An international team of researchers at The University of Western Australia is collaborating on a project to identify objects in space orbiting above Australasia.
Associate Professor David Coward, from the International Space Centre at UWA, is lead scientist on the project funded by the Australian Research Council and Polish Space Agency.
“Australia’s rapidly growing sovereign reliance on space is providing new opportunities and challenges and it is becoming critical to know what’s in orbit above Australia,” Professor Coward said.
“The space above Earth is becoming increasingly dangerous due to space debris – consisting of non-functional satellites, final stage rocket bodies and even flakes of paint – and are an increasing threat to orbiting spacecraft.”
Based at UWA, Polish PhD researcher Dorota Mieczkowska is using state-of-the-art imaging equipment at the UWA space surveillance hub and data from the Polish Space Agency to track space satellites above Australia.
“This project allows us to combine Australia’s advanced observational facilities with Poland’s expertise in space surveillance,” Ms Mieczkowska said.
“It’s exciting to contribute to building international collaboration while helping develop new capabilities for monitoring the space environment.”
As part of the project, UWA is the hosting the Polish-Western Australian workshop on ground sensor space surveillance this week.
The event provides opportunities to foster new partnerships between WA universities and technology-based industries, and to highlight STEM training as a career pathway into space.
The workshop will also highlight the return of Poland to space after a 50-year hiatus. Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, who recently returned from the International Space Station, will send a special message to the workshop.
“This is the first time Western Australia has hosted a space event with the Polish Space Agency,” Associate Professor Coward said. “Space really is a place where all countries can work together.”
The workshop is supported by the Western Australian Government, the Embassy of Poland, the Polish Space Agency and three space companies from Poland.
The event is at the University Club of Western Australia on Wednesday 24 September from 9.30am, for more details or to register click here.