A Roadmap for unlocking future growth opportunities for Australia
2018
CSIRO Futures is the strategy advisory arm of Australia’s national science agency. We work with senior decision makers in Australia’s largest companies and government to help them translate science into strategy and plan for an uncertain future. We build on CSIRO’s deep research expertise to help our clients create sustainable growth and competitive advantage by harnessing science, technology and innovation.
CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science develops and operates world-class National Facilities for radio astronomy and spacecraft tracking, and space-related technologies for the benefit of Australian and international science communities. We play a key role in the Square Kilometre Array project, Earth observation and sensor technology development, including commercialisation of innovative technologies and big data processing techniques.
CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands that we live and work on across Australia and pays its respect to Elders past and present. CSIRO recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made, and will continue to make, extraordinary contributions to Australian life including in cultural, economic and scientific domains.
© 2018 CSIRO. To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO.
With Australia on the cusp of its own space age, CSIRO stands ready to draw on our 75 years of experience in the space sector to help launch Australia into a new era. In deep partnership with our newly formed Australian Space Agency, CSIRO’s scientific, technical, industrial and regulatory expertise provide a firm foundation from which to propel future engagement and growth for the national space industry. CSIRO’s Space Roadmap draws on our networks within the Australian space industry, helping to inform the strategic direction now being developed by the new space agency, setting out viable opportunities that can help launch Australia’s space industry into a new era.
CSIRO’s national footprint, together with our broad sector engagement, long track record in space science, and technical capability all underpin our deep commitment to the development and expansion of Australia’s space industry. The creation of a dedicated space agency signals a new approach for the sector, providing Australia with a co-ordinated body to strengthen industry relationships and promote Australia’s reputation as a dynamic and ambitious space-focused nation. In partnership with the agency, we look forward to transforming and growing a globally respected Australian space industry, opening up our markets, improving productivity, creating new jobs, and securing our STEM talent pipeline into the future.
CSIRO’s role in the space ecosystem continues to broaden in response to rapid change in the global economy. The recent launch of our CSIRO Centre for Earth Observation provides a dedicated facility for satellite-derived data, including data gathered from our tasking and acquisition time on the NovaSAR satellite, the first time Australian scientists have ever been able to drive an imaging satellite. Our deep skill in managing and analysing big data, predictive analytics and Artificial Intelligence will drive new opportunities and approaches. Our global industry connections and long-standing partnerships with international space agencies are now also complemented by programs to support new domestic market entrants, including SME Connect, the ON accelerator program and the CSIRO Innovation Fund, managed by Main Sequence Ventures. And CSIRO’s world-class space facilities and infrastructure build on Australia’s unique geographical location and expansive land-mass to contribute to global infrastructure, like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
This Space Roadmap introduces opportunities for growth and differentiation based on Australia’s natural advantages, and leveraging our established industries to repurpose for space – like new materials, mining to extract water, oxygen and inks to print spare parts, agriculture to grow food in inhospitable terrain, space object tracking, and space exploration and utilisation. It goes on to identify enablers for unlocking these opportunities. Deep collaboration between CSIRO, the Australian Space Agency, and partners in research, education, government, industry and investor communities will be critical. We are committed to continuing to grow a diverse and robust space industry in Australia, including bringing our world-class science, technical solutions, and partners to the table. We are here to help Australia secure our footprint in the space ecosystem.
Dr Larry Marshall
CSIRO Chief Executive
It is my pleasure to endorse the CSIRO Space Industry Roadmap. As our national science agency, CSIRO brings many decades of scientific, technical, industrial and regulatory expertise and partnerships in the space industry. It is one of the inputs being used to inform the strategic direction of our Australian Space Agency. This Roadmap introduces some key scientific opportunities which Australia can utilise to drive engagement and growth across the space value chain. It also highlights opportunities to enter high-growth areas and strengthen Australia’s expanding space industry.
The Agency has a mandate to triple the size of our domestic space industry up to $12 billion by 2030, generating 20,000 new Australian jobs, and inspiring our next generation of STEM professionals and entrepreneurs. Our purpose is to transform and grow a globally respected Australian space industry that lifts the broader economy and inspires Australia. It will be underpinned by strong national and international engagement.
CSIRO has a long and accomplished history in advanced research and technology in the fields of space sciences and space tracking, including Earth observation, remote sensing and data management.
