IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1052 

Affirming United States-Australia cooperation on space research, exploration, 

and utilization. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 

Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. COURTNEY, and Mr. 

GALLAGHER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming United States-Australia cooperation on space 

research, exploration, and utilization. 

Whereas the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Australia are treaty allies; 

Whereas United States and Australia defense cooperation extends back 100 years, to the Battle of Hamel in World 

War I; 

Whereas the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security 

Treaty, also referred to as the ANZUS Treaty, has 

formed the framework of the United States-Australia alliance since 1951; 

Whereas the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultation, also referred to as AUSMIN, has contributed to a 

deeper partnership between the two nations; 


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•HRES 1052 IH 

Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA) notes that, ‘‘The United States and Australia 

have been cooperating in civil space for more than 50 

years’’; 

Whereas the United States Apollo missions and subsequent 

space science and exploration conducted by the United 

States benefitted greatly from the partnership with our 

Australian allies; 

Whereas Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the surface of the 

Moon were relayed to Houston through the Honeysuckle 

Creek site in Australia; 

Whereas NASA also notes that, ‘‘The Canberra complex is an 

integral component of NASA’s Deep Space Network 

(DSN), the world’s largest and most sensitive scientific 

telecommunications system’’; 

Whereas the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex 

(CDSCC) is one of NASA’s largest tracking and communication facilities outside the United States; 

Whereas, on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, Australian Ambassador to the United States Joe Hockey and Acting NASA 

Administrator Robert Lightfoot signed a 25-year agreement for continued cooperation on space cooperation, including on space tracking; 

Whereas the United States and Australian governments have 

jointly committed to expanding Space Situational Awareness (SSA); 

Whereas United States-Australia cooperation on SSA is critical to maximize defense capabilities, monitoring environmental changes, avoiding space congestion and collisions, 

and protecting against exploitation from the growing 

counter-space capabilities of our adversaries; 


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•HRES 1052 IH 

Whereas, on September 24, 2017, the Government of Australia under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull committed 

to creating the Australian Space Agency, with operations 

beginning on July 1, 2018; and 

Whereas the Australian Space Agency commenced operations 

on July 1, 2018: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends the Australian Government in 

3 constituting the Australian Space Agency; 

4 (2) recognizes the value in United States-Aus5 tralia cooperation on space research, exploration, 

6 and utilization, including on terrestrial research, 

7 commercial activities, and human and robotic space 

8 exploration; 

9 (3) supports international cooperation on space 

10 research, exploration, and utilization and other 

11 forms of space diplomacy as being in the national in12 terest of the United States; 

13 (4) encourages the Department of State to sup14 port and facilitate international cooperation with 

15 Australia on space research, exploration, and utiliza16 tion through diplomatic efforts, including through 

17 the Australia-United States Ministerial Consulta18 tions (AUSMIN) forum and multilateral initiatives 

19 with Japan, Canada, the European Union, and other 


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•HRES 1052 IH 

1 partners of both the United States and Australia; 

2 and 

3 (5) supports deeper cooperation with our Aus4 tralian allies in contributing each country’s unique 

5 strengths and resources to mutual prosperity and se6 curity. 

Æ 


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