Mr ADAMSON - 1995-08-22
I understand that the Australian Space Office has contracts with 2 Russian consortia to study the prospect of launching low earth orbit satellites from Australia. Are the consortia considering a launching location in the Northern Territory currently? If a Territory site were chosen, what impact would it have on the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Gunn Point in the Northern Territory is considered by the 2 Russian consortia to be one of the more favourable sites in Australia for launching low earth orbit satellites. Low earth orbit satellites are launched into orbit by relatively small rockets of around 20 t. Both Russian consortia have visited a number of potential sites which were identified by the Australian Space Office and have now returned to Russia to prepare their reports. Their formal recommendations on the most suitable site will be made to the Australian Space Office over the next few months and possibly as early as next month. If approval is given for a base to proceed, the first possible launch date would be in 1998 which is not very far away.
Another consortium, Lockheed Krunichev Energia, LKE, has begun pre-feasibility studies into the possibility of launching geostationary satellites from Australia, the USA and Brazil. This consortium comprises several Russian organisations and a small Australian group. The proposed launch vehicle is the Proton rocket, a former intercontinental ballistic missile. I am told that, typically, geostationary satellites weigh several tonnes and are launched atop a rocket of some 700 t, which is quite a large rocket. The LKE study team, which visited
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Gunn Point on 19 and 20 June 1995, confirmed that it was a most suitable site from which to launch GEO satellites. However, the feasibility of the actual flight path is yet to be established. If its flight path investigation proves that GEO satellites can be launched from Gunn Point, and the board decided to proceed with the project, the first rocket could be launched in 1998. The LKE pre-feasibility study of potential sites in Australia is expected to be completed this month. The board of LKE will then consider the results of the worldwide studies.
A space base in the Territory would generate substantial benefits for Territorians. A facility to launch the small LEO satellites would cost in the order of some $30m to establish, whilst a facility to launch medium to large satellites into geostationary orbit would require an investment of some $500m. An LEO launching facility would employ directly some 40 people, whilst a GEO facility could generate up to, and possibly more than, 200 jobs. Building a space base in the Territory would have a direct impact on the local construction industry. All 3 consortia have expressed a willingness to transfer technology to Australia in the event that a project proceeds. One consortium proposed that, as part of a launch rocket project, the rocket itself could be built in Australia.
Northern Territory University would benefit from the establishment of a space industry in the Territory. The university may be able to share research projects in areas such as the effect of the topical environment on advanced materials. A space base would generate long-term opportunities for many industries, including those involved in mechanics, electrics, communications, computers and software engineering. The Territory would benefit also from the upgrading of infrastructure, such as power, water and transportation systems, if a space base were to be built here. One has only to look at what has happened in the United States. I am sure that a satellite-launching facility in the Territory would become a worldwide drawcard as a tourist attraction.
The unknown in establishing a launching facility for small or large rockets from the Territory is the environmental aspects. These aspects will require considerable investigation before any government approval is given for a project such as this to proceed.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Gunn Point in the Northern Territory is considered by the 2 Russian consortia to be one of the more favourable sites in Australia for launching low earth orbit satellites. Low earth orbit satellites are launched into orbit by relatively small rockets of around 20 t. Both Russian consortia have visited a number of potential sites which were identified by the Australian Space Office and have now returned to Russia to prepare their reports. Their formal recommendations on the most suitable site will be made to the Australian Space Office over the next few months and possibly as early as next month. If approval is given for a base to proceed, the first possible launch date would be in 1998 which is not very far away.
Another consortium, Lockheed Krunichev Energia, LKE, has begun pre-feasibility studies into the possibility of launching geostationary satellites from Australia, the USA and Brazil. This consortium comprises several Russian organisations and a small Australian group. The proposed launch vehicle is the Proton rocket, a former intercontinental ballistic missile. I am told that, typically, geostationary satellites weigh several tonnes and are launched atop a rocket of some 700 t, which is quite a large rocket. The LKE study team, which visited
Page 745
Gunn Point on 19 and 20 June 1995, confirmed that it was a most suitable site from which to launch GEO satellites. However, the feasibility of the actual flight path is yet to be established. If its flight path investigation proves that GEO satellites can be launched from Gunn Point, and the board decided to proceed with the project, the first rocket could be launched in 1998. The LKE pre-feasibility study of potential sites in Australia is expected to be completed this month. The board of LKE will then consider the results of the worldwide studies.
A space base in the Territory would generate substantial benefits for Territorians. A facility to launch the small LEO satellites would cost in the order of some $30m to establish, whilst a facility to launch medium to large satellites into geostationary orbit would require an investment of some $500m. An LEO launching facility would employ directly some 40 people, whilst a GEO facility could generate up to, and possibly more than, 200 jobs. Building a space base in the Territory would have a direct impact on the local construction industry. All 3 consortia have expressed a willingness to transfer technology to Australia in the event that a project proceeds. One consortium proposed that, as part of a launch rocket project, the rocket itself could be built in Australia.
Northern Territory University would benefit from the establishment of a space industry in the Territory. The university may be able to share research projects in areas such as the effect of the topical environment on advanced materials. A space base would generate long-term opportunities for many industries, including those involved in mechanics, electrics, communications, computers and software engineering. The Territory would benefit also from the upgrading of infrastructure, such as power, water and transportation systems, if a space base were to be built here. One has only to look at what has happened in the United States. I am sure that a satellite-launching facility in the Territory would become a worldwide drawcard as a tourist attraction.
The unknown in establishing a launching facility for small or large rockets from the Territory is the environmental aspects. These aspects will require considerable investigation before any government approval is given for a project such as this to proceed.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016