I congratulate CSIRO on their Roadmap, which both supports the strategic intent of the Agency and clearly identifies both key opportunities and key enablers for future success. We have a compelling program ahead of us and I trust that this Roadmap will be a useful guide for those looking to invest and build Australia’s space industry capability. I look forward to further analysis and engagement with specific opportunities to showcase Australia’s capabilities to the world. Together, the Australian Space Agency, CSIRO and other key partners will drive the full potential of our nation’s capabilities and competitive advantages, optimising our research and development opportunities, and targeting growth areas across the space value chain to building a space sector of which all Australians can be proud.
Dr Megan Clark AC
Head, Australian Space Agency
Profound transformation of space technologies alongside increasing demand for space-based services are driving the emergence of a new space age, and with it, many new opportunities for the growth of Australia’s own space sector.
Vision: Over the next two decades, Australia’s space industry will leverage the nation’s unique strengths and advantages to increase its role in the international space sector, providing strategic contributions to global value chains that result in economic return and improve the lives of Australians.
Space-based services are integral to the lives of Australians, national security and the operation of industries – transportation and logistics companies rely on positioning technologies to track their fleets; mining and resource industries use satellite imagery for exploration, to plan infrastructure, and conduct impact studies; and satellite communications play a key role in enabling improved connectivity for Australia’s rural areas. And these are just a few examples.
While Australia’s space industry is small in the global context, responsible for approximately 0.8% of the international space economy, Australian space science research is world class, contributing 6.8% of global publications between 2012-16.1 Collaboration with leading international bodies along with new developments in the space field are creating opportunities for industry and business development that can provide greater economic return. Recent developments, both in the space ecosystem through the establishment of the Australian Space Agency, and pioneering technology transformation indicate that Australia’s space industry has reached an inflection point and is poised for growth.
This report, developed through a process of consultation with industry and CSIRO’s research expertise, seeks to support Australia’s growing space industry by identifying opportunities across space-derived services, space object tracking, and space exploration and utilisation. These three strategic areas leverage Australia’s comparative advantages and geography, and can provide benefits to other industries or value chains.
To capitalise on these opportunities and position Australia as an active contributor to the international space industry, this report identifies a number of enablers that will help to unlock industry potential and guide research and development. Importantly, investment in space science and technology is a valuable source of innovation for Earth-based industries, bringing direct benefits to society. For example, key nutrients used in baby formula were originally developed for astronauts on long-duration, deep space missions.2
Nearly 50 years ago, Australia was a strategic partner in the US Apollo 11 Moon landing, receiving the first signals from the lunar surface. Since then, Australia has continued to refine its world-class capabilities in space-oriented fields, such as satellite and wireless communications, Earth observation data analytics, and advanced sensor and antenna technology for radio astronomy. These skills have seen the space industry play an important role in the broader economy, enabling innovation across other sectors including agriculture, environment, communications and mining. Today, the nation is in a favourable position to reinvigorate its commercial space industry with the 2018 Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability3 (the Review) outlining an ambitious strategy to triple the size of Australia’s space industry by 2030.
A key advantage driving Australia’s space industry is the nation’s strategic southern hemisphere location and land mass – characteristics that provide a ‘sweet spot’ for space related activities and allow for low light and electromagnetic interference. These attributes make Australia an attractive partner for integration into global value chains and provide advantages for development of positioning services and technology, Earth observation calibration, validation and data analytics, and space situational awareness activities.4 Australia is also an advantageous location both for polar and equatorial launch sites. When considered together with Australia’s skilled workforce and research expertise in complementary fields (agriculture, robotics, biomedicine, etc.), there are substantial opportunities for unique industry development and strategic collaboration in global value chains.5
While Australia’s space related industry is relatively small, the Review outlines a series of recommendations that take advantage of Australia’s current space industry structure, unhampered by legacy institutions. The Review’s recommendations provide a base for the local space industry to leap past traditional space activities of other spacefaring nations and focus on high-value emerging technologies that return significant benefit to the economy. The establishment of the Australian Space Agency signals political support and creates momentum in the industry, placing Australia in a favourable position to capture commercial value from the global space sector.
The economic impacts of a strong local space industry are broad. Space services are already fueling the Australian economy, with growing downstream space applications stimulating innovation and the development of new industries. For example, convergence of Australia’s expertise in agriculture and data analytics together with access to positioning and Earth observation data has enabled precision agricultural systems, allowing farmers to monitor and manage crops throughout a season, leading to new exportable solutions.
Additionally, access to globally competitive space capabilities is critical for Australian national security, law enforcement and to the safety of citizens during disasters.6 Australia currently relies on strategic partners for access to space applications of national significance, which results in vulnerability to sudden geopolitical changes. Improving sovereign capability and growing Australia’s industry will help to mitigate vulnerabilities.
