Brisbane conference to showcase space leadership

Leaders in international space technology development will attend the 10th annual Australian Space Research Institute (ASRI) conference at The University of Queensland from December 1 to 3.

The conference will discuss ways that Australian space efforts can be advanced through education of future engineers and scientists.

(ASRI is a not-for-profit organisation for advancing Australian space technology through education and involves professionals, academics and students from across the country).

The University of Queensland will showcase its latest space research activities, including:
o Dr Allan Paul will update delegates on the Hyshot project, a world-first attempt to quantify internal operation of a scramjet, which is a high speed engine that may one day provide cheap access to space and drastically reduce transcontinental flight times.
o Dr Richard Morgan will detail the recent commissioning of the world's largest super-orbital wind tunnel, the X3 Expansion Tube, at the Centre for Hypersonics in Brisbane; and
o Dr Ted Steinberg will outline progress of a new drop tower facility that will strengthen Australia's role in international micro-gravity research.

Industry speakers will include:
o Mr Curtis Johnson from Kistler Aerospace, a company that plans to operate a satellite launch service from Woomera commencing in 2001;
o Dr Gordon Pike, who will discuss the Cable & Wireless Optus C1 geostationary satellite; and
o Dr Brian Embleton, who will explain the challenges of the Australian Centenary of Federation satellite, Fedsat-1, which is currently being completed in Canberra.

Delegates will be updated on ASRI's own space engineering efforts. These include Ausroc-III, a liquid fuelled rocket capable of carrying sub-orbital payloads.

The conference will also discuss reports on a recent series of highly successful Small Sounding Rocket launches from Woomera as well as ASRI satellite projects including JAESAT, the Joint Australian Engineering Satellite, and ALUMINATE, the Australian Lunar-Mars Investigation and Technical Evaluation.

Sydney-based journalist Simon Mansfield, who has created the world's second most popular space-news website, www.spacedaily.com, will be guest speaker at the conference dinner on December 2.

The three-day conference will be held in Room 45-104 of the Mansergh Shaw building at The University of Queensland. Conference registration is free for ASRI members and costs $50 for non-members and $30 for students. The conference dinner costs $35. Registration can be made via the ASRI website ( http://www.asri.org.au).

Media: For further information, or to arrange an interview with a conference speaker, contact space engineer Judy Odam on 07) 3365 3585 or at jodam@asri.org.au or contact Jan King at UQ Communications 0413 601 248 or email: communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au.