Minister for Supply Allen Fairhall writes this in the Preface (of the booklet above):
“This is another day of achievement for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration in its great scientific attack on the mysteries of space and for Australia whose area of cooperation in the great adventure continues to expand.
I offer you a warm welcome to Deep Space Instrumentation Facility No. 42 which today officially joins the world deep-space network and which, with two more stations yet to be built, will scan the limitless reaches of space from the Australian Capital Territory.
It is altogether fitting that these stations should operate from this nation’s capital, for the conduct of these stations in Australia by Australians illustrates the growing association between Australia and the United States in the field of scientific endeavour.
But the exercise encourages still wider development of international cooperation and understanding. I recall a few months ago we had the pleasure of welcoming to Australia members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science and Astronautics who expressed themselves as being well pleased with the installation and the standard of conduct of their stations at Woomera, Carnarvon and here in Canberra.
So the programme goes with two-way benefits: to the United States in access to our geography peculiarly essential to their peaceful scientific endeavours in space and to Australia in access to the most advanced technology in space research and related activities.
The Department of Supply is proud to carry the responsibility for the efficient management of this new and important installation but, as a matter of policy, we believe that the scientific benefits and the experience of operating in the most sophisticated ele ctronics field in the world offers great opportunities to Australian industry.
We are therefore happy to acknowledge a consortium of private enterprise companies under the name SpaceTrack Pty. Limited as the successful tenderers for the operation of this Tidbinbilla Space Tracking Station. Thus, to the value of Government-to-Government cooperation, there is added, for Australia, the benefit of Government-to-Industry association.
May all who are associated in any way with D.S.I.F. 42 derive great satisfaction from this effort to expand the frontiers of human knowledge.”
Photos of the Visitors Book for the day of the opening ceremony to come here.