The space value chain is broad, covering upstream activities which focus on ground systems, launch and operating objects in space, together with downstream activities that utilise space data and technologies across a range of applications (Figure 1). Downstream activities will continue to expand as the role of the space industry in the broader economy grows.
Australia’s space industry is estimated to have generated revenues of AU$3-4 billion in 2017, with a workforce of around 10,000.7 Australia accounts for only a small proportion of the US$345 billion global industry,8 but accelerating growth in the space sector and disruptive trends (see page 5) are creating opportunities for Australia to secure a greater share. Three quarters of the global space economy is attributable to commercial activities, predominantly from the satellite industry, with the remaining quarter coming from the budgets of over 50 national governments, nine of which exceed US$1 billion each.9
Within Australia, over 388 start-ups and private companies are part of the space sector, particularly in downstream space-enabled services and ground systems.10,11 Space-related research, development and education and training is supported by a number of Australian universities, Cooperative Research Centres and publicly funded research agencies. These include the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre at ANU, UNSW’s Canberra Space Centre and Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER), the Space Environment Research Centre (SERC), Geoscience Australia, CSIRO, and many others. The Australian Space Agency will grow and transform the Australian space industry and play an important role in developing the national space innovation ecosystem.
Figure 1: The space value chain12
Upstream
Downstream
Space-related research and development
Space education and training
Figure 2: Space Industry Trends
Profound technology transformation is driving significant changes in the space domain. ‘Space 2.0’ is changing the industry, based on the introduction of miniaturised, low cost technologies, and more sustainable and reusable systems, with improved power and propulsion on the horizon. Convergence with advances in high-performance computing, materials, robotics, and increased data exchange, including through artificial intelligence and advanced analytics will continue to push transformation.
Innovation at the downstream end of the space value chain has led to an expansion of the applications for space-derived data and services, leading to new businesses, new industries and new ways to solve grand challenges. Examples include precision agriculture, environmental management from forests to reefs, mining, and many more. Developing downstream markets is driving demand for the upstream space industry.
Innovation and new technologies are enabling more commercial applications of space through miniaturised satellites, reusable rockets, lowering launch costs and distributed ownership of space assets. Increased private investment and commercialisation of space means it is no longer a place just for governments and large organisations, but also small companies and entrepreneurs. Civilian spaceflight is being developed by a number of entrepreneurial ventures.
Globally, the volume of data generated daily is increasing, driven by increased sensorisation and digitalisation across industries, governments and households. Data derived from space provides a unique view not available from other sources. Data exchange and associated Big Data analytics are creating significant value across industries. When used intelligently, the larger variety, access speed, and volumes of data from space-based platforms allow for more informed decision-making and increased productivity. This will require a step-change in data analysis techniques including artificial intelligence, machine learning and on-board processing.
With nations and industries heavily reliant on space, especially for critical infrastructure, security and military applications, any disruption could prove devastating. The possibility of conflict in outer space is growing,13 as are vulnerabilities related to cyber-attacks. Access to previously free and open data from global Earth observing satellites could be diminished due to sovereignty considerations, or as nations move to recover their investment in public assets. This presents challenges, but also opportunities for development of Australian capabilities and industry growth.
The next frontiers of the space industry are opening up, including space-based tourism, energy, manufacturing, asteroid mining, deep space missions and living ‘off-world’ in closed-loop systems. Innovative space technologies, services and business models will be game changing to the space industry, but also transformative to on-Earth industries through diffusion of innovations into everyday life. Completely new disruptive industries will be enabled, such as ‘data-mining’ industries that derive value from space data.
Australia currently has an opportunity to grow its space industry, not only the upstream, through encouraging innovation in space- and ground-based systems, but also the downstream industry, by developing new services, businesses and industries based on space-enabled data and services. Through consultation with industry, including numerous interviews with companies in the sector and feedback through CSIRO’s Space 2.0 Workshop, three broad areas of opportunity for Australia’s future in this sector have been identified (Figure 3):
While this report is informed by industry consultation, the opportunities identified are consistent with the priorities of the Australian Space Agency. They leverage the nation’s capabilities and advantages, and are aspirational and powerful, enticing public interest and requiring widespread collaboration to achieve success. Similar to the Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) concept of National Missions,14 growing Australia’s space industry, and in particular, developing new innovations for space exploration, will challenge, inspire and drive an innovative culture and ambition. Collaborating to develop new technologies and businesses will demonstrate to the world that Australia can deliver breakthrough innovation.
Each opportunity is described within this section, outlining potential developments over the short to long term, and a future scenario that highlights how the opportunity may be developed in the Australian ecosystem.
