Benchmarking Australia as a User of Space Products and Services

Paper number

IAC-11,E6,1,10,x11409

Author

Mr. David Vaccaro, Futron Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mrs. Michele Clement, Space Policy Unit, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Australia

Coauthor

Mr. Joseph Fuller, Futron Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Ian Christensen, Futron Corporation, United States

Year

2011

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a recent studying assessing Australia’s space resource development and utilization strategy. Following a period of dormancy, Australia has begun to revisit its national space policy. A major theme of this renewed focus is maximizing the benefits of space utilization for the Australian government, armed forces, commercial industry, educational institutions, and society as a whole.

As it considers space investment decisions, the Government of Australia commissioned a benchmarking study to evaluate its current usage of space resources along three lines: development, sophistication, and efficacy. To perform this analysis, the study examined the state of Australian space usage, including asset-to-user applications flows, for five application areas:


1.	Earth Observation and Resource Management

2.	Natural Disaster Management

3.	Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation

4.	Satellite Communications

5.	Weather and Meteorology



To benchmark Australia in these five application areas, the study compares and contrasts Australian space usage with that of seven other peer (or near-peer) nations, selected due to similar economic, regional, or science and technology attributes:


1.	Canada

2.	India

3.	Indonesia

4.	Malaysia

5.	Singapore

6.	South Africa

7.	Thailand


Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators, the study ranks Australia against these other nations as a user of space products and services. This will help pinpoint Australian strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats relative to other peer nations.

The lessons derived from this study suggest where Australia can make investments to improve its development, sophistication, and efficacy as a user of space products and services, and can inform Australia policy choices as it reshapes its national space strategy.

Abstract document

IAC-11,E6,1,10,x11409.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-11,E6,1,10,x11409.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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