9 minute read
Accelerating the Space Industry
A message from new Agency Head, Enrico Palermo
I am honoured and privileged to come back home to Australia for the amazing opportunity to lead the Australian Space Agency. I congratulate and thank Dr Megan Clark AC for her leadership standing up the Agency and for creating the conditions for growth.
Advertisement
To this role I bring a strong industry and entrepreneurial focus, engineering background and international networks to further advance our goal of tripling the size of Australia’s civil space sector to $12 billion and adding an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.
The Australian Government has invested more than $700 million in the civil space sector since the Agency’s establishment in 2018. Our team has helped position the industry for success by delivering and implementing the Australian Civil Space Strategy, building new infrastructure, working with domestic and international companies and agencies to create space-based products and services, and partnering with NASA on its inspirational Moon to Mars space exploration program. We’re also ensuring the space National Manufacturing Priority plays a vital role in the Government’s $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy.
As the Agency moves into our third year of operations, 2021 will have a strong focus on delivery. We will continue delivering technical roadmaps to support our Civil Space Priority Areas. We will also continue setting the pathway for safe space related activities for the nation, on Earth and in space while encouraging innovation and entrepreneurialism.
As an engineering and science graduate, inspiring STEM in the next generation is extremely important to me, and to creating a future diverse workforce that will grow the national space industry. I’m excited for the opening of our Australian Space Discovery Centre at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide in the first half of 2021.
I look forward to working with the industry, research sector and government to build national capability, open doors internationally, ensure safe space activities that support innovation and entrepreneurialism, inspire our nation, and seize the enormous opportunities ahead on our mission to grow and transform the industry.
Enrico Palermo Head, Australian Space Agency | Jan 21
ESA, Australia to build new deep space antenna near Perth
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Australian Space Agency have announced the construction of a second 35m deep space radio antenna at the New Norcia station, 140km north of Perth in Western Australia.
The 620-tonne Deep Space Antenna 2 (DSA 2) will cost €45m to build and, when complete, will be sensitive enough to detect signals “far weaker than a mobile phone on the surface of Mars”.
In fact, the dishes can communicate with spacecraft as far out as 1.5 billion kilometres – about the distance from Earth to Saturn – which they do by targeting the area of sky where the spacecraft is.
The first DSA was completed in 2002, and was designed to communicate with the ESA’s Mars missions, among others. DSA-1 also provides support to missions operated by other agencies under resource-sharing agreements. The ESA has two other facilities, one in Malargüe, Argentina, and another in Cebreros, Spain.
These will be used to control the growing number of deep space missions that are being undertaken, such as the ESA’s ExoMars rover, due to be rolling over the surface of the red planet next year.
The sensitivity of DSA 2 will be enhanced by a new technique in space communications technology: an “antenna feed” that will be cooled to –263°C, thereby increasing data return by up to 40%. The ESA describes an antenna feed as “a gizmo used to transmit and receive deep space signals”.
Josef Aschbacher, the directorgeneral of the ESA, commented: “We are happy to announce the latest addition to ESA's state-of-the-art deep space communication network and this important next step in our relationship with the Australian Space Agency.
“The ESA’s network is crucial infrastructure that helps enable cooperation and cross-support with missions flown by partners like Nasa, Japan’s Jaxa and other agencies, and this boosts science return and efficiency for all involved.”
The dish will be built by a contractor from an ESA member state. Construction is due to be completed in 2024.
MCCLOY LAND ACROSS THE HUNTER REGION IN HIGH DEMAND
If you’re in the market for land for your dream home, chances are you’ve taken a drive through a McCloy Community! The McCloy Group are a Hunter-based property group whose history started in 1961 when Don McCloy started a Belmont-based construction company specialising in commercial buildings, schools and hotels.
Don’s son, Jeff, who is now the Chairman of McCloy Group, joined his father in the mid-seventies, taking over the reins in the mid-eighties after ten years working together. In the 1990s, the McCloy Group diversified considerably, reflecting Jeff’s innovative approach and business acumen, today delivering award-winning residential communities across NSW.
The Hunter Region of NSW is fast becoming a popular lifestyle destination for families. Known for its easy access to local beaches and wineries, it’s an idyllic place to live, work and play. The growing demand has certainly been felt on the land front with 2020 showing a surge in interest, which has continued into 2021. Not to mention with all-time low interest rates, NSW Government Grants and impressive builders’ incentives there has never been a better time to build.
For McCloy Group, their communities are masterplanned for the benefit of the growing area, put simply by Chairman Jeff McCloy “We have a reputation that we complete what we do; that we’re there for the long haul — that’s our philosophy”.
Each community aims to set the standard for the local area, their team oversee each element from acquisition to client handover to ensure desired outcomes are achieved and the results exceed market expectations for future residents.
