On Monday the Hensoldt Optical Telescope Mount plaque was unveiled by Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Science and Technology, at the Greenhill Observatory near Hobart.

The new mount signifies the company’s continued collaboration with the University of Tasmania in further developing Australia’s space domain awareness capability and building national capacity in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) by expanding the infrastructure to support these careers.

The mount was donated by Hensoldt Australia to upgrade the 50 cm optical telescope, which is part of an array of space infrastructure that is owned and managed by the University of Tasmania. This Australia-wide network includes six radio telescopes and radars capable of observing near-Earth orbiting objects, satellites, and space debris and further afield objects including the tracking of distant space missions and asteroids. The mount allows for more flexible and faster movement of the telescope, therefore significantly supporting and improving the space-tracking abilities of the system.

“This optical mount system will further strengthen capabilities in both Australia’s space domain awareness and space research by the University of Tasmania,” said Scott Reeman, Managing Director of the company’s Australian subsidiary. “This is one more step by the Southern Guardian team to develop and secure Australia’s critical national space capability.”

Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said that the upgrade to the optical telescope will enable Tasmania to continue its leadership in space observation, strengthen Tasmania’s role as a leader of space domain awareness and build excitement for careers in the sciences.

“Tasmania’s space sector is ascending to new heights, and this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the partnerships that make its continued growth possible,” she said.

Professor Simon Ellingsen, Dean of School of Natural Sciences at the University of Tasmania said that the upgrade to the 50cm optical telescope provides an exciting opportunity to test and demonstrate a range of new space domain awareness approaches.

“Combining data from different sensors is very much the way of the future and will help keep us at the leading edge of developments in this area,” he explained.