We are going to the moon people!

Queensland's space industry could generate more than $1 billion: Deloitte

By Tony Moore

February 24, 2019 — 9.31pm

Talking points

• Queensland could generate 4000 space industry jobs over 20 years.
   
   
  
• There is now around 2000 space 'jobs', mainly in satellite technology and remote sensing in individual firms.
   
   
  
• Our defence industry is not sophisticated and connected enough yet to support a 'space industry'.
   
   
  

Queensland's space industry could employ 4000-plus people and be worth more than $1 billion within 20 years, according to "conservative" estimates in a new report.

But there are major obstacles to the industry rapidly scaling up to meet global demand, including a defence economy not yet sophisticated enough and a lack of “critical mass” in the local supply chain, the Deloitte Access Economics report finds.

The space simulator at the Australian National University's Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre at at Canberra's Mt Stromlo. Queensland hopes to replicate space industry growth in southern capitals. CREDIT:KARLEEN MINNEY

Three separate estimates show between 4000 and 6000 full-time people could be employed in the Queensland space industry, generating between $1.1 billion and $1.7 billion, if changes are made “upstream” to Queensland’s defence industries.

That may be linked to the expansion of RAAF Base Amberley from 5800 personnel to more than 7000 by 2020, from Queensland universities, and from the new $5 billion contract to build 211 high-tech armoured vehicles at the Redbank Centre of Excellence.

The opportunity is more likely to come from building “a supply chain of space industry components” than a rocket launch pad, the report says.

It could include a Queensland space “ground station” capable of analysing space data and sophisticated remote sensing.

Deloitte Access Economic’s more optimistic “medium–term” space industry scenario suggests Queensland over 20 years could create 5000 full-time space industry jobs, adding $1.3 billion to the economy.

The report, Sky is Not the Limit: Building Queensland’s Space Economy, finds Queensland authorities need to develop a “critical mass” of space industries.

“The small scale of the Queensland industry means that there is not currently sufficient critical mass in many upstream and downstream industries in the local supply chain to ensure that the space economy in Queensland works as a coordinated local market,” it finds.

“For the Queensland space economy to rapidly scale up to meet global demand, greater depth and key anchor points are required in the supply chain.

“Queensland needs to support growth in existing capabilities, build out capacity in adjacent areas to current strengths, improve connections within the existing supply chain, leverage untapped local demand from other industries – for example agriculture - and continue to invest in the early stages of research and development.”

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cambridge experiences a flight in the F/A18-F Super Hornet simulator at RAAF Base Amberley.CREDIT:CPL DAVID SAID

Earlier this month another research paper reported a similar scope for Queensland’s still fledgling space industry.

A paper published by a Queensland inquiry into job creation opportunities from the establishment of an Australian space industry said the sector needed skilled workers in manufacturing, technology, mining, aviation and defence.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick on Sunday afternoon said Queensland universities and defence industry businesses were important starting points.

Mr Dick said Queensland’s space industry now provided about 2000 jobs, mainly in satellite technologies, which generated around $760 million each year.

“Queensland universities and companies are at the forefront of space research and technology,” he said.

“This includes NASA’s mission to identify inhabitable planets beyond our solar system, world-leading hypersonic rocket development, the design and manufacture of advanced composite materials, and in new satellite launch and communications technologies.”

State Development Minister Cameron DickCREDIT:CHRIS HYDE

Mr Dick said Deloitte’s broad modelling suggested the space industry in Queensland “could generate” between 4000 and 6000 jobs over the next two decades.

“In order to capitalise on these opportunities, the Palaszczuk government will explore how we can further assist companies and universities and coordinate opportunities to grow our space industry," he said.

The Queensland government in June 2018 released a 10-year strategy to begin to put in place a more strategic space industry.

That identified maximising opportunities at Australia's largest defence airbase.

“The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley, with its 70 aircraft, six fleets and more than 5800 personnel, the June 2018 roadmap said.

“The redevelopment of the Amberley base will see this number grow to more than 7000 military and civilian personnel by 2020.”

The report notes few Queenslanders – outside of defence circles – understand south-east Queensland is home to many defence industries.

