InSpace Update
Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue7 1–31 August 2020
InSpace has been working with sister institutes and researchers across ANU to co-create and host several events to show how we can tackle big questions by working together, regardless of specific disciplines or colleges.
The first was a joint carbon-neutral aerospace fuels event with the ANU Energy Change Institute (ECI). Ken Baldwin, Director of the ECI, coordinated a panel of space industry professionals from Airbus and ArianeGroup and a representative from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to discuss what they are doing with renewable fuels and their space and aviation operations. It also featured a keynote talk with Prof Wojciech Lipinski, of the College of Engineering & Computer Science and leader of the Solar Thermal Group, about carbon-neutral fuels for sustainable jets and space exploration, using solar energy. The talk was well attended by many people worldwide. Helene Baron took the lead on this event.
Dr Kate Ferguson also co-organised a very successful internal ANU workshop for newly formed Centre for Space Situation Awareness Research (CeSSAR), a transdisciplinary organisation, in collaboration with the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas. In addition to InSpace, the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, the College of Law and the College of Engineering & Computer Science were all involved in organising the event. It was well-attended by students, researchers and staff from all schools across the University and focussed on the centre’s key objective, to build a safe, secure and sustainable space environment. CeSSAR will be holding a public event later in the year.
Dr Jia-Urnn Lee is working with the Research School of Earth Sciences and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology to run a virtual ANU-industry workshop. The workshop will focus on how Earth observation technologies can be used to address challenges in Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. The event aims to unite producers, technologists and government to co-design a white paper for AgriFutures Australia.
The InSpace team also participated in their first monthly strategy meeting with SmartSat CRC, a consortium of universities and other research organisations, partnered with industry that has been funded by the Australian Government to develop know-how and technologies in advanced telecommunications and IoT connectivity, intelligent satellite systems and Earth observation next-generation data services. This will help identify new opportunities for funding and help develop industry roadmaps for the next decade.
Kathleen Sweetapple
Marketing and Communications Manager
ANU Institute for Space (InSpace)