Figure 3: Key opportunities for growth
Space-derived services
Space Object Tracking
Space exploration and utilisation
Growing the ecosystem and downstream utilisation of space-derived data and services
Space-derived data and services such as Earth Observations from Space (EOS), Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) and satellite communications are increasingly being used by Australian businesses and government to improve productivity, innovation and inform strategic decision making. These three key applications are recognised as areas of priority by the Australian Space Agency,15 and developing new value-added services derived from these applications could result in significant additional economic benefit to existing and new industrial end-users. For example, satellite imagery and accurate positioning services are enabling the development of precision agriculture methods, with reports estimating that the value of Australian satellite imagery-enabled
precision farming for broad acre cropping could reach $221 million annually by 2025, up from $17 million in 2015.16 Space-derived services and related technologies also improve the Australian way of life through the provision of more accurate satellite navigation, satellite TV services, internet access enabling telemedicine services for rural communities, nation-wide weather forecasts and disaster monitoring.
Australia is well placed to develop advanced capabilities, platforms and new businesses that deliver decision-ready data and value-added services based on EOS and PNT data to a range of Australian and export industries. This will help to meet growing downstream demand (Figure 4). Australia is one of the largest consumers of EOS data, and with its strong research capability and data analytics solutions, has developed unique methods for space-based observation which are already being implemented in other countries.
Figure 4: Opportunities for space-derived services
Earth observation
Position, navigation and timing
Satellite communications
Example industrial end-users
While foreign businesses can provide similar services, Australia’s unique landscapes and remote primary industries require customised solutions for EOS and connecting distributed and rural population centres. Australia’s heavy reliance on foreign-owned satellites for access to data17 presents a risk to continuity of supply. However, there is an associated opportunity to develop Australian infrastructure, products and services such as advanced data analytics and data fusion products.
This opportunity is enhanced by the emerging Space 2.0 paradigm of miniaturised and cost-efficient space technologies, which is enabling a similar shift in the availability of space-derived data for input into industry. As new sensors, positioning and communications platforms become available, so too will broader and more valuable services. Concentrated effort and support towards growing the Australian space data services ecosystem will leverage Australia’s research strengths, especially in data analytics and computation, and will contribute to building up the nation’s industrial strengths. Examples include agriculture and forestry; mining and mine waste solutions; and managing extreme weather events.
Table 1 (page 10) identifies industry opportunities and developments expected over the short to long term for space-derived services. Each of these application areas will be driven by rapid technological advancement in satellite technologies including miniaturisation, all-electric systems, component and sensor development, and new downstream applications.
Table 1: Short to long term potential industry developments and opportunities for Australia
Short term | Medium to Long term | |
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Earth Observation from Space | ||
EOS data provides regular observations of Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems over large geographic areas and extended periods of time. The value and demand for this data is increasing as it becomes a critical input for governments and industry alike. Developments in the variety, resolution and timeliness of EOS data will expand its applications for different end-users. Examples include: aquaculture, environmental monitoring of pollution, water quality and quantity, ocean and atmospheric conditions, biodiversity etc., and monitoring of illegal activities such as clearing, fishing, smuggling. |
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Position, Navigation and Timing | ||
Access to accurate and real-time PNT data is an integral part of business operations across many industries, helping to manage fleets of vehicles, improve regulation of air traffic and shipping, provide time-stamping, etc. PNT improvements will enable new innovations and business models using location-based services. |
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Satellite Communications | ||
Satellite services are a growing part of global communications infrastructure, enabling high-speed access to information including TV broadcasts and broadband internet services. |
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It is the mid-2030s – Australia has world-leading water management and water trading practices supported by bespoke monitoring technologies and based on the integration of hydrologic models, high-performance Earth observation data analytics and space-enabled ground sensor networks.
Australia remains the driest inhabited continent on Earth with water resource shortages, land-use issues and population growth continuing to put pressure on the country’s agriculture industry and unique ecosystems. However, the 2030s has seen application of best-practice agriculture methods such as precision farming and water resource management which have helped to relieve this pressure while at the same time increasing agricultural yield from an average 50% of total potential yield in 2016 to over 80% across major food producing regions.18 This production growth has cemented Australia’s global position as a quality food exporter, especially to Asian countries, and has been enabled by the growth of Australia’s space-derived services such as EOS, accurate positioning and widespread digital communications.
