US-Australian space surveillance telescope to be enhanced, aluminium coat remains essential

The Australian Government will invest $87 million towards improvising facilities at the joint US-Australian Space Surveillance Telescope, Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt in Exmouth, on the tip of the North West Cape in WA.

Linda Reynolds, Minister for Defence, during a visit to the facility in Exmouth said: “The significant investment will be used to build a new mirror recoating facility.”

Minister Reynolds said: “As recently announced in the Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan, the Government is significantly increasing investment in Defence’s space capabilities with $7 billion being invested over the next decade.”

“This world-leading, 360-degree telescope enables the defence to track better and identify objects and threats in space including space debris, as well as predicts and avoids potential collisions.”

“The telescope uses three large mirrors that periodically require a new coat of aluminium to maintain performance. This investment will be used to build a new mirror recoating facility and sustain the telescope through to the middle of 2025.”

Minister for Defence Industry and the local Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said: “Defence would provide opportunities to grow the Australian space industry through its Space Domain Awareness project.”

“Space is a truly global endeavour, and Australia is now looking to make a strong contribution to space safety and security using home-grown technologies and systems,” Minister Price said.

The telescope first captured its images in April 2020. Presently the telescope will endure extensive testing; however, by 2022 it will be fully operational.