Aussie space industry gets boost after being awarded rights to host COSPAR in 2020

Australia's space industry has been given a boost after being awarded rights to host the Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) in 2020.

Up to 3,000 international space experts are expected to descend on Sydney in 2020 after it beat out competing bids from others to host the prestigious event.

"This is a ringing endorsement of our people, infrastructure and high regard in the global space community," Australian environment minister Greg Hunt said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Australia is the perfect choice to host COSPAR. We have some of the world's best researchers, a long history of space science and research, and we back this up with our ongoing commitment, investment and operation of major space infrastructure right across the country."

Australia has a strong space research program, backed up by its history of involvement in joint projects with the European Space Agency and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) since 1965.

International researchers leverage the Square Kilometer Array project in Western Australia state, while Australia's premier scientific body the CSIRO and NASA jointly operate the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.

Australia, however, doesn't have a dedicated space agency, only one of the countries in the OECD without a formal space program. COSPAR 2020 is expected to build Australia's international presence.

"We come to the table with a bold vision for our nation's place in science, and through science, our place in space," Australia's chief scientist Alan Finkel, who was a key figure behind the Sydney bid, said. Endit