Water is now managed and tracked with high accuracy to ensure optimal usage, while also ensuring the health of Australia’s unique ecosystems. Australian companies have developed scalable platforms that integrate hydrologic models and data from a range of modern satellite-based Earth observation data streams and ground-based sensors, delivering actionable information on Australia’s water resources, their water quality, quantity and related demand, in high resolution and real time (Figure 5). Nation-wide indicators such as precipitation, soil moisture, bushfire fuel loads, water storage, quality, use and wastage are regularly monitored, with Australian-produced satellites and payloads delivering Australian-specific data and security of data supply.
A precise picture of the water system across different water basins is available, including inflows and outflows, demand, stress, plant vigor, crop water usage, waste, quality (e.g. algal blooms), flood drought and fire risk. This allows for optimised targeting of water to maintain environmental standards and optimal productivity. Availability of this information allows decision makers including farmers and water management authorities to precisely monitor their water resources. In the Murray-Darling Basin, these tools have enabled farmers and authorities to maintain a precise balance between environmental flows and irrigation, resulting in vast increases in total production. Numerous data streams are converted into decision-ready information by water managers and Australian companies, providing insights that are directly useable by end-users.
Australia’s unique challenges mean that no single foreign product meets the needs of Australian producers. This has seen Australia nurture world-class capability and has also led to new exports, with foreign countries recognising Australia’s world-leading water management practices and technologies. With a significant proportion of the world’s population under water stress, Australian technology for water resource management, underpinned by space-derived services, is recognised for its critical role in global sustainable development.
Figure 5: AUSTRALIA IN THE 2030s – EARTH OBSERVATION FOR EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT
Building an Australian industry to track space objects, ensuring continued availability of space assets
The global economy is dependent on the uninterrupted availability of space infrastructure. Endangering this is a growing orbital congestion issue, driving the need for accurate and comprehensive tracking and identification of orbiting objects, and improved communication with objects (spacecraft) in deep space. Collision of orbital objects/debris presents a risk with cascading effect, increasing the vulnerability of space-based assets which could also ultimately deny access to space. Space objects that need to be tracked include operational and retired spacecraft in orbit, and increasing amounts of space debris (the US Joint Space Operations Centre actively tracks 23,000 large objects19 of the estimated 750,000 manmade objects in orbit20), as well as operational spacecraft communicating with Earth from deep space, and natural Near Earth Objects such as asteroids and comets.
Australia has a unique opportunity to develop its commercial industry for tracking space objects and deep space communication. The nation plays a strategic role as a key node in the global industry due to its geographic location which allows monitoring of parts of the sky that cannot be monitored from the northern hemisphere. Australia also has low light and radio noise interference, and ground stations connected over vast distances that can provide improved real-time temporal resolution.
These unique advantages have already triggered collaborations with major space agencies, such as the European Space Agency’s New Norcia Deep Space Antenna near Perth, NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, and the recent relocation of the US C-Band Space Surveillance Radar System to the Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station in Western Australia. Australia has an opportunity to expand this role as the US enacts Space Policy Directive-3 on Space Traffic Management which calls for greater data sharing and international collaboration.
Tracking space objects involves the use of ground-based space surveillance sensors, typically comprising radar, radio telescopes and laser-ranging stations. Space situational awareness (SSA) is an activity that is evolving rapidly, increasingly moving into the commercial sector after long being exclusively a government function. Tracking the orbits of objects allows operators from government and industry to predict and take action to avoid collisions. These operators will require deep SSA data sharing, integration of systems together with advanced analytics. Over the long term, tracking space objects together with advancements in propulsion, robotics and analytics will enable the active removal of debris through robotic arms, nets, laser ablation, harpoons and tethers.
Tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) of spacecraft and communication with deep space probes through Direct to Earth systems or relay satellites is essential to enabling greater space exploration. According to NASA, deep space communications capability will need to grow by nearly a factor of 10 in each of the next three decades.21
The market for this opportunity includes Defence and relevant civil authorities, where the protection of space assets is necessary to protect against disruptions that may endanger life, and commercial users, where disruption of satellite operations may lead to loss of revenue (Figure 6). SSA is also imperative to companies pioneering space tourism and is a bridge to greater in-orbit capabilities including servicing satellites and resource utilisation.
