Maybe a job at Spacely Sprockets isn’t in your future, or even your grandchildren’s future, but the space industry plays a much larger role in our everyday lives than we might stop to think about. Anything from checking Google Maps for your fastest route to the office to monitoring water flows for drought preparedness relies on satellites, and getting those satellites into space is one of the foundations of the space business in the 21st century.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews, whose department oversees the year-old Australian Space Agency (ASA), envisions the country playing a significant part in future space missions and the dream of space inspiring young Australians to study science and maths. She spoke with VENTURE recently about the importance of STEM education, the jobs of the future, and evidence-based decision-making.
THE BUSINESS OF SPACE
“Back at the time that Neil Amstrong first walked on the moon, I guess you had ‘The Jetsons,’ which was really quite Space Age, people were living in outer space and commuting in outer space in space vehicles quite similar to cars,” Andrews said of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon in which protagonist George Jetson ran a digital indexer at Spacely Space Sprockets in Orbit City. “So we’re not there yet — clearly — but I think we’re well on the way. When you look at space travel, clearly the unimaginable has actually happened.
“Sixty years ago the prospect of man walking on the moon was probably limited, not many people would have believed that it was possible, and it was really considered to be a moon-shot. Here we are where we’ve already had missions to Mars. Now they haven’t been manned, but they will be.”
This story is from the September 2019 edition of The Venture Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of The Venture Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How To Clean Up - Sanitary Franchises To Invest In
It’s a tangible part of this new world we’ve entered after emerging from lockdown. You can smell it in corridors and in shops, and it’s a selling point for hotels reopening. Cleanliness is godliness now, and there is a high demand for sanitary services for the foreseeable future. That makes a cleaning franchise a promising business opportunity. These companies offer it.
Outsourcing: The Next Generation
Cloudstaff is helping businesses meet their staffing needs with ease, speed, and wallet friendliness
SOFT OPENING - CONSUMER CONFIDENCE A KEY FACTOR IN RECOVERY
As states and territories reopened their economies in various phases throughout May and June, it became clear that simply being open is not enough to get firing on all cylinders again. First, there are safety regulations limiting how many patrons a business can serve at a time. Just as important is consumer confidence. If shoppers don’t feel safe visiting a business, they’re not going to, and there’s no forcing them. Some services requiring intimate personal contact have an even harder time with this. Just because someone can get a massage doesn’t mean they’re comfortable with it.
The PERFECT PAIRING
YOUNGSTER.CO MATCHES TEENS WITH ELDERS TO EXCHANGE TECH KNOW-HOW AND TIMELESS WISDOM
THE PRICE OF NEWS
Australia aims to make tech giants pay remuneration to traditional media
NO CLEAR PATH
RELATIONS WITH CHINA HAVE DETERIORATED, BUT THEY CAN’T REALLY BE ABANDONED
ON THE RESTART
Technology road map lays out vision of energy future for recovery and beyond
COMING OUT OF OUR CAVES - LIFE IN PUBLIC AS RESTRICTIONS EASE
The pubs reopened to great rejoicing and some free beer as coronavirus restrictions eased across Australia, although unfortunately, it was too late for millions of litres of suds that had to be tipped down the drain. It was strange to be out, but it felt good once you got used to it. Rules vary by state and territory, but over the past several weeks, Aussies have been able to dine out, go to holiday homes, and gather in small groups once more. Lockdown isn’t lockdown anymore, but that doesn’t mean “normal” is back. Here’s where things stand.
IN THE SHADE OF A TRILLION TREES
What reforestation means for Australians
RISKY BUSINESS
IT’S HALF-PAST TIME TO KILL YOUR ORGANISATION'S OUTDATED RISK MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS. 6CLICKS IS HERE TO HELP.