Australia to play ‘crucial’ role in space exploration

Australia will not be sitting on the sidelines as the world enters a new golden age of space exploration over the next decade, says former NASA science head Thomas Zurbuchen.

Former NASA science head Thomas Zurbuchen in Brisbane for the World Science Festival. Picture: Queensland Museum / Peter Wallis.

Australia will not be sitting on the sidelines as the world enters a new golden age of space exploration over the next decade, which may see humankind reach Mars, says former NASA science head Thomas Zurbuchen.

The astrophysicist – who stepped down in December after serving as the US space agency's longest-serving science program head – expects the recent renewed urgency among international governments and private enterprise to go into space will offer the world more insights into the possibility of life on neighbouring planets.

“There has been a rapid ramp-up,” Dr Zurbuchen said.

“Within the next three years or so, we’ll go from almost quiet at the moment to traffic jams. My point is, it’s incredible the activity just focused on the moon.”

He believes a new research base on the moon, to house humans, could be established in the coming years to launch rockets and research tools further into space, as the lower levels of gravity make it easier than on Earth.

The prediction comes after NASA’s successful Artemis-1 moon exploration mission at the end of last year. Indian and Japanese researchers are looking to place landers on the moon in the near future and, in 2024, NASA is set to send up a rover called Viper, which will drill into the moon to see what it holds.

Dr Zurbuchen said Australia’s role in exploration will continue to grow, particularly in communication and earth science.

Earlier this week, the Australian Space Agency announced a partnership between NASA and two consortiums of local industry, start-ups, universities and resources companies as part of stage one of the Trailblazer program under the Moon to Mars initiative.

“I’m really excited about it … it will stimulate and excite the next generation of Australians to be part of … this huge industry and its huge set of opportunities,” Dr Zurbuchen said. “Australia has a critical and focused role in the international community.

“I would be very surprised if within a few years there’s not an Australian astronaut, with the investment that Australia is making, and … with the broadening of what astronauts can do. There’s never been more astronauts going to space than last year.”

Much of the world is now researching collaboratively; however, recent political tensions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine have caused a re-emergence of the 1960s-era space race secrecy between the US and its Cold War rival.

“A large fraction of the world is very much working together with the principles of transparency and international friendship and collaboration,” Dr Zurbuchen said.

“Sadly, we, the free world, have worked with Russia for quite a long time. But … a number of collaborations have stopped. It’s not frustrating, it’s just sad because it feels like a step backward.”

Collaboration on the International Space Station continues.

Dr Zurbuchen is in Brisbane for the World Science Festival and will appear on a panel at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday evening on the future of space exploration.