Source: (22nd September, 2017) https://theconversation.com/lost-in-space-australia-dwindled-from-space-leader-to-also-ran-in-50-years-83310 T he eyes of the world’s space expertise will be on Australia this month, as Adelaide hosts the world’s largest space conference . The meeting occurs in the 50th anniversary year of the launch of Australia’s first satellite, WRESAT . This project occurred as the culmination of a decade in which Australia was seen as a significant player in the space arena. But now, Australia is perceived to be underperforming in the space sector. It remains one of only two OECD countries not to have a space agency (the other nation is Iceland). So what happened in the past half century to slow us down? My doctoral thesis is attempting to find the answer. The International Geophysical Year Australian involvement in space activities commenced with participation in the International Geophysical Year ( IGY ) , a global scientific research program focused on understanding the Earth’s relationship to its surrounding space environment. Longer than a calendar year, the IGY ran from 1st July, 1 9 57 to 31st December, 1 9 58, and was a significant catalyst for space-related activities in many nations. In mid-1 9 55, the USA and the USSR had both announced their intention to launch a satellite during the IGY . 1 9 55 American announcement of plans for the building and launching of the world’s first man-made satellite, under President Eisenhower. The then Presidential press secretary James Hagerty is shown with five scientists. ( Image courtesy of NASA )