Australian Space Research Conference

Broaden Our Horizons: Sydney, December 2-4, 2024

About the Conference

ASRC2024

The 23rd Australian Space Research Conference (ASRC) will be held in Sydney at the University of NSW (Kensington campus) over December 2 to 4, 2024. It will be a 3 day conference.

This conference is organised by the National Space Society of Australia, Mars Society Australia, and members of the Australian space research community with a heritage of organising 16 successful ASRC meetings to date.

The organising committee extends a warm invitation to space scientists, engineers, educators, and industry, government, and NGO personnel.

Abstracts Close: 13 September 2024

Abstracts Accepted: 20 September 2024

Registrations Open: 30 September 2024

Draft Program Release: 14 October 2024

Conference Start: 2 December 2024

Conference End: 4 December 2024

Explore the diverse range of topics our conference covers

  • Delve into the universe's mysteries through topics like space and atmospheric physics, Earth observation and remote sensing, planetary sciences, astrobiology, and space-based astronomy and astrophysics.

  • Explore how space affects living organisms, from understanding the complexities of human habitability in space to the study of life sciences in extraterrestrial environments.

  • Discover the technological backbone of space exploration, encompassing communications, navigation, space operations, propulsion, and spacecraft design, testing, and operation.

  • Learn about the commercial and economic aspects of space exploration, from space-based industries to the business strategies propelling space ventures.

  • Unearth the past and indigenous perspectives on space with a focus on space archaeology and archaeoastronomy, the study of ancient, indigenous astronomical knowledge.

  • Stay informed about the ever-evolving space environment, including space weather and the tracking and prediction of natural and artificial objects in space.

  • Get to know both current and future Australian space initiatives that aim to push the boundaries of our understanding and capabilities in space.

  • Delve into the legal and international aspects of space exploration, including international relations, space policy, and law.

  • Understand the educational efforts and workforce development initiatives essential for growing and maintaining a thriving space sector.

The plenary and invited speakers for conference:

Dr Craig Benson (Skykraft)

Dr Melrose Brown (UNSW Canberra)

Dr Julie Currie (RMIT University)

Professor Andrew Dempster (UNSW Sydney)

Roger Franzen (EarthSpace)

Professor Trevor Ireland (University of Queensland)

Dr Imogen Jones (AIAA)

Dr Sascha Schediwy (University of West Australia)

Professor Michele Trenti (University of Melbourne)

Dr Sara Webb (Swinburne University)

Conference Activities

Monday  December 2

NSW SRN Panel discussion

1:30pm Stream 3

“IAC + Opportunities for 2025”

After one of the most eventful years yet in the international space industry, we ask the question ‘What’s next?’.

Australian space industry is on the brink of a new era — one that promises groundbreaking opportunities and innovations domestically and internationally. As we hurtle toward 2025, advancements in technology, policy, and private-sector involvement are opening up exciting opportunities in the Australian Space industry.

During this session, NSW Space Research Network and SIAA representatives will discuss what practical opportunities 2025 will present; and how the NSW SRN intends to support the academic community to contribute to the Space research landscape in a meaningful way.

A detailed agenda is now available for review.

Submit your questions via SLIDO here:
https://app.sli.do/event/ukcVi3eDnw4E4cXj7CohTX    (Slido Code: 1040560)

Conference cocktail function

This will be held at 4:30 pm Monday after the poster presentations.

Tuesday December 3

Panel sessions

Stream 1: Lessons learned from recent projects
 https://app.sli.do/event/n4XhvWXE4rEbVq3zU7VxGa  (Slido Code: 1040560)

Stream 2: Workforce development
https://app.sli.do/event/madTnKQBTVYrtdndttC3Si  (Slido Code: 4090171) 

Conference dinner

This will be held at the Rooftop in Surry Hills in the City CBD.

Address is Level 11, 28 Albion st, Surry Hills

Easy transport to the venue is available via light rail (L3 route) from the university. 6:30pm for 7:00 pm start AEDT.

Cost is $100 per person. The dinner includes a 3 course meal with 2 drinks included (further drinks are available but at an additional cost).

The dinner event is now fully booked but a waiting list will be used for last minute substations.

Dress code for the dinner is smart casual.

Public Events

Monday  December 2

David Cooper Memorial lecture sponsored by the Mars Society Australia.

Dr Steve Hobbs: “Eyes on the Ground: Mars, Robots and Remote Sensing.” This is a public lecture but conference delegates are most welcome. Expected start time is 700pm AEDT (doors open at 6:30pm).   

Eventbrite link to book is URL:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/eyes-on-the-ground-mars-robots-and-remote-sensing-tickets-1076207458479?aff=oddtdtcreator:

Wednesday  December 4

CICADA Innovations – Space Hub Connect event

The last Space Hub Connect of the year will celebrate the successful launch and ground breaking journey of Waratah Seed and learn how powerful partnerships are driving space innovation forward.

