Former NASA boss arrives to boost Aussie space race

AquaWatch Australia, which aims to create an integrated ground-to-space national water quality monitoring system, was one such project that could benefit from having a space component to boost its aim of providing predictive forecasting, he said.

“It’s not like you have to become a behemoth in terms of capabilities compared to the US. But you can absolutely create capabilities that are important for the nation and important for their allies.”

Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency, welcomed the appointment.

“Lieutenant General James brings a wealth of experience in daring mighty things at JPL, which will help steer and elevate the work of SmartSat CRC and Monash University – driving further growth and investment across Australia’s space industry,” said Palermo.

James was a lieutenant general with the US Air Force who retired from active duty in 2013 after working as Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at the Pentagon.

He worked with Australian military and scientists throughout his time in the air force, and during his civilian career at NASA. “I deployed with them during Iraqi Freedom, worked with them during my intel time and my Air Force time and JPL time,” he said.

While at NASA, James formed a relationship with Monash University and National Indigenous Space Agency lead Christopher Lawrence, a Wadjak/Ballardong Noongar man and Monash University associate dean (Indigenous).

They developed a program which led to NASA hosting a cohort of First Nations interns who studied space science in Pasadena, California, for 10 weeks.

At Monash, James will work to grow the university’s space curriculum.

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Australia has had a long involvement in space research, including the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla outside of Canberra. Andy Thomas and Paul Scully-Power are Australia’s most famous astronauts.

Its space industry is growing. Two years ago the Defence Department created Defence Space Command to secure Australia’s interests in space.

In April, Katherine Bennell-Pegg became the first Australian to graduate as an astronaut at the European Space Agency.