“Queensland has developed a growing presence in the aerospace industry. This includes Virgin Australia’s headquarters and a significant presence by half of the world’s top 10 aerospace companies in Queensland, such as Boeing Defence Australia, Airbus, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon," it states.

HEY.!

Can we make use of the ADANI coal mine site.

What is lost from The mining could be a godsend to queensland.

" Queensland could generate 4000 space industry jobs over 20 years."

We lose " $16.5 billion for the Australian economy", from No ANDANI. coal.

spacesailor

North of Cooktown was a preferred site in the late 1980's.

With a Dick in charge of State Development, do you really think this Qld space industry is qoing to get off the ground? 

Seriously, I do think the powers-that-be really need to identify where the demand and benefits are going to come from, from a home-grown space industry.

It's all very well looking for the outer edges of the universe - and planets 400 light years away, that might sustain life - or even looking for aliens - but none of this has any long-term, real benefits to the man in the street.

What we need to concentrate on, is improved and rock-solid communications systems (particularly in wartime, when what we currently have, will be under attack), and things such as innovations for getting rid of dangerous space junk.

The amount of satellite junk starting to pose major problems in Space is already causing concern - imagine what the situation will be like in another 30-40 years, when a solution to the problem will become very pressing.

I personally doubt that there is any benefit whatsoever in trying to get people to live on Mars or some other planet. The benefits to us Earthlings are just not there.

There is only one planet in our solar system that sustains life as we know it, for homo sapiens, we need to look after this planet long before we race off to stuff up another planet with our experiments, waste and general destruction in the name of "advancing science".

Spacesailor, coal is rapidly being consigned to the dustbin of history, solar power will overtake coal for power generation within 20 years - and very few will be sorry to see the end of coal mining or coal burning.

I've done my astronaut training. Well, I went to school and took up space.

I'm one of them folks who is a firm believer that man never landed on the moon, I just don't believe a word of it, I think it was faked. So guess what, I'm not going!

ppfffttttttt

Queensland the smart state - a coal fired inter planetary rocket might win us back some credibility ...................

Can  this be possible?

I thought everybody knew Arnhem Land was the selected focus for space industry development and Australia’s interstellar aspirations (something to do with equatorial  launch latitudes).  

We may all be going to the moon in a Queensland coal fueled rocket, but our journey will commence in a beaten up Toyota on a red dirt road. 

 You have a 1600 Kms/hr start at the  Equator if you launch to the east of the 32,000 Km/hr you must get to orbit. It diminishes as you get further from the equator as the distance from the earth's spin  axis decreases.. We shouldn't be allowed to go to other places until we prove we won't stuff it up like we have this one which is so much better than anything else likely to be available. I personally reckon that  living on Mars will be a horrific lifestyle ending in disaster as the support infrastructure will eventually degrade and can't be maintained at such a distance. Nev

ER, I think we in the south beat you to it, and we have the space already for a launch site. It's called Woomera.

www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-11/australian-space-agency-to-be-based-in-adelaide/10608202

ER, I think we in the south beat you to it, and we have the space already for a launch site. It's called Woomera.

www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-11/australian-space-agency-to-be-based-in-adelaide/10608202

...What we need to concentrate on, is improved and rock-solid communications systems (particularly in wartime, when what we currently have, will be under attack), and things such as innovations for getting rid of dangerous space junk.

The amount of satellite junk starting to pose major problems in Space is already causing concern...

Space junk gets lots of press, but I believe most current proposals are ar$e about face: they're trying to bring the junk back down to earth. It cost squillions to get all that valuable material up there, so why not gather it up and recycle it in orbit, building new and better satellites, space platforms and craft?

"Aboriginal Aircraft Maintenance & Services has many experts standing by to work on your aircraft or equipment needs. Serving NT in the area of aircraft or equipment is what they do best." https://zipleaf.auz.net/Companies/Aboriginal-Aircraft-Maintenance-Services

So we have the skills up in those hot northern regions, just need upgrading to aerospace.

Friends of mine went to that new pub up on the moon. Said it was crap, absolutely no atmosphere.

Might be time to read the novel Stark by Ben Elton again

Ben Elton probably didn't think his plot was likely to ever eventuate.

But maybe he had a Arthur Clark moment when he wrote it.