NASA in $272m Woomera deal
MATT WILLIAMS, XANTHE KLEINIG
August 21, 2006 12:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
ROCKETS will be launched from Woomera to the International Space Station within two years, in a major deal announced yesterday by NASA in the United States.
In a boost to South Australia's credentials as the defence state, U.S.-based Rocketplane Kistler secured a $272 million NASA contract to launch rockets from Woomera, carrying cargo to the station.
As well as providing hundred of jobs, the decision also could pave the way for Woomera to become the launch site for the first astronauts to lift-off from Australia.
Kistler is one of two companies – the other being California-based SpaceX – which secured the NASA contract to demonstrate its "commercial orbital transportation services".
Kistler now has scheduled the first launch of its K-1 rocket from Woomera in late 2008.
The company told The Advertiser work on a $100 million launch site at Woomera was expected to start in October. The site should be completed by the end of next year.
After a trial of five launches, NASA is expected to decide around 2009-10 which company is capable of better servicing the space station. It is possible both could be selected, Rocketplane Kistler said.
If successful, the Woomera site would be used to launch cargo such as fuel and food to the station as often as every two weeks.
As NASA requires the K-1 to have crew transportation capabilities, however, the Woomera site could see the first astronauts leave from Australia.
NASA plans to retire its space shuttle fleet in 2010.
The Woomera site also could be used to transport satellites into space for major telecommunications companies and defence organisations.
Kistler Woomera chairman Alan Evans said the contract meant "hundreds of jobs" would be created within the aerospace industry in SA.
"The jobs will be within the high-level end of the spectrum of the space industry, which is great news for the state," he said.
"Once in full operation (providing we are successful), the launches would happen at least once a fortnight and they are all spectacular. You would expect the local and Australian tourism industry would develop as a result of this because thousands of people visit Cape Canaveral just to see their launches."
The K-1 launch vehicle is designed to be re-used 100 times. It is powered by liquid-propellant engines and lands back on Earth with the help of parachutes and airbags.
The concept to launch rockets to the space station from Woomera was conceived by Rocketplane Kistler in 1994.
It has been awaiting NASA approval.
"Woomera was chosen because it can be used for polar and equatorial launches and because of its clean land areas," Mr Evans said. "Kistler has already spent US$700 million developing this idea."
Rocketplane Kistler chief executive George French the company was grateful for the chance to demonstrate its capabilities.
Company president Randy Brinkley, who is a former NASA manager for the space station program, said the commercialisation of ISS servicing was a step to maintaining the program and achieving NASA's broader goals.
"We are committed to providing end-to-end services for NASA and the ISS," he said.
#Official Defence Thread
Woomera is an amazing place to go. It was built to test long-range rockets.
The British wanted to build a rocket that would go from the British isles to Russia. The only place in the world where they could fire and test sure a rocket accurately was in the Australian outback (they'd be fired from Woomera, and land/blow up somewhere in northern WA).
There's still an absolutely huge government launch facility there that is in a restricted zone... I saw some models when I was at a museum there. Its amazing what the governments got up to.
The British wanted to build a rocket that would go from the British isles to Russia. The only place in the world where they could fire and test sure a rocket accurately was in the Australian outback (they'd be fired from Woomera, and land/blow up somewhere in northern WA).
There's still an absolutely huge government launch facility there that is in a restricted zone... I saw some models when I was at a museum there. Its amazing what the governments got up to.
yes a rocket launch, which gets world-wide attention and simply amazing to watch.bdm wrote:No its not. Its a rocket launch.crawf_231 wrote:this is great news for the States tourism industry and for the booming outback
[/b]Our space race adviser
NICK PAPPS
August 22, 2006 12:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
ANDY Thomas will fly to Adelaide for a meeting aimed at making South Australia the nation's space capital.
The government-sponsored think tank known as the South Australian Space Initiative will examine how the state can establish and run a billion-dollar space industry.
The Adelaide-born NASA astronaut will be joined by a select group of Defence Department officials, senior industry players and academic experts for the invitation-only event to be held on Monday.
It will discuss how South Australia can:
MAKE and launch mini civilian and military satellites;
ESTABLISH a space tourism industry with a spaceport to send rich thrill-seekers into orbit;
BECOME Australia's hub for space technology research, development and education.
The day-long think tank, organised by the State Government's Defence Unit, was prompted by an interview with The Advertiser in April when Dr Thomas urged Australia to embrace the growing global market for space enterprises and turn Woomera rocket range into a spaceport for space tourists and satellite launches.
News of the initiative coincided with revelations yesterday that U.S. company Rocketplane Kistler had won a $272 million contract from NASA to launch rockets from Woomera to carry cargo to the International Space Station.
Defence Unit seminar organiser Aria Colton said yesterday a space industry could be worth billions of dollars to SA.
"South Australia can become Australia's hub for space-related technologies," Ms Colton said. "The space industry could bring billions of dollars into the state. There's great potential for South Australia and this is the first step." The Space Initiative meeting at the Hyatt is expected to be followed by a seminar late in October for space industry companies. It is hoped there will be a State Government space strategy by the year's end.
I am certain that there would be thousands of people who would want to see a rocket launch. Just as there are thousands of people who go and see the rocket launches at Cape Canaveral.bdm wrote:No its not. Its a rocket launch.crawf_231 wrote:this is great news for the States tourism industry and for the booming outback
Although our rocket launches will be less spectacular, the fact that very few Australians have witnessed one, would make it a tourist attraction.
#Official Defence Thread
About time we consolidated all our discussions on defence together.
UK firm to become ADF's biggest supplier
BAE Systems takeover of Tenix Defence
Executives of BAE Systems and Tenix Defence sign an acquisition agreement, but the deal must meet competition and foreign investment approval. (supplied)
British company BAE Systems has struck a $775 million takeover deal with one of Australia's biggest defence firms, Tenix Defence.
The deal, which would make BAE the largest supplier to the Australian Defence Force, is subject to foreign investment and competition approvals.
BAE Systems Australia chief executive Jim McDowell says the purchase would more than double the company's presence in Australia and boost its naval business.
"This transaction significantly enhances the depth and breadth of our capabilities in Australia, adds a major naval business to our portfolio and significantly increases our land capability," he said in a statement.
He says there will be no job losses involved.
Tenix is involved in a shipbuilding project for the Navy in a $3 billion joint venture with Spain's leading ship-building company, Navantia.
Tenix Defence has operations in all the mainland states and the ACT.
SA welcomes BAE-Tenix deal
The South Australian Government says Adelaide's capacity to win more defence contracts will be strengthened by the takeover of Tenix by BAE Systems.
SA Premier Mike Rann says BAE Systems will be the biggest defence company in Australia.
"That further consolidates us as the defence capital of Australia. What we are seeing around the country is really a fundamental realignment of the defence industry and we are becoming the hub."
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aussie2000
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Re: #Official Defence Thread
My parents work at BAE, its a really good company and pays really well, i might be getting a job there, if i like it
Re: #Official Defence Thread
Are they hiring?aussie2000 wrote:My parents work at BAE, its a really good company and pays really well, i might be getting a job there, if i like it
Re: #Official Defence Thread
They probably do the same sort of graduate intake schemes most employers do, ie, head hunt those in their final year.
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