Picture: Kevin Gill (Flickr)
The Australian National University (ANU) has launched a new institute to play a role in advancing Australia’s space industry.
To be known as InSpace, the institute will bring together technology, science and law research.
Vice Chancellor of the ANU, Brian Schmidt said the new space institute would have a multidisciplinary approach to promoting the opportunities for Australia to expand its commercial and scientific interests in the space industry.
“The space industry is a rapidly growing area in business and research, and with any emerging industry, come legal and social challenges,” Professor Schmidt said.
“The new institute will be the front door to space activities and capabilities across the university, including technology R&D, science missions, space test facilities, commercial space law, and business and finance initiatives relating to space.”
He said it would drive co-investment with industry and Government partners and focus on cross-disciplinary projects and initiatives to support Australian space business development.
“ANU has been Australia’s leading astronomy institute for decades, and we’re now looking to combine that scientific expertise with the work we’re doing in physics, computing, quantum mechanics, and law,” Professor Schmidt said.
“The institute will continue to attract the best and brightest in this field to Canberra.”
He said InSpace will be led by Anna Moore from the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
“Like all challenges we’re facing now, the solution is never one-sided,” Professor Moore said.
“That’s why we’ll be working with researchers from the ANU College of Law, research schools of mathematics, physics, earth sciences, computer sciences and our colleagues in public policy and national security research areas,” she said.
