Behind the Headlines – World Book Student
  • Search

  • Archived Stories

    • Ancient People
    • Animals
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Business & Industry
    • Civil rights
    • Conservation
    • Crime
    • Current Events
    • Current Events Game
    • Disasters
    • Economics
    • Education
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Food
    • Government & Politics
    • Health
    • History
    • Holidays/Celebrations
    • Law
    • Lesson Plans
    • Literature
    • Medicine
    • Military
    • Military Conflict
    • Natural Disasters
    • People
    • Plants
    • Prehistoric Animals & Plants
    • Race Relations
    • Recreation & Sports
    • Religion
    • Science
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Terrorism
    • Weather
    • Women
    • Working Conditions
  • Archives by Date

« Language Monday: Navajo
More Than Just Independence Day »

Australia’s New Space Agency

July 3, 2018

On July 1, Australia’s space industry blasted off into uncharted territory with the establishment of the Australian Space Agency. The agency aims to coordinate and develop Australia’s space industry to make it competitive on the global stage. In the near future, the Australian Space Agency will work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States, the European Space Agency (ESA), and other world space programs.

Australia with surrounding region as seen from Earth's orbit in space.  Credit: © Harvepino/Shutterstock

The Australian Space Agency will soon be funding its own continental “selfies.” Credit: © Harvepino/Shutterstock

In a May press release, Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute clarified that the Australian Space Agency will not be a “NASA Down Under.” Rather than building and launching space hardware and running space missions, the agency will aim to boost private investment in the space sector by helping drive funding, research, and policy initiatives.

Initially, the agency will be headquartered in Canberra, the capital, and will share space with the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. Australia’s states and territories are bidding to build a permanent headquarters for the agency. Geologist Megan Clark, who formerly served as chief executive of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, will serve as the agency’s first leader.

Tags: australia, australian space agency, space exploration


  • Most Popular Tags

    african americans ancient greece animals archaeology art australia barack obama baseball bashar al-assad basketball china climate change conservation earthquake european union football france global warming iraq isis japan language monday literature major league baseball mars mexico monster monday mythic monday mythology nasa new york city nobel prize presidential election russia soccer space space exploration syria syrian civil war Terrorism ukraine united kingdom united states vladimir putin world war ii