CSIRO Space Science and Collaboration Activities

Alex Held Head of COSSA

www.csiro.au First Images from Japanese DAICHI Satellite (ALOS) February 14

PRISM Sensor, 2.5 m resolution panchromatic stereo Outline

1. COSSA Roles 2. Context & Activities • National • International • Global • Regional 3. Large Projects of Interest 4. Strategic Directions & Discussion COSSA - Brief History •1984 COSSA established to coordinate international liaison, underpinning space science and engineering across CSIRO •1995: Established a new Program - the ‘Earth Observation Centre” as a multi-Divisional research partnership – closed end of 2005. •1996: CSIRO asked by Minister McGauran to become focal point for Australia’s civilian space research activities •1998: CRC Satellite Systems formed with contribution of about 50% of COSSA staff ƒ Devolved responsibilities for coordination of space engineering, astronomy and space communications to CRC SS, ATNF and CSIRO Industrial Physics ƒ COSSA – EOC maintains national and international representation roles, plus coordination and promotion of primarily remote sensing science across CSIRO. Placed in a CSIRO “home” Division (currently Marine and Atmospheric Research). COSSA, a multi-Divisional Partnership (60+ staff across 8 CSIRO Divisions)

International KeKeyy Associates Associates International Space Agencies GA,GA, BoM BoM,, DSTO, DSTO, Space Agencies DIGO,DIGO, DLI, DLI, Sustainable BRS, CRC’s LivestockLivestock Sustainable BRS, CRC’s Ecosystems IndustrIndustriesies Ecosystems AustralianAustralian MineralsMinerals GovernmentGovernment SpaceSpace F Foorumrum

CSIROCSIRO Office Office of of Mathematical and SpaceSpace Scien Scienccee Mathematical and and Applications Information and Applications Information LandLand and and Water Water SciencesSciences

Forestry and FlagshipsFlagships Forestry and MarineMarine and and Forest Products IndustrIndustrialial ForestForest Products Products AtmosphericAtmospheric (ENSIS) PhysicsPhysics (ENSIS)(ENSIS) ResearchResearch

ATNFATNF Spatial and Space CRCCRC Spatial and Space DeepDeep Space Space Industry SatelliteSatellite S Syystemstemss Industry TrackingTracking Routine Activities COSSA

1. National and international representation at relevant inter- agency/inter-governmental committees ƒ Australian Government Space Forum ƒ Board of TERSS, WASTAC ƒ Geoscience Australia’s “Nat’l Technical Remote Sensing Reference Group” ƒ Asia Pacific Space Agency Forum ƒ UN Space Committees ƒ GEO Plenary ƒ CEOS ƒ IAF 2. Cross-Divisional earth observation science support ƒ Satellite data archive curation and distribution ƒ Coordination of multi-Divisional validation projects for new satellite sensor systems ƒ Management of specialised cross-Divisional instrument pool ƒ Annual EO Science Meetings ƒ Broker CSIRO involvement in new projects COSSA Strategic Engagement

• Global & Inter-governmental Activities (~ 50% effort) ƒ GEO, CEOS, IAF, UN-OOSA ƒ Priority country programs: e.g. US, Japan, China, Germany…

• Regional Activities ( ~ 20% effort) ƒ APRSAF, UN ESCAP

• National Activities (inside & outside CSIRO – 30% effort) ƒ AGSF, NRSTRG, WASTAC, TERSS, ARSPC, CSIRO multi- Divisional projects 2.- International Context

¾COSSA’s often de-facto Space Agency and Brokering Responsibilities

¾Technical Committees ¾Inter-governmental & UN Space Committees ¾Specific Space-Collaboration Projects

www.csiro.au International Context “Space Science” is a global & collaborative activity, often with no political boundaries. Australia’s dependence of foreign space services forces us to play a strong international role. Australia has well-known expertise in development of applications for earth observation data ƒ Our strengths are applications-development science, and unique methods of space-to- in-situ earth observation data integration; e.g. future ACCESS experience ƒ Rapidly emerging international cooperation –GEO- is developing ways to use EO information more effectively – driven by ‘societal benefits’ ƒ Australia offers ‘Regional Data-Node’ downlink infrastructure to international EO programs via TERSS & WASTAC consortia satellite stations in Hobart and Perth (co- funded by COSSA) and through GA- ACRES’s Alice Springs stations. ƒ But, lagging behind in ability to contribute significant space-infrastructure to international programs, relative to OECD economies with similar GDP and standards of living (e.g. Netherlands, South Korea, Canada). Opportunity to grow our Asia – Oceania role in Space Science ƒ Australia leads new alliance with Japan space agency – JAXA for better regional space-agency coordination, particularly during disasters ƒ Involved in selected commercial satellite projects, e.g. with Japanese companies ƒ Opportunities for alliances w. other regional space-nations such as China and India need urgent attention & further development Example 1: Global Committee on Earth Observation Satellites - CEOS