Figure 6: Opportunities for space object tracking
Space Situational Awareness
Spacecraft tracking, telemetry and control
Deep space communications
Example end-users
Table 2: Short to long term potential industry developments and opportunities for Australia
Short to medium term | Long term | |
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Space situational awareness – tracking near Earth objects and debris | ||
As the space industry grows and more activity occurs, the space environment will become more congested and more space debris will be created. This drives the need to track the orbits of debris and objects, develop measures to mitigate and clean-up debris, and protect vital space infrastructure from collision. |
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Spacecraft tracking, telemetry and control, and deep space communication | ||
Tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) of spacecraft is an important function enabling growth in the space industry. TT&C requires ground stations and networks and will need improved speed, bandwidth and fine control of manned, autonomous and semi-autonomous systems. Innovation in deep space communication is required to meet the increasing challenges and demands driven by space exploration. |
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It is the mid-2030s – Australia is home to a growing space situational awareness industry that is a trusted partner to many international companies and agencies for the provision of tracking, control and conjunction mitigation services, and planetary defence.
Over the past decade, space has become increasingly congested, contested and competitive, with large numbers of satellite constellations, debris and increasingly, tourists. To address this, Australia has built on its strategic geographic location in the southern hemisphere to develop its SSA industry, which provides commercial services and helps improve the sovereign security of Australia’s defence and civilian assets. Australia, as a trusted partner to nations including Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, has continued to receive investments through international partnerships with the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO, which have supported the development of a network of monitoring and control stations across the country. This has helped Australian companies to develop world-leading expertise in the design and operation of ground stations and their components, and the analysis of SSA data.
Australia’s SSA industry encompasses many commercial companies that provide services to both Australian and international operators of space-based assets, such as satellite telecommunications, satellite constellations, space tourism ventures, and international networks for planetary defence. SSA growth has been supported by commercial access to data and tracking infrastructure and international systems integration and data sharing agreements.
A thriving Australian research and commercial ecosystem has exploited leadership in operating distributed, low-power networks across Australia’s vast landscapes, which has led to in-orbit technologies for SSA and communications. Ingenuity of Australian companies and researchers has resulted in innovative solutions for disruption-tolerant systems with advanced analytical tools, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning improving Australia’s ability to provide SSA and modelling. Further, the industry has pioneered the next generation of SSA, taking advantage of orbiting platforms that incorporate active interception of retired satellites and space debris. Research has also continued to break ground in developing networked constellations of small satellites, communicating with each other and with single ground stations through the use of mother satellites. These platforms also serve for earlier identification and characterisation of asteroids from their vantage point in orbit, in conjunction with ground-based telescopes.
Together, this has resulted in Australia becoming a trusted international partner for the tracking and monitoring of space objects from the ground and in space. Leveraging this capability in mapping orbital space and operating in-orbit and deep space missions has supported the development of research and commercial opportunities for Australia’s resource sector to extend its domain into space. Resource assessments combined with a progressive investment-friendly regulatory environment provide Australian resource companies with a competitive start at the dawn of the space resource age.
Figure 7: Australia in the 2030s – Australia is a trusted partner for space situational awareness
Australia’s SSA Industry
End-users (Australia and International)
Inspirational opportunities and cutting edge technology for wider Australian benefit
The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), which brings together numerous international space agencies and research organisations (including CSIRO), has a coordinated vision to expand human exploration and presence in low Earth orbit, the Moon and on Mars over the next two decades. To do this, ISECG recognises that public-private partnerships are key, enabling access to innovation and collaborative development of full-scale prototypes and concepts. NASA’s budget supports this vision with investment in deep space exploration systems and related research expected to reach $5.5 billion in 2019.22 Exploration missions will first be robotic, followed then by human missions, with the aim of characterising new environments. Human space exploration and utilisation will be enabled by the planned development of an international deep space gateway – a small facility in permanent orbit around the Moon facilitating regular access to the lunar surface and as a gateway to Mars and beyond.
Australian businesses and research organisations are well placed to become valued contributors to global value chains for systems/technologies needed to meet these exploration goals and utilise space for Earth-based industries. To do this, industry must leverage Australia’s diverse industrial and research strengths across areas such as astronomy, mining, manufacturing, medicine, agriculture, robotics, etc., together with Australia’s already established alliances with international space agencies, including the US. Momentum created by a government-supported space innovation ecosystem needs to be embraced to grow Australia’s industry and build the bold transdisciplinary collaborations needed to develop exploration technologies, which include spacecraft, habitats and supporting technologies to safely conduct robotic and human missions. This momentum is also expected to catalyse the development of other Australian industries, in particular, robotics.23
Developing niche technologies for global value chains will see growth in both traditional space businesses and non-traditional industries, and play an important role in building Australia’s space industry and global reputation. Australia’s globally competitive capabilities across many diverse fields can be leveraged by progressive space businesses to create the innovations required to support the ISECG’s vision. For example, strengths in mineral resources and advanced manufacturing can be used to develop in-situ resource utilisation technologies; strengths in food, agriculture, medicine and remote asset management to develop habitat and life support systems; strengths in energy systems to improve power and propulsion; and strengths in robotics and sensors to develop autonomous systems (Figure 8).
