Space insight

TWO officers have fresh insights into the international space arena following a nine-week intensive space review program.

Squadron Leader John Hermman, from the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre at RAAF Base Williamtown, and Wing Commander Colin Thomson, from the Defence Space Office in Canberra, completed the International Space University course along with Mike Banham from the Office of Chief Information Officer.

They were among 117 students from 27 countries.

The group took a field trip to Woomera for the launching of two sounding rockets carrying course experimental equipment.

Commercial and defence uses of space were some of the topics studied as part of the course.

The program also looked at space from the point of view of society, policy and law, the physical space environment, humans in space, business management, space applications and space engineering systems (design aspects for rockets, spacecraft subsystems, satellites and robotics).

The academic core studies were supplemented with students undertaking team projects.

Three projects were completed, covering planning for space exploration to Mars, using space imaging to assist with water environment management, and planning satellite broadband communication services to remote areas.

Several theme days were also scheduled during the course and high-profile guest speakers, such as heads of space agency departments, took part.

The Defence staff are now using their knowledge to manage and develop defence space policy, in ADF operational joint space doctrine and to formulate concepts for future information system sources and capabilities.

 

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