•Operating since 1984 •Focused on technical aspects of earth observation (data access, new satellites, communication standards, etc.) •24 Space Agencies •CSIRO (COSSA) is a member of CEOS representing Australia’s interests •Australia’s ‘FedSat’ Project received much in- kind support from CEOS member agencies Example 2: Group on Earth Observations - GEO

Biodiversity Energy Management

ClimateClimate EcosystemsEcosystems DisastersDisasters

HealthHealth

WeatherWeather WaterWater AgricultureAgriculture GEOGEO InitiativeInitiative -- PPolicyolicy FocusFocus

- Has endorsement by Governments (e.g. DEH Minister Campbell in Australia’s case), not only space agencies - Outcome-focus to better link Earth Observations to Societal Benefits - Will initiate future multi-national space infrastructure projects

http://earthobservations.org EARTH OBSERVATION SUMMIT started the GEO Process in 2003.

Washington, D.C. July 31, 2003 Australia & GEO

Representatives on GEO Plenary Bureau of Meteorology & CSIRO

IDC Participants: •Dept. Ag. Forestry and Fisheries via BRS •Dept. Foreign Affairs & Trade •Dept. Environment & Heritage incl. AGO •Dept. Transport & Regional Services •Dept. Education Science & Training •Dept. Industry, Resources & Tourism •Dept. Defense •GA, EMA, ACA International Opportunities 1.- Involvement in multi-national earth observation programs ƒ Concrete invitations have been made by e.g. NASA, ESA, China and Japan, to participate and co-invest in their upcoming missions (e.g. NASA- SpectraSAT, ESA-Sentinel3, METI-ASTER-follow-up, JAXA-ALOS follow- ups) ƒ An ‘International EO Collaboration Fund” of ~$10-30Mi ea., would be needed for Australia’s participation in such missions, plus associated ground segment, for direct data reception and near real-time processing of this data in Australia

Previous Example: Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer – AATSR on ‘ENVISAT’ European Space Agency Satellite “Sentinel-Asia” : Regional Satellite Station Network

Part of Australia’s contribution to ‘Asia-Oceania’ caucus under GEO, linkages to ASEAN & UN Disaster Initiatives

ƒ Improved communications for near real-time data access to support disaster response ƒ Coordination and expansion of national and regional satellite-reception networks ƒ Standard processing and distribution of EO satellite data (in close cooperation w. operational agencies) ƒ ‘Team Australia’ Participants: CSIRO, GA, Bureau of Meteorology

16 Countries signed-up for the network: ƒJAPAN ƒAustralia ƒSingapore ƒMalaysia ƒChina ƒIndia ƒIndonesia …. X-Band Stations NZ Issues – National Context (1)

Australia is not self-sufficient in procurement of data from space infrastructure • Depends 100% on other nations for global positioning and satellite Earth Observation data for various government services, e.g.: ƒ Weather monitoring (BoM) ƒ Land- and Ocean Monitoring (CSIRO, BRS, Coastwatch, Defense) ƒ Operational Ocean Forecasting for RAN ‘BlueLink” project (uses four altimeters from other countries) ƒ National Mapping Programs (GA, state agencies, spatial-data industry) ƒ Drought Exceptional Circumstances (DAFF, BRS, ABARE) • Government agencies vulnerable to ad-hoc attenuation, foreign control or cessation of this data stream; e.g.: ƒ Australia’s space-development not commensurate with other OECD countries ƒ Local spatial-data and value-adding industry’s profitability is ephemeral and very dependent on foreign satellite data supplies Issues – National Context (2)

