In news–Australia has announced a new Defence Space Command Agency to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in space recently.
About the agency-
- It was set up in January 2022, for Australia to achieve strategic space ambitions and “lead the effort to assure Australia’s access to space”.
- The agency will come under the Air Force.
- It brings members of the Air Force, Army, Navy and the Australian Public Service together under an integrated headquarters reporting to the Chief of Air Force, as the Space Domain Lead.
- It will help Australia in developing and advocating space-specific priorities within the government, industry, allies and even international partners.
- It will enable Australia in providing training to people to become space specialists, help it conduct strategic space planning, and be able to be a part of any developments regarding the refinement of space policy.
- All the operations of the agency – including design, construction, maintenance – will be within the purview of the standards and limitations of the Defence Ministry.
- In addition to this, the Australian government is planning to invest a total of AUD 7 billion over the next 10 years in order for the Australian Defence Force to become a contributor to space instead of just being a consumer, which it currently is.
Some of the space commands around the world-
- Defence Space Agency (DSA) – India.
- Air and Space Operations Center- Germany.
- Iranian Space Command (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force)
- Spacecom – US Space Force.
- Joint Space Command- France.
- Russian Space Forces.
- United Kingdom Space Command.
- Joint Space operations Command-Italy.
Source: The Indian Express