Science and technology developed or refined for space exploration can be applied to industries on Earth, bringing direct benefits to society. For example, WiFi was developed as a result of Australian research in radio astronomy, and digital medical imaging was derived from initial efforts to image the Moon’s surface.24
Figure 8: Opportunities for space exploration and utilisation
Power and propulsion
Autonomous systems
Habitat and life support
In-situ resource utilisation
Example end-users
Table 3: Short to long term potential industry developments and opportunities for Australia
Short to medium term | Long term | |
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In-situ resource utilisation | ||
In-situ resource utilisation involves characterising and using local resources at the exploration destination to reduce space freight cost and logistical complexity involved in bringing required materials from Earth. |
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Habitat and life support | ||
Missions with long durations will require innovative systems for long-term settlement in space, including habitation and life support. This involves all aspects of food, medicine and shelter. |
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Autonomous systems | ||
Autonomous robotic missions are an essential precursor and partner to human missions, able to venture into hostile environments to gather information and make human exploration safer. All space systems will become increasingly reliant on embedded analytics and autonomy. |
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Power and propulsion | ||
Technology solutions for in-situ power generation, rocket engines and in-space propulsion. |
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It is the mid-2030s – World-class Australian skills and technologies are contributing to international exploration and colonisation efforts across many specialised areas.
Ambition and curiosity have driven the quest for space exploration with multiple public and private rockets transporting humans into lunar orbit, making the first steps towards becoming a multi-planetary species. The Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway, developed during the 2020s, provides a staging post for lunar surface shuttles and is preparing to send human missions to Mars. Collaborative exploration missions have mapped the far side of the Moon yielding the first comprehensive resource assessments, and Australian scientists, engineers and astronauts, in partnership with a diverse international community, are using the Gateway to colonise the lunar environment.
Australia’s space industry has been an invaluable source of technologies and partners for the development of the first lunar habitat, and continues to develop technologies for the first Martian explorers, who will face at least 150 days of travel in deep space and a hostile environment upon their arrival. Many developments for space have now diffused into everyday life, and many Earth-based technologies have been spun in to the space industry.
Figure 9: Australia in the 2030s – LUNAR HABITATS FEATURING AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGIES
Autonomous robots (e.g. legged robots) fitted with Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) and 3D laser scanning technology are used to accurately map lunar lava tubes for habitation and protection from cosmic radiation. Integrating data from numerous sensors produces highly accurate models of the lunar environment, helping to identify resources, threats and prospective development sites before extensive human arrival.
In-situ resource extraction and utilisation is enabled by semi-autonomous 3D printers operated alongside human-in-the-loop excavation systems that transform raw lunar regolith into building structures. For example, lunar soil rich in silica is formed into iron-rich glass for working surfaces and as lining and protective structures for underground habitats.
Australian synthetic biology research has contributed to continuous flow bioreactors using custom-designed organisms to remove carbon dioxide from the air within lunar habitats. Using gas fermentation, carbon is processed to produce macronutrients for food, as well as for use in metallic 3D printing, where in-situ titanium oxide and anorthite are reduced to titanium and aluminium. Oxygen released during processing is used to provide breathable air for a permanent human presence, and combined with hydrogen produced from hydrolysis of polar ice for rocket fuel.
Instead of being transported from Earth, lightweight flexible solar cells are increasingly printed by Moon-based systems using material recycled from retired satellites and space debris. As the demand for power grows, next-generation nuclear reactors and concentrated solar thermal power from abundant sunlight supplement solar photovoltaic power.
Rocket designs include advanced materials, such as Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) embedded into the spacecraft’s outer layer to store hydrogen for power and protection from cosmic radiation.
Highly nutritive-dense dried vegetable foods have been developed for stability over long time periods and changes in temperature and pressure, for crews on future deep space missions.
Digital health has extended to spacecraft and lunar habitats, with wearable sensors continuously monitoring astronaut health to detect minute changes, and programmable synthetic biology factories able to produce medicinal compounds to treat conditions as they arise.
Recent developments in the space ecosystem, such as those highlighted in the trends (Section 1) together with the establishment of the Australian Space Agency, indicate that Australia’s space industry has reached an inflection point and is poised for growth. This report touches on some of the areas of strength within the local research and business community where Australia can make a significant contribution to the global space industry.
In order to grow the national space industry, Australia must take advantage of its natural advantages and strengths that align to industry trends. To fully exploit these advantages requires investment in key foundational enablers, including infrastructure, business ecosystems and R&D capabilities. Examples of these are provided in Table 4.
