Remote Sensing & the First Australian Decadal Plan for Space Science: 2007-2016

National Committee for Space Science (Iver H. Cairns, Charlie Barton, David Cole, Peter Dyson,

Brian Fraser, Alex Held, Andrew Parfitt, Malcolm Walter, and Bob Vincent)

FNRSS Workshop 22/11/06

I. What is Space Science? II. Intentions for the Decadal Plan III. ProcessIV. Science ThemesV. Importance to/of Australian Remote SensingVI. Summary & Call for Input.

[See www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss for Plan status and documents.]

I. What is Space Science?• Science of solar system

phenomena and objects.

• Science of space & science from space

• “Everything above the tropopause”.

What is Space Science?

Space Science includes:• space physics and

space weather• remote sensing of

Earth from orbit• planetary geology• astrobiology • space technology

Astronomy extra-solar system,Earth Sciences surface and below.

II. Intentions for the Decadal Plan

• National Committees of the Australian Academy of Science aim to: – Foster their area/field of science (and others)– Link Australian and international scientists in the area.

NCSS intends the Decadal Plan to • Present exciting, widely-agreed, visionary research themes and

projects directed towards longterm scientific goals of the Australian space science community.

• Link the research and goals with the interests and requirements of Australian constituencies: Government, Industry, wider scientific community, and public.

• Build a sustainable world-class community of Australian space scientists.

• Develop and optimize the space science community for the nation’s benefit.

• Be the official position of the space science community and Academy on major science and funding projects.

• Lead to increased Government funding of space science.

“Space: A Priority for Australia” – Senator Grant Chapman & SPAG [December 2005]

• “Space technologies are essential to resolve vital national interest issues which span … services used by industry, government & citizens …national security, water .. mining, .. transport. ”

• “Currently we are operating in a high-risk environment. Even the temporary loss of many key, space-based services … would damage the nation.”

• Of top 26 nations by GDP only 2 have no space program: Australia (14) and Mexico (11) …

• In ASEAN Australia one of few without a space program.

• In this environment the Decadal Plan is a huge opportunity to advance space science.

III. Process (see www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss)

• Steering Committee: final responsibility for the development, writing, approval, and publication of the Decadal Plan.

• Working Group: researches a specific component of the Decadal Plan and then provides recommendations (e.g., priority research topics, ideas, and projects) and draft text for the Plan to the Steering Committee.

• Now writing Draft Plan & refining inputs (early to mid 2007 release).

Decadal Plan Steering Committee

Science Working Groups

Industry /ScienceWorking Groups

Government Working Group

DemographicsWorking Group

Public Outreach Working Group

Remotesensing

Participants

Auspace Australian Antarctic DivisionANU British Aerospace AustraliaBureau of Meteorology Bureau of Rural ScienceCisco Systems COSSACRCSI DSTOGeoscience Australia GravitecIPS Radio and Space Services La Trobe University Macquarie University University of AdelaideUniversity of Newcastle University of NSWUniversity of Queensland University of Sydney University of South Australia University of Southern QueenslandUniversity of Technology, Sydney University of Western AustraliaVipac WA Department of Land Inform.

Working Group Names & Contacts

• Decadal Plan Steering Committee. [Chair: Iver Cairns, i.cairns@physics.usyd.edu.au]

• Remote Sensing of Earth from Space [Chair: Alex Held, alex.held@csiro.au; S. Barrell (BoM), B. Carter (USQ), M. Hill (B. Rur. Sci.), A. Lewis (GA), A. Milne(UNSW), S. Phinn(UQ), R. Smith (WA Dept. LI), P. Woodgate (CRCSI)]

IV. Science Themes

Global Science Themes: Longterm Vision & Big Picture Questions

Science Projects & Facilities

Links and Benefits to Government & Industry

Global Science Themes (draft)(i) Sun and Space to Earth (SSE) Understand how activity on the Sun and in space develops throughout the solar

system and affects humans and human technology.

(ii) Plasma to Planets (P2P)Understand evolution from plasma & dust to the present-day Sun, Earth, and other solar system bodies and then beyond.

(iii) Observing Australia, Earth and Planets from Space Remotely sense and then model the atmosphere, climate, oceans, surface, life,

and geology of Australia, Earth and other planets and solar system bodies.

(iv) Life and Technology in Space (LIFTS)Understand the effects of space’s harsh environment on life and technology, developing space technology, and consider how life evolved on Earth and perhaps elsewhere?

RS

Example: Connection between Solar Activity & Remote Sensing

Atmosphere, ionosphere, environment, minerals, space weather ..

V. Importance to/of the Australian Remote Sensing Community

• New opportunity to change lack of Australian RS instruments & missions in space.

• We have advanced instrumentation capability.• Our scientific strengths & interests include:

– Quantitative atmospheric measurements– Climate variability and change (e.g., greenhouse)– Surface environment (water, bio, mineral)– Oceans– Geological aspects– Life and human influence.

• Related Government & industry interests.

Lightning-1 & -2 Concept• Dynamics of equatorial to high-

latitude ionosphere & atmosphere• Lightning, sprites & global electrodynamic circuit.• Greenhouse gases & climate

change, local and large-scale – measurement & verification.

• Remote sensing Australia• Gravimetric & magnetic maps of

Australia (geodesy, minerals..)• Demonstrate Australian

technologies (electric propulsion, spacecraft/comms, instruments)

• Beacon for ionospheric radars

• 1 equatorial, • 1 highly inclined.• 250-1000 km altitude (alterable)• Upgradable

L1

L2

What Remote Sensing Do You Want to Do in Space?

• Science? Instruments? Missions?

• What can the Decadal Plan do to help you?

• For now prefer existing or cheap instruments (< $2-10 M so missions < $20M).

• Talk to or email alex.held@csiro.au or i.cairns@physics.usyd.edu.au

VI. Overview & Call for Input• NCSS is developing the first Australian Decadal Plan for

Space Science: 2007-2016, www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss .• Draft Plan likely early 2007, then a Townhall revision &

community approval meeting.

• Plan must excite, energise, link, and redevelop the Australian space science community, as well as provide very strong national benefit.

• Remote sensing is a vital part of Space Science and the Decadal Plan: theme OAEPS is strongly remote sensing.

• More input desired from Remote Sensing community:– Do you like the Lightning-1 and -2 concepts?– Tell us what (i) you want to do and (ii) the Plan can do

to help you … science, instruments …. – Help the Remote Sensing WG & be ready for the Plan.

Join the circulating email list to keep informed.

Flagship: “Octant”

o

o

oo

ooo

o

oo

o

• Connection to FedSat and international space/ground networks • Provide vital ionospheric info for SKA, NTD, MWA etc. (justify in Oz). • Provide ionospheric, atmospheric, and comms info (and cover) for national security, plus associated high-tech training.• Major industry benefits and high-tech products for export.

• ~1/8 World’s surface: Radar, optical/IR, GPS TEC & scints, magnetometer, digisonde, solar radio, and radio comms.

• Study Sun-Earth connections & space weather from Sun to magsphere to ionosphere/ground on a global basis (pole ↔ equator).