Risks to Australia's national interest of dependence on...

Risks to Australia's national interest of dependence on foreign-owned/controlled satellites.
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Because of its large area, it is imperative that Australia be able to monitor its land, ocean and atmospheric environments for reliable weather forecasting, management of water resources, growth of crops and other vegetation, pollution, fisheries, etc.

Because of cost we can only do this in cooperation with other nations.

However we need to contribute to the satellite instrument networks as this gives us a say in the type of monitoring that is available and an influence on future planning to minimize the risk of loss of coverage in our region.

If Australia is only a customer for other peoples data then we run the risk of not having the data we need and also of other nations knowing more about the condition of our environment and crops, etc than we do.

For example, providing ESA with real estate for a tracking station in Australia means that some satellites only download data while traversing much of Australia rather than taking observations.

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National security is also an area where Australia cannot afford to be completely dependant on other nations.
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Satellite technology is playing increasing roles in
defence communications and surveillance and with our large area and coastline we cannot afford to be completely dependent on resources owned and controlled exclusively by other nations.

Investing in developing Australia's space capabilities needs to be part of the strategy for managing the risks to our national interests as our dependence on space technologies increases.

BY:
Submission by the National Committee for Space Science to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/Committee/
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economics_ctte/space_08/submissions/sub24.pdf


--- In case you're wondering why I keep playing this tune, it's because our Government(s) have shown over and over a lack of common sense in this area & I'd rather it be taken into account in future. Like the first post as to date nothing has changed and we are till at the pleasure of foriegn countries in regards to satellites.