A new space centre at Melbourne’s RMIT University will focus on developing low-cost satellite-based remote sensing products.

The centre is part of the federal government’s $40m Super Science Initiative, aimed at boosting the Australian economy.

The government hopes the centre will help put Australia in a leading position in the study of atmospheric mass density and applications of satellite technologies in climate and space weather.

Kefei Zhang from RMIT's Space Research Centre said that satellite-based remote sensing provided a low-cost way of precisely measuring the characteristics of the earth environment on a global scale.

"Geo-environmental satellite programs such as the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) will allow high-accuracy monitoring of climatic hazards," he said.

"New platforms for in-space tracking and navigation, precise positioning, space weather, atmospheric modelling and climate monitoring will play a critical role in supporting future Australian satellite missions."

Professor Zhang will lead researchers from the Bureau of Meteorology, Curtin University of Technology, the University of NSW, Electro Optic Systems Space System, GPSat Systems Australia Pty Ltd, National Space Organisation Taiwan and NOAA's World Data Centre for Meteorology.

RMIT vice-chancellor and president Margaret Gardner said the university was part of an international research community seeking innovative solutions to address emerging global problems using frontier technologies.

"The RMIT research framework provides a platform for interdisciplinary groupings, bringing together teams of researchers from diverse backgrounds to address complex problems," she said.

Also last week the University of New South Wales launched the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER), using $4.7m from the space research program.

Australian researchers will develop new satellite technologies that will help improve earth observation and navigation services.

ACSER will focus on satellite navigation, launch vehicle technology, earth observation, new generation materials, and space vehicle engineering and instrumentation.

One of the centre’s first projects will be to investigate ways of flying satellites in formation to create more accurate models of the Earth's surface.
The centre will draw on expertise in UNSW’s engineering and science faculties, and the Australian Defence Force Academy, as well as forging national and international partnerships with universities, government, private companies and other space agencies.