The event will explore how partnerships fuel innovation, from funding and support networks to sharing technical expertise at IAC 2025.

Guest speakers include Professor Iver Cairns Waratah Seed and CUAVA-2 project lead, and Dr Annie Handmer, IAC 2025 IPC Co-Chair.

When: Wednesday 4 December 5:45pm - 8:00pm AEDT
Location: Cicada Innovations, 4 Cornwallis Street, Eveleigh 

 Register here at:

https://events.humanitix.com/space-hub-connect-waratah-seed-and-the-power-of-partnerships

Prizes for Presentations

There is a large number of students and early career researchers (ECR) presenting their research work at the 23rd Australian Space Research Conference.

We aim to award several prizes (money and a certificate) for:

•   Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation

•   Best Postgraduate Oral Presentation

•   Best Student Poster presentation

•   Best Early Career Researcher presentation

To those marking the presentations for prizes, please record your results here

The list of Delegates under consideration for prizes is here

Registration Rates

  • Early-bird - $100

    Normal - $150

  • Early-bird - $250

    Normal - $315

  • Early-bird - $300

    Normal - $375

  • Normal - $190

  • Normal - $190

Accommodation

The Sydney CBD is close-by to the Kensington campus and reachable in around 20 minutes by the light-rail (L3 line.)

Unfortunately short-duration student accommodation on campus is not available during the conference. Those wishing nearby accommodation should examine a consolidated list of options we have prepared.

 

Location

UNIVERSITY OF NSW

Ainsworth Building, J17
Library Road
Kensington, NSW., 2033

UNSW Campus Map

Organising Committee

Cheryl Brown, Secretariat

Annalea Beattie, Mars Society Australia, National Space Society of Australia

Iver Cairns, Conference Co Chair, University of Sydney 

Guifre’ Molera Calves, University of Tasmania

Jack Dwyer, National Space Society of Australia

Trevor Harris, University of Adelaide

Li Qiao, Chair - Program Committee, UNSW Canberra

Wayne Short, Conference Co Chair, President, NSSA

Yang Yang, UNSW Sydney

Inquiries

General Inquiries:
asrcconference@nssa.com.au
phone: +61 411 296 541

Abstracts:
asrc-abstracts@nssa.com.au

Registrations:
asrcsecretariat@nssa.com.au

Sponsors


ASRC position statement 15/08/2024

The National Space Society of Australia (NSSA) originally initiated the conference series in 2001. Its collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science, through the National Committee for Space Science (NCSS), began in early 2007. Since its inception, the conference has been hosted in most Australian states, serving as a valuable platform for academics and researchers to present their latest findings and to network with peers and professionals in the field.

Presenting at ASRC provides researchers with the opportunity to receive feedback and constructive criticism on their work from local peers and experts, enhancing collaborations, partnerships, and the exchange of ideas within Australia. Additionally, the conference offers opportunities to develop collaborations, network, and publish peer-reviewed papers, providing a formal outlet for disseminating research findings. The increasing number of attendees and the expanding range of topics over the years reflect the flourishing of Australian space research. According to the annual surveys conducted after the conference, the ASRC is regarded as a highly valuable event within the Australian space ecosystem.

Organizing this conference requires the joint efforts of various parties. The NSSA has handled operations such as registration and budget management, while the technical program is managed by academics from various Australian universities on the program and conference organising committees, focusing on fostering Australian space research.

The unexpected withdrawal of Curtin University from hosting an ASRC in Perth in September this year has been disruptive to everyone. While some academics left following the withdrawal, over half have remained on the organizing committee. These ASRC committees wish to express their appreciation for the work that has been done to date, particularly by colleagues from Curtin University who were members of the local organizing committee.

The organizing committee hopes to run another ASRC in Sydney in late 2024, currently being termed the 23rd ASRC. As before, the conference will be organised by members of the NSSA and the Australian space research community, with a heritage of organising 16 successful ASRC meetings so far. Accordingly, as always before, research excellence remains the primary priority. The conference’s organising committee currently contains four space research academics, who are actively serving at Australian  universities in Sydney, Canberra, Hobart, and Adelaide. They include a former chair of NCSS.  

We hope you will continue your support of, and attendance at, the 23rd ASRC, as your involvement and collaboration are crucial to the continued success and growth of the ASRC and Australia’s space research community. The current plan is that all abstracts submitted to the cancelled September ASRC will be transferred to the late 2024 meeting, with opportunities given to withdraw abstracts and to submit new abstracts. We look forward to being in contact with more details as soon as possible. Your contributions help ensure that we can provide a good platform for sharing innovative research and fostering meaningful connections within our Australian space community.