Premier announces opening of SA Space Industry Centre
UPDATED: ADELAIDE’S own astronaut, Andy Thomas, has given the thumbs up to a South Australian Space Industry Centre.
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ADELAIDE’S own astronaut, Andy Thomas, has given the thumbs up to a South Australian Space Industry Centre.
Dr Thomas, who has retired in the US after four space flights and more than two decades with NASA, is back home for next week’s International Astronautical Conference.
He said Premier Jay Weatherill’s announcement of a space industry “node” for SA was “a step in the right direction”.
Dr Thomas is among those pushing the Federal Government to create a national space agency.
“I think this is a step in the right direction – what it amounts to is taking steps at the state level, because we’ve had a succession of Federal Governments who have failed to take steps,” he told The Advertiser.
Australia is the only OECD country without a space industry. The Federal Government is reviewing the idea; that review finishes in March, however, there is some speculation an announcement could be made next week.
Mr Weatherill said that his Government was not “gazumping” the Federal Government.
“We want to put a tangible investment in place so that we can, I think with some credibility, say to the Commonwealth we want to be your partner in the establishment of a national space agency,” he said.
“We want to be the industry node," he said.
“As an industry, space is growing at more than three times the world annual GDP.
“The potential is enormous and opportunities abundant.”
ACT is likely to be the research and administration head of such an agency, with SA hoping to form a focal point for industry.
Space Industries Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith said it was the State Government’s intention “to ensure that SA is the industry node, the industry hub of a future space agency when and if it is formed by the Federal Government”.
“The time for reviews should be coming to an end,” he said.
Dr Thomas said the idea of a national agency was a “no-brainer”, and that it was partisan politics getting in the way.
“It would be ludicrous to continue without having a space agency,” he said.
Dr Thomas will give a speech at SA’s Press Club today, where he will talk about the need to promote education, science, maths, and facts.
“We’ve got to get away from the idea of ‘alternative facts’,” he said.
The State Government on Thursday launched the SASIC in the “Mars Room” at Hamilton Secondary College, although it will be based at Defence SA’s city offices.