CSIRO Space Sciences and Technology

• Responsibilities
• CSIRO Space Strategy

CSIRO Space Sciences and Technology (CSST) is part of CSIRO's Information Sciences group and is located in Canberra, Australia.

Responsibilities

CSST coordinates CSIRO activities relating to space science and technology.

Responsibilities include:

• implementing CSIRO’s Space Strategy
• nurturing space science capabilities across CSIRO
• coordinating space science performed across the Organisation
• representing CSIRO at national and international space forums
• fostering relationships to gain CSIRO scientists better access to critical satellite data and international space science networks
• helping manage infrastructure used to acquire satellite images taken over our region
• facilitating relationships with major national and international partners in the space domain, including:
  • space agencies
  • governments
  • space industries
  • the broader space community.
• engaging and inspiring young people through space activities. For example, we co-sponsor the Victorian Space Science Education Centre-NASA Australian Space Prize. Read more in VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize [external link].

CSIRO Space Strategy

First developed in 2008, CSIRO’s Space Strategy positions us to deliver sustained national benefit from space science.

The Strategy focuses on four areas:

• radioastronomy. CSIRO is a recognised world leader in the development and use of radioastronomy to understand the structure and origins of the Universe.
• advanced aerospace. Our partners, such as Boeing and NASA, are leading investment in the next generation of these technologies.
• navigation and communication. CSIRO is developing applications for satellite navigation technology and ensuring Australia has access to reliable low-cost global navigation satellite system coverage.
• Earth observation. CSIRO has developed a diverse capability that uses satellites to monitor the environment. Our applications for this capability include:
  • climate monitoring
  • water management
  • agricultural production
  • disaster monitoring
  • minerals exploration.

CSIRO also co-authored the Global Exploration Strategy which sets out a vision for globally coordinated space exploration. Read more in Global exploration strategy: the framework for coordination.

There's more about the applications of our Earth observing capability on these pages:

Pastures from Space™ Pastures from Space™ delivers near real-time information tools at a whole-farm and within-paddock level. Using spatial informatics and remote sensing technology, it provides farmers and land managers with a suite of tools to accurately estimate the amount of feed in their pastures, how quickly their pastures are growing and the pasture quality.

New approach to mapping forest biomass to measure carbon stores CSIRO is collaborating in a NASA-funded project, using a CSIRO-designed lidar instrument, to help develop new methods for mapping forest biomass and measuring carbon stores on a large scale.

Locating bushfires as they happen Sentinel Hotspots provides reliable 'eyes' in the sky for Emergency Services, using satellite images to locate and map bushfires occurring in Australia and providing the information to anyone on the internet.

Improved satellite navigation for remote areas (Media release 22 Aug 08) CSIRO scientists with the Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship are working closely with industry and government to develop vastly improved navigation technology for remote areas.

Find out more about Astronomy & Space.

Contact Information

Related Links

• Astronomy & Space
• Space & astronomy activities
• CSIRO ICT Centre
• CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science

• Canberra: Tidbinbilla, ACT (Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex)
• Global exploration strategy: the framework for coordination
• Aerospace transport overview