The Cape York International Spaceport was an abandoned 20th century proposal to build the world's first commercial spaceport in Australia's Cape York Peninsula.[1][2] The plan was announced in 1986 by then-Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who confiscated Indigenous Australian land in Far North Queensland for the spaceport's construction.[3] The location was chosen due to its proximity to the Equator, which would allow easier and cheaper space launches.[3] Following legal challenges from local indigenous groups whose land had been taken for the project, increased federal environmental standards and a lack of financial support from the private sector, the project was abandoned in 1992.[2][4]
Later developments
editIn 2017 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk returned the 160,730 hectares of Cape York land, known as Bromley, to its Wuthathi, Kuuku Ya'u and Northern Kaantju traditional owners.[3][4]
Following the establishment of the Australian Space Agency and increasing interest from governments around Australia in the space industry, in 2018 the Queensland Government began a feasibility study to consider suitable locations for a satellite launch facility.[5] The assessment criteria balance considerations of airspace, operations, environment and cultural matters (including local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views).[6]
In 2018 Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott recommended the nearby town of Weipa to build a spaceport due to its sea port, population size and proximity to RAAF Base Scherger.[7]
By 2020, the Queensland Government announced it would investigate the suitability of Abbot Point as an alternative orbital launch site.[8] The Opposition Liberal National Party unveiled alternative proposals for a facility in Bowen before the 2020 Queensland state election,[9] which it lost.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Reizner, Christine (13 May 2016). "Cape York Space Station would've been out of this world". Tropic Now - Cairns News. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Whatever happened to the Cape York Spaceport?". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b c Caldwell, Felicity (21 June 2019). "Queensland, we have a problem with launch sites for the space race". Brisbane Times. Nine Newspapers. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b Robertson, Joshua (17 May 2017). "Indigenous owners who defeated Cape York spaceport given back lands after 150 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Caldwell, Felicity (15 October 2018). "Queensland investigates potential rocket launch sites". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Caldwell, Felicity (21 June 2019). "Queensland, we have a problem with launch sites for the space race". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Horn, Allyson (5 September 2018). "Rockets could launch from Queensland as push to become space hub takes off". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Lynch, Lydia (28 July 2020). "Queensland plans 2022 liftoff for Whitsundays launch pad". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Second rocket launch site proposed for Queensland". InDaily. Australian Associated Press. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.