Industry liftoff from UQ space research

The University of Queensland's research into high-speed space transportation will have flow-on benefits for future industries, according to Queensland Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Minister Jan Jarratt.

Ms Jarratt has visited UQ's Centre for Hypersonics to see the progress of UQ's SCRAMSPACE and related projects.

"The Smart State could be on the cusp of some exciting breakthroughs in the near future with UQ already a powerhouse of expertise in this area – and growing," Ms Jarratt said.

"In 2012-13, the Centre is planning to launch the SCRAMSPACE 1 free-flying scramjet in Woomera, with a lot of activity at UQ underway with designs and simulations of this
air-breathing machine before it starts field testing.

"SCRAMSPACE 1 is being designed to travel at speeds in excess of 8600 kilometres an hour, and is the first phase of a roadmap to develop scramjet-based launch systems for small satellites."

UQ's Professor Russell Boyce leads SCRAMSPACE and is the chairman-elect for the National Committee for Space Science

"Australia depends critically on space-based technologies, for example for climate and environment monitoring, for communications and navigation, for resources prospecting, and for emergency management," Professor Boyce said.

"This first phase of SCRAMSPACE has been funded by the Australian Space Research Program.

"It builds directly on earlier Smart State funding for hypersonic flight experiments.

"It is building both the talent pool and the technology to contribute to a future Australian space industry."

Minister Jarratt said one of the critical issues with flying so fast was that the vehicle had to withstand temperatures far hotter than everyday substances could handle.

"UQ and Brisbane company Teakle Composites, a partner in SCRAMSPACE, are already taking steps towards manufacturing high temperature materials," she said.

"The next phase of the program will seek to consolidate both the flight team and the materials capabilities.

"Significantly this technology has the potential for huge application across industry.

"It will influence the next generation of high speed transportation and rockets, as well as applications such as automobile brakes and manufacturing processes that involve incredibly hot temperatures which have, until now, been out of reach."

The UQ Centre for Hypersonics is the hub of the Australian hypersonics network which includes universities across the country and it is working with other leaders including the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

It also works closely with international bodies such as the United States Air Force, NASA, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Italian Aerospace Research Center (CIRA), and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Ms Jarratt said the centre was also working in partnership with industry and ground-testing new rocket motors made entirely from fibre composites.

"Developed by Teakle Composites, the project has received $50,000 in State Government funding," she said.

"This project will develop a revolutionary high performance solid-fuel rocket motor for research rockets."

The State Government has been a strong supporter of The University of Queensland's Centre for Hypersonics, awarding over $4 million in grant funding.