Taking the Lead in Autralia's Space Industry
CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
Our understanding of the universe, exploration of the solar system as well as the utilisation and operation of satellites in orbit around the earth require an ever-improving level of technology and expertise. At the same time, it’s increasingly important that organisations from all over the world work together to some of the most important and exciting projects of our times – from getting to Mars to monitoring climate change. Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, or CSIRO, plays a key role in these projects. As the country’s premiere scientific research agency, CSIRO has a major interest in astronomy, space science and technology – from deep space communications, to observation of the earth, to the technology needed for extra-terrestrial exploration.
CSIRO manages Australia’s wide range of astronomical facilities, from the Australia Telescope National Facility, which incorporates observatories across the vast continent, to NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, which plays an essential role in collecting data from deep space missions. CSIRO also takes a leading role in analysing and utilising data about the earth taken from space, using GEOGLAM RAPP to identify issues with livestock production around the world. Beyond this, CSIRO is involved in a wide range of technological developments, from sensors, as the developers of SLAM 3D mapping technology to robotics, building the kinds of robots that can effortlessly navigate the treacherous terrain of extraterrestrial planets.