0 Souern Hemisphere Summer Space Program

2013 Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program

This year, NewSat partnered with the University of South Australia and the International Space University to deliver the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program (SHSSP). The five-week Program took place in Adelaide, at the University of South Australias Mawson Lakes campus where it was also hosted in 2011 and 2012.

NewSat contributed to and was actively involved in the SHSSP's one-day module on satellite communications technologies, which took place on Monday 21 January. The curriculum included lectures on satellite system applications, satellite communications regulations and ground segments, as well as workshops, and tours of NewSat's Adelaide teleport.

SHSSP students got to observe the operations of a real-life teleport as they toured NewSats world-acclaimed Adelaide teleport, which, along with NewSats Perth teleport, was awarded Top 3 at the 2012 World Teleport Associations Awards for Excellence. The Adelaide teleport is accredited to supply services to the Australian Department of Defence (DRSS) and is recognised as a highly secure Global Access Point, supporting certified classified networks to ensure the transmission of vital and sensitive information for government clients.

NewSat's engineers explained how signals and data are transmitted via the Adelaide teleport to and from satellites and ground segments, and spoke to the students about the science behind the antennas and multitude of servers and power generators at the facility. Students were also taken into the teleport's Network Operations Centre, where they observed the inner workings of a live teleport control and monitoring room.

NewSats Chief Technology Officer, David Ball, participated in small group teaching as part of a workshop in which students were presented with a situation related to satellite communications. Mr Ball helped students formulate a solution to the problem and present it to their peers at the end of the workshop.

NewSat is proud of being involved in this year's Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program. An area of concern for the satellite industry in general is the world-wide shortage of trained professionals. As the industry is growing at an astounding pace, satellite and space companies are finding it more and more difficult to find candidates. NewSat is committed to assisting in this regard and believes the Program run by the University of Adelaide and International Space University is an excellent platform for those interested in pursuing careers within the space and telecommunications industries, said Mr Ball.

Mr Ball was also a key speaker at the public forum that evening, presenting and answering questions on the topic of Using satellites to overcome the digital divide alongside Nick Leake, Optus Director of Satellite Marketing, and Matt Dawson, NBN Co Satellite Program Director. Mr Ball also spoke about the important role played by satellites in disaster response and recovery situations, with particular reference to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the current Australian bushfires and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Satellites can play an important part in bridging the digital divide in Australia as they can service those areas which cannot be reached by fibre. Similarly, in disaster recovery situations satellites are vital in providing much needed disaster response communications when all other communication lines are severed, commented Mr Ball.

The SHSSP is an intensive, five-week live-in experience in the southern hemisphere summer focusing on specific aspects of space applications, space policy and space services. The Program attracts people from all over the world, who study or work within space related industries, or have a genuine interest in space, with most of the students enrolled this year being either in their final year of study, undertaking post-graduate studies or already working within a space related industry.

LINK:	http://www.newsat.com/Company-News/2013-southern-hemisphere-summer-spa...
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