THE SPACE GAME

[RedVHeartbeat]

There was talk at least two decades ago of an Australian space port complete with rocket launching facilities to be built at Cape York Peninsula in far north Qld. This appears never to have eventuated. But since its inception in 2020 we do now have our own fully fledged Space Agency with its headquarters based in Adelaide. The Australian Space Discovery Centre, where space technology is exhibited and information sessions provided to the public, is on site.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Australian rocket manufacturer Gilmour Space Technologies has announced its first G-SAT ‘Caravan’ mission to space will launch in 2024. The mission, a dedicated ride share rocket launch for small satellites to Low Earth Orbits (LEO) in one of its ERIS rockets, will offer multiple payload customers the opportunity to test and demonstrate their technology in space. The ERIS rocket will be powered by the world largest single-port hybrid engine which GST developed in 2018.

The G-Sat is a modular 100-kilogramme satellite platform being developed by Gilmour Space in collaboration with Griffith University. The platform can house multiple payloads on board the Eris rocket such as scientific instruments, thrusters, sensors, processors and other new space technologies.

"This rideshare could potentially suit satellite developers in the earlier stages of their development, according to Shaun Kenyon, Program Manager for Satellites at Gilmour Space.

​

 

[GCRV]

There was talk at least two decades ago of an Australian space port complete with rocket launching facilities to be built at Cape York Peninsula in far north Qld. This appears never to have eventuated. But since its inception in 2020 we do now have our own fully fledged Space Agency with its headquarters based in Adelaide. The Australian Space Discovery Centre, where space technology is exhibited and information sessions provided to the public, is on site.

It would make a lot of sense because the closer to the equator, the easier and cheaper it is to launch rockets. But Australia lacks in rocket science and USA and China both have land somewhat close to the equator. Europe also has French colonies in the South Pacific and Russia would do it in southern areas of Central Asia, Cuba or Vietnam. they don't now because the extra rocket fuel is worth it for the near impregnability of their facilities in central Siberia. It takes missiles a long time to get there if they even have the range.

That might make a facility like the spy facility at Pine Gap worthwhile but then we have problems with logistics.

Nope. It's a nice idea but until Australia develops its own rocketry, it won't happen.

 

[Eric]

It would make a lot of sense because the closer to the equator, the easier and cheaper it is to launch rockets. But Australia lacks in rocket science and USA and China both have land somewhat close to the equator. Europe also has French colonies in the South Pacific and Russia would do it in southern areas of Central Asia, Cuba or Vietnam. they don't now because the extra rocket fuel is worth it for the near impregnability of their facilities in central Siberia. It takes missiles a long time to get there if they even have the range.

That might make a facility like the spy facility at Pine Gap worthwhile but then we have problems with logistics.

Nope. It's a nice idea but until Australia develops its own rocketry, it won't happen.

Japan, North Korea, India and Pakistan also have their own space rockets, don't they? I know North Korea has rockets which can reach the continental US. I think Australia sent a satellite up on a Japanese rocket at least once. I know India and Pakistan have rockets which can reach each other but not sure if they go into space.

 

[GCRV]

Japan, North Korea, India and Pakistan also have their own space rockets, don't they? I know North Korea has rockets which can reach the continental US. I think Australia sent a satellite up on a Japanese rocket at least once. I know India and Pakistan have rockets which can reach each other but not sure if they go into space.

The only good, reliable rockets that can reach orbit are made in Russia, US, China. Europe and Japan are not too far behind but just recently a Japanese rocket failed and I think European rockets have come to a standstill for the foreseeable future because they relied on Russian tech which is no longer available to them. Several other countries have sent rockets into orbit but you wouldn't want to load several million $ worth of satellites on them. I think even Iran put a sputnik-like satellite into orbit.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

until Australia develops its own rocketry, it won't happen.

Australian rocket manufacturer Gilmour Space Technologies.

This is a start. A private company too.. not government. I think clever, visionary Australians are tired of waiting for governments to stop sitting on their hands, bickering, to cut red tape. They want action, something tangible and are taking on the task themselves. People like Twiggy Forest and Mike Cannon-Brooks.

 

[GCRV]

Australian rocket manufacturer Gilmour Space Technologies.

This is a start. A private company too.. not government. I think clever, visionary Australians are tired of waiting for governments to stop sitting on their hands, bickering, to cut red tape. They want action, something tangible and are taking on the task themselves. People like Twiggy Forest and Mike Cannon-Brooks.

How do you think they'll make it profitable?

 

[GCRV]

1. What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
2. What was the name of the first American in Space?
3. How many consecutive days did cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov spend in space?
4. What is the name of the galaxy that our solar system resides in?
5. What is the largest asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter?
6. What is Olympus Mons and where is it?
7. How many (known) moons does Jupiter have?
8. When a meteoroid enters the earth's atmosphere and leaves a trail across the sky what do we commonly call this?

 

[Chris M]

1. What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
2. What was the name of the first American in Space?
3. How many consecutive days did cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov spend in space?
4. What is the name of the galaxy that our solar system resides in?
5. What is the largest asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter?
6. What is Olympus Mons and where is it?
7. How many (known) moons does Jupiter have?
8. When a meteoroid enters the earth's atmosphere and leaves a trail across the sky what do we commonly call this?

1. Sputnik
2. John Glenn
3. Pass
4. The Milky Way
5. Pass
6. The highest mountain in the solar system on Mars
7. Pass
8. A shooting star

 

[Morgan]

1. What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
2. What was the name of the first American in Space?
3. How many consecutive days did cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov spend in space?
4. What is the name of the galaxy that our solar system resides in?
5. What is the largest asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter?
6. What is Olympus Mons and where is it?
7. How many (known) moons does Jupiter have?
8. When a meteoroid enters the earth's atmosphere and leaves a trail across the sky what do we commonly call this?

1. Sputnik
2. John Glenn
3. 437
4. The Milky Way
5. maybe Eros? Hard to find that info.
6. The highest mountain in the solar system on Mars
7. 53 named, another 27 not yet named.
8. A shooting star

 

[GCRV]

1. Sputnik
2. John Glenn
3. 437
4. The Milky Way
5. maybe Eros? Hard to find that info.
6. The highest mountain in the solar system on Mars
7. 53 named, another 27 not yet named.
8. A shooting star

Good job. No.5 is actually Ceres.