National security ‘non-Defense’ needs for a more coherent earth observation effort into: • Better real-time support for Disaster (fire, flood, pollution, drought) management and recovery operations - Australia and region, eg tsunami • Ocean safety: sailors lost at sea, oil slick tracking • CoastWatch will require satellite support services; particularly to support patrol along northern coasts and Southern Ocean illegal fishing • Food security and production system management (land, marine) • Tracking and managing variable water resources • Mapping & tracking spread of exotic weeds, pests & crop diseases • Airline Industry relies on volcanic ash advisories (via BoM in Darwin) • Knowing and understanding our region (eg tracking resource pressures, impacts of climate variability and economic stability in SE Asia & South Pacific) “Australian Hyperspectral Exploitation Partnership”

Support for cross-CSIRO excellence in remote sensing & linkages to Industry ƒ Australia is recognised among the world’s best in use of this technology ƒ Promising technology for improved remote identification (‘fingerprinting’) and quantification of various natural & man-made materials ƒ Developed experience in scaling up from airborne hyperspectral methods to spaceborne hyperspectral systems ƒ COSSA leveraging CSIRO expertise into future operational space missions and into commercial projects ƒ Current commercial projects (e.g. Japan ‘Hyper-X’); ƒ Initial interest by national industry groups (e.g. ASIBA, SKM, Auspace). ƒ Hyperspectral satellites proposals in the pipeline: Germany – ‘EnMap’, Canada – ‘HERO’; U.S.- Flora; South Africa & China)

Proposing formation of Partnership among CSIRO, DSTO, GA, CRC SI, UNSW and Private Industry Development of National Satellite Environmental Time Series Maintain archive and QC of satellite imagery for the Australian continent from 1981-present Available for users inside and outside of CSIRO (soon via web interface under ‘Web-Cats)

Applications: ƒ Linking observed droughts to climatology ƒ Prediction of water availability ƒ Land use change and trends in vegetation condition ƒ Natural resource monitoring and forecasting with data- assimilation methods Message

1. We have identified several potential projects of interest, incl. low- cost opportunities to enhance independence from foreign- operated satellites. These require constant effort into international representation and collaborations with key partner space agencies; that can not stop! 2. Current cross-Divisional, National & International needs for coordination, brokering of new large space projects, and representation exceed current COSSA capacity. 3. So, advocate expanded inter-agency (incl. DFAT) sharing of effort & costs associated with international space representation activities; Geopolitics and national policies need to be considered all the time. 4. Suggest to set up “Space Collaboration Fund” (~$15-20M p.a.) to exploit current international/national collaborative opportunities and space missions. EO Forum

February 16

www.csiro.au Key Impressions after two years at COSSA

• Earth Observation science very high quality and Australians are highly regarded in international EO forums. • But we still source 100 % of our space-borne EO data from foreign-operated satellite sensors, and do not contribute to common-good space infrastructure. • Australian government departments, the science community and the private sector are heavy users (10 or 100’s TBytes a year?) of Earth Observation (EO) data collected by these o/s sensors. • Data is frequently ‘free’ (ie. partially subsidised by o/s taxpayers) , and we constantly face the risk of loosing access to this vital data, due to sporadic malfunction, cancellation or delay of missions and launch of follow-on satellites • More effort is needed to raise national awareness of the value and daily benefits of EO data to Australian society. • Australia’s niche space industry needs much more international visibility to become competitive. • Space engineering and remote sensing science training has too few graduates to grow and fuel a strong industry. • There is a need for civilian space matters and national and international data procurement to be better coordinated. Recommendations and Vision

• COSSA suggests development of a ten-year program to contribute to the costs of a modest number of new remote sensing instruments to be deployed on other nations’ satellite platforms. • This would benefit Australia through certainty of EO-data supply, technological advantages and politically, through increased direct contribution to global earth observation missions. This would also: ƒ Strengthen Australia’s space industry ƒ Improve space engineering and remote sensing science training opportunities in research agencies and universities. • Civilian space matters could be coordinated both nationally and internationally by a dedicated Australian agency, which could in turn coordinate with the Defence Space Office. • Options for Australia’s civilian agency could include: 1. A branch of an existing Australian Government Department eg. DEST, DEH or DAFF; or 2. An independent agency, e.g. similar in structure and function to the British National Space Centre – BNSC with seconded staff from other agencies & departments.

COSSA recommends formation of a working group to draft 10-year plan and propose concrete options for dedicated space development agency.