Australian Space Project followup

[Dan Shearer]

Thankyou for your response to the news article <987.levels.sait.edu.au>,
concerning public domain participation in developing software for the launch
vehicle being developed by Australian Launch Vehicles. The responses
worldwide have been very encouraging, both in their number and the technical
qualifications and experience of the respondants. Following is a brief
description of where the idea is at present and what our goals are.

Last wednesday, Professor David Lee (Pro-director of Research), Chris
Rusbridge (head of the Institute's academic computing facility) and I
attended a meeting with Australian Launch Vehicles' Dr Bob Irvine (Rocketry)
and Peter Winch (chemical propulsion specialist), both of whom are ex Defence
Science and Technology Organisation employees. At the meeting it was decided
that:

1) The initial idea of a cooperative effort to produce software
specifically for ALV is impractical, because of a number of commercial and
logistical reasons.

2) Rather, a more general project should be undertaken, to produce
software to perform space-related tasks which conforms to rigidly defined
design rules which can then be used and/or adapted by ALV, or anyone else who
has the need. It is recognised that a lot of software already exists and is
available, but such software does not:
- address the full range of applications needed in the fields of
launch vehicle and satellite control
- apply strict, consistent standards to all the software involved
- carry the confidence of informed and competent persons, who have
said much software of this kind that is available is unstable.

3) Everything possible should be done to make the project an official
institute undertaking, although it can only proceed in our Institute context
if there is a project leader in place, a project champion, and until that is
achieved the project cannot get fully under way.

4) The public domain aspect should be exploited to the full, but only
through the medium of accredited authorities.

SAIT already has groups working in the fields of collaborative computing
(headed by Doug Seely) and Digital Communications (run by Professor Mike
Miller), which it is hoped can be brought in to the project at an early
stage. We at the Institute are confident of formal project status and I am
therefore willing to continue in my my coordinating role until that happens.
We are particularly interested in suggestions as to what regional
responsibilities groups are willing to take on as we see the joint
participative aspects to be essential.

Thankyou for your interest, and we hope to be able to report more positivly
in the near future.

Dan Shearer.