It’s truly the hallmarks of McCloy Communities which set them apart, they place a strong emphasis on creating exceptional living environments with vibrant public art and aesthetically serene streetscapes. They build children’s playgrounds, cycleways, plant mature street trees and place a strong emphasis on open spaces.
“We don’t just do ‘property development’. Our legacy is transforming underutilised spaces into award-winning communities in which communities thrive and people love to live.” Continued Mr McCloy.
Where to buy at a McCloy Community in Port Stephens:
The McCloy Group is staging construction of more than 6,200 residential homesites geographically spread in the Hunter, New England and Northern Rivers regions. Here in Port Stephens, you’ll find 3 active communities spread across Medowie and Raymond Terrace. Each proving its place in the community with land releases over the past year selling out within days of being on the market.
Their newest community, The Gardens, located on Medowie Road
offers premium flat homesites in a sophisticated and welcoming environment. When complete The Gardens will be true to its name with manicured gardens and mature street trees throughout; plus signature McCloy Group public art donations resonating with the community. First released in July 2020 The Gardens saw a number of hopeful parties camping out from as early as the Monday prior to be the first to secure a homesite, with numbers increasing as the release date approached.
The same experience has been felt at nearby at The Bower located at Boundary Road Medowie. The Bower is a more established community, first launched in 2016. At the time it too had a surge of demand, and today has seen this spike again. It is home to another state-of-the-art 1-hectare park and playground facility, known as Bower Reserve, which comes complete with half basketball / netball court, toddler’s playground, children’s playground and adult exercise area. Homesites at The Bower really are a unique opportunity and with a deposit of only 5% required on land, they’re a great option for many homeowners and are often found to be more affordably than purchasing an existing property.
But the opportunity to secure land does not stop here, with another McCloy Community at home off Rees James Road, Raymond Terrace. Potter’s Lane conveys affordability with a convenient location just 15 minutes to local employment opportunities, 20 minutes from the Williamstown RAAF base and 25 minutes to Newcastle. This community has grown rapidly since its launch in 2016, with local residents pleased with the progression of the community. But be quick, it is in its final stages.
When considering land for your new home in the Hunter a tour of the McCloy Communities is a must.
For more information about McCloy Group and their residential community’s visit mccloygroup.com.au/hunter-land-for-sale
MEDOWIE STATE FOREST
MEDOWIE ROAD
BOUNDARY ROAD
MEDOWIE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SHOPS
FERODALE ROAD RAAF BASE 15 MINS
WIRREANDA PUBLIC SCHOOL
Williamtown’s Future Potential as a Global Defence and Aerospace Hub
Williamtown’s position as a future global defence, aerospace and energy hub has been showcased to a delegation of international ambassadors investigating the Hunter’s investment potential.
Stage one of the airport’s aerospace precinct, which already has agreements with major defence contractor BAE Systems Australia and Leading Edge Data Centres, was unveiled late last year.
BAE’s Williamtown maintenance depot in February welcomed its first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
The trade mission is the fifth in three years targeted at foreign investment in regional NSW.
The two-day visit tour included Astra Aerolab, Ampcontrol, Bohemia Interactive Australia, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources and the CSIRO Energy Centre.
The Australian-based ambassadors of 14 European countries and the European Union on Thursday 15th April trialled militarygrade virtual reality training and viewed the world’s first integrated hybrid hydrogen battery at the Williamstown precinct. The tour will continued the following day.
Showcasing the Hunter region’s investment opportunities to key global decision makers will help forge new relationships for local businesses, inject money into the local economy, create new jobs and drive growth,” Regional NSW Minister John Barilaro said.
“Global companies have shown renewed interest in regional NSW off the back of our strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re already hearing from companies looking to expand operations locally and invest in our technology.
BAE Systems director aircraft and sustainment training Andrew Chapman said the precinct would be a collaborative space for STEM businesses.
“The opportunity is for local industry, supported by BAE Systems with the opportunities that we’ve got in the global support solution, to provide expertise and innovation into a program that is actually the biggest defence program in history,” Mr Chapman said.
“Through BAE Systems and our partners, we can actually plug the supply chain in the Hunter, and in Australia, straight into the F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter) program.
The Williamtown Special Aviation Precinct has seen the development of 10,000 hectares of land around Newcastle Airport and the RAAF base.
European ambassadors on a trade mission to the Williamtown Special Aviation Precinct at Newcastle.
It’s hoped its strategic location will draw large-scale international contractors as well as research and development opportunities.
Williamtown is one of a number of special aviation precincts being developed around the state, including Moree, Wagga Wagga, Narrabri, Parkes and Snowy Mountains.
