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This background provides context for Australia's approach to space,
including to questions of security, governance and regulation. Between the
1960s and 1980s, Australia signed and ratified all of the space treaties
developed by the United Nations, including the failed Moon Agreement.
Since the mid-2000s, the nation has taken an increasingly systematic interest
in the regulation of outer space, notably through investment in space
situational awareness (SSA) capabilities. These capabilities provide credence
to Australia's increasingly active diplomacy in the space security domain.
They are discussed in more detail below.
Australia's Space Interests
Australia occupies an unusual position with regards to space activity. Some
refer to it as a space-faring nation although it does not build satellites and has
no launch capacity. The Futron Corporation, for example, included Australia
in its annual Space Competitiveness Index for the first time in 2012. Australia
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was rated ahead of Brazil and just behind Israel. Australia is certainly not
considered to be an emerging space power or a developing country with
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space ambitions. It occupies instead a middle ground defined by vital
strategic and operational interests and a very high degree of dependence on
others for access to their systems.
National Strategy
Space sits at the heart of Australia's national security strategy. In the 1950s
and 1960s, Australia hosted the missile development and atomic weapon
programmes of the UKatWoomera, Maralinga and associated remote
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locations. Since the 1960s Australia has hosted ground stations that are
essential to the intelligence gathering and treaty monitoring activities of the
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U.S. More recently, and this is discussed in more detail below, since 2010,
Australia and the U.S. have placed considerable emphasis on the importance
of space security in the alliance relationship that exists between the two
nations.
Space Policy
Australia is certainly
not considered to be
an emerging space
power or a
developing country
with space
ambitions.It occupies
instead a middle
ground defined by
vital strategic and
operational interests
and a very high
degree of
dependence on
others for access to
their systems.
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Australia's Satellite Utilisation Policy makes specific reference to space
security and specifically commits the Australian government to:
The Proposed ICoC for Outer Space: An Australian Perspective | www.orfonline.org 131