Space Association of Australia

Fan Club
Name:	Space Association of Australia
Dates:	1981 -
Founder(s):
Leadership:
Country based in:	Australia
Focus:	space program
External Links:	Space Association of Australia website
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The Space Association of Australia is an Australian non-profit group of space fans and others interested in the history, potential and future of space exploration. Its mission statement reads:

Our Purpose

To promote the advancement and expansion of the peaceful exploration, utilisation and, colonisation of outer space.

To inform and educate the public of the characteristics and benefits of the peaceful exploration, utilisation and colonisation of outer space.

To encourage space research and applications by the Australian Government, industry, educational and scientific bodies, and other organisations.

To provide a forum for people interested in the peaceful exploration, utilisation and colonisation of outer space.

History

The SAA began as the Monash Astronautical Society, a university student group at Monash University in the late 1970s, which ran regular meetings and published its own newszine, Capcom.

It outgrew its origins and was launched as the Space Association of Australia, a group in its own right, in April 1981.

It has held regular meetings and events, including special anniversary events such as a public display in Melbourne commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in July 1989; and a special week-long 50th anniversary commemoration for Apollo 11 in conjunction with a Melbourne movie theatre in July 2019.

The SAA published a regular newszine called the Space Association News (SPAN); and for over thirty years has run a radio program called the The Space Show.

Past members have included science fiction fans who were professional authors such as Kate Doolan and Wynne Whiteford, and science fiction fans including Helena Binns and Geoff Allshorn.

Peter Aylward, a former President of the SAA, passed away on 5 July 2023, after many years of service to the Association.

The Present

The Space Association continues to hold regular meetings and special events, but it has refined its presentation and networking links, and today it runs meetings containing material from a wider and more professional scope of people connected to the space industry both in Australia and overseas.

The SAA holds monthly public meetings and welcomes members. Its "Space Show" is a weekly radio event on Southern FM in Melbourne.

Gallery

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  SAA display in the Science area at Galactic Tours convention in Melbourne, 1986 (photo from the Helena Binns collection)

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  'All these ships were named Enterprise' - space display at Galactic Tours convention, 1986 