The collaboration, funded by the Australian Research Council and the Polish Space Agency, is being spearheaded by Associate Professor David Coward from The University of Western Australia (UWA) International Space Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia\u2019s rapidly growing sovereign reliance on space is providing new opportunities and challenges and it is becoming critical to know what\u2019s in orbit above Australia,\u201d Coward said.<\/p>\n
Coward added, \u201cThe space above Earth is becoming increasingly dangerous due to space debris \u2013 consisting of non-functional satellites, rocket bodies and even flakes of paint \u2013 which pose an increasing threat to orbiting spacecraft.\u201d<\/p>\n
Polish PhD researcher Dorota Mieczkowska, based at UWA, is playing a central role in the project. Using state-of-the-art imaging equipment at the university\u2019s space surveillance hub, combined with data from the Polish Space Agency, she is tracking satellites and debris to better understand the risks to critical space assets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project allows us to combine Australia\u2019s advanced observational facilities with Poland\u2019s expertise in space surveillance,\u201d Mieczkowska said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to contribute to building international collaboration while helping develop new capabilities for monitoring the space environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initiative comes at a time of heightened global concern over the sustainability of Earth\u2019s orbit. According to the European Space Agency, more than 36,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10 centimetres are currently being tracked, with millions of smaller fragments also posing collision risks.<\/p>\n
With satellites underpinning everything from global positioning system navigation and telecommunications to defence and climate monitoring, protecting orbital infrastructure has become a national security priority.<\/p>\n
As part of the project, UWA is hosting the Polish\u2013Western Australian Workshop on Ground Sensor Space Surveillance this week. The event will bring together researchers, industry partners and government representatives to explore new opportunities for collaboration, promote STEM education as a career pathway into space, and highlight the importance of international partnerships in addressing orbital challenges.<\/p>\n
The workshop will also mark Poland\u2019s return to space activities after a 50-year absence. Special guest Polish astronaut S\u0142awosz Uzna\u0144ski-Wi\u015bniewski, who recently returned from the International Space Station, will deliver a message to participants, underscoring the symbolic significance of the collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time Western Australia has hosted a space event with the Polish Space Agency,\u201d Coward said. \u201cSpace really is a place where all countries can work together.\u201d<\/p>\n