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MoU to accelerate the growth of Australian and New Zealand space industries develop new capabilities .

Professor Andy Koronios of SmartSat CRC and Robyn Henderson of New Zealand Space Agency to coordinate a network of Australasian optical ground stations that can actively support space exploration .

SmartSat CRC Chief Executive Officer Professor Andy Koronios said : “ We ’ re delighted to sign this agreement with the New Zealand Space Agency . This partnership will enable us to join forces and harness our resources and expertise for several important projects .

Under the new agreement , SmartSat and NZSA will collaborate to develop new capabilities and expertise in the space sector through the advancement of innovation , R & D , and workforce development .

The agreement was signed at the NZSA headquarters in Wellington by Professor Andy Koronios , SmartSat CRC Chief Executive Officer and Robyn Henderson , Acting Head of the New Zealand Space Agency .

Under this agreement , up to NZ $ 6 million will be made available from the NZ Government ’ s

Catalyst Fund to support New Zealand researchers to participate in new joint research initiatives in :

y Earth Observation : covering Natural Capital , Biosecurity , Crop Health , Pasture Condition , Emission Monitoring , South Pacific Synthetic Aperture Radar and Maritime Domain Awareness . These research projects will aim to use space data to enhance decision making for land and sea-based environments . y Space Situational Awareness : developing new techniques to monitor the orbital environment better . One example is Satping – spacecraft position and velocity and ID from the spacecraft . Another is ground-sensor data processing and visualisations for anomalies and manoeuvre detections . y Optical Communications : joint science work on adaptive optics to explore how

“ Earth Observation research plays a critical role in better understanding environmental challenges that pose significant risks to both our countries . The agriculture sector is crucial for both Australia and New Zealand and improving sustainable practices through pasture mapping , human activity and emission monitoring will be vital for current and future food security .”

Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo welcomed the MOU signing , saying : “ This agreement reaffirms our strong partnership with New Zealand . Not only do our nations share a unique geographic position but we are also aligned when it comes to using space technology and innovation to improve life here on Earth .

This Australian Space Agency is proud to have worked with SmartSat CRC and the New Zealand Space Agency to set up this agreement , which builds on Australian Government investments in capabilities such as optical ground stations .

Space is a global endeavour and by sharing knowledge and resources , we can create outcomes that benefit both our nations .” p

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