Importantly, the success of Australia’s space industry will depend on its ability to inspire and to demonstrate the connection between the space economy, its impact on the lives of Australians and the competitiveness of the nation’s industries. Growth of Australian space ventures will see more opportunities to both spin in leading Australian technologies and capabilities, and to spin out space-derived technologies into everyday life.
Attendees at the CSIRO Space 2.0 Workshop, June 2018
Table 4: Enablers for the growth of Australia’s Space Industry 25
|
Space-derived services |
Space object tracking |
Space exploration and utilisation |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Infrastructure and capabilities |
|
|
|
|
Business |
|
|
|
|
Research and Development |
|
|
|
1 Finch A. and Wells X.E. (2017). CSIRO Science Health and Excellence Report 2016-17, Full Version. CSIRO, Australia
2 NASA (n.d.). NASA Spinoff – Nutritional Products from Space Research, [Online] Available from: https://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1996/42.html, Accessed: 7/06/2018
3 Clark, M. et al (2018). Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability - Report from the Expert Reference Group for the Review.
4 Bryce Space and Technology, LLC (n.d.). Global Space Industry Dynamics, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
5 ACIL ALLEN (2017). Australian Space Industry Capability, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
6 Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (2017). 2017 State of Space Report, Canberra.
7 ACIL ALLEN (2017). Australian Space Industry Capability, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
8 Bryce Space and Technology, LLC (n.d.). Global Space Industry Dynamics, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
9 Bryce Space and Technology, LLC (n.d.). Global Space Industry Dynamics, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
10 ACIL ALLEN (2017). Australian Space Industry Capability, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
11 Asia Pacific Aerospace Consultants (2015). A selective review of Australian Space Capabilities: Growth opportunities in global supply chains and space enabled services, p.33.
12 Clark, M. et al (2017). Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability, Issues paper - August 2017, Australian Government, [Online] Available from: https://industry.gov.au/industry/IndustrySectors/space/Documents/Review-of-Australias-Space-Industry-Capability-Issues-Paper.pdf Accessed: 6/06/2018
13 University of Adelaide (2018). The Woomera Manual on the international law of military space operations, [Online] Available from: https://law.adelaide.edu.au/military-law-ethics/woomera/Woomera_Manual.pdf Accessed: 06/06/2018
14 Innovation and Science Australia (2017). Australia 2030: prosperity through innovation, Australian Government, Canberra.
15 Australian Government (2018). Australian Space Agency, [Online] Available from: http://www.space.gov.au Accessed: 10/07/2018
16 ACIL ALLEN (2015). The Value of Earth Observations from Space to Australia, CRC for Spatial Information.
17 CRC for Spatial Information (2016). Australian Government Earth Observation Data Requirements to 2025, Geoscience Australia and Bureau of Meteorology.
18 Hochman, Z., Gobbett, D., Horan, H., & Navarro Garcia, J. (2016). Data rich yield gap analysis of wheat in Australia, Field Crops Research, 197, p97-106.
19 Liou, J.C. (2016). The orbital debris problem, presented at Space Tech Conference, Pasadena, California, [Online] Available from: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20160005242.pdf Accessed: 6/06/2018
20 European Space Agency (2017). Space operations, Space debris: the ESA approach, [Online] Available from: https://download.esa.int/esoc/downloads/BR-336_Space_Debris_WEB.pdf Accessed: 06/06/2018
21 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (n.d.). Deep Space Communications, [Online] Available from: https://scienceandtechnology.jpl.nasa.gov/research/research-topics-list/communications-computing-software/deep-space-communications Accessed: 06/06/2018
22 NASA (n.d.). FY 2019 Budget Estimates, [Online] Available from: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nasa_fy_2019_budget_overview.pdf Accessed: 06/06/2018
23 Australian Centre for Robotic Vision (2018). A Robotics Roadmap for Australia.
24 Space Foundation (n.d.). Digital Image Processing – Medical Applications, [Online] Available from: https://www.spacefoundation.org/what-we-do/space-technology-hall-fame/inducted-technologies/digital-image-processing-medical Accessed: 16/06/2018
25 Bryce Space and Technology, LLC (n.d.). Global Space Industry Dynamics, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Canberra.
Dr David Williams
Executive Director, CSIRO Digital, National Facilities and Collections
t +61 2 9490 5621
w www.csiro.au/Space
James Deverell
Director, CSIRO Futures
t +61 2 9490 8456
e futures@csiro.au
w www.csiro.au/futures