Funding boost for UTas space tracking facilities

Australia’s Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, has recently announced that space-tracking facilities in Tasmania will be receiving a AU$1.2 million upgrade.

As part of the announcement made in Launceston this month she said: "The upgraded University of Tasmania facilities will allow precision tracking of satellites and spacecraft. Not only will this improve our technological prowess, but it will also have a positive flow-on effect for local researchers, education facilities and the next generation of space enthusiasts."

The funding is part of a countrywide Space Infrastructure Fund to build Australia’s space capabilities and cement Australia’s place in the global space industry, but the upgrades in Tasmania will directly benefit researchers at the University of Tasmania.

Head of Physics, Professor Simon Ellingsen explained why: "This is a great opportunity for us to expand our activities in this area and we're very excited about that as it opens up a whole range of commercial and scientific opportunities, both for Tasmanian and Australian researchers.

"We've been looking to grow our involvement in the space area and this funding allows us to play a direct role in the development of the industry across Australia."

"At the moment we've got a limited ability to do things and this will essentially increase it by a factor of 10."

If you would like to find out more about studying at the University of Tasmania, or studying physics programmes anywhere in Australia or New Zealand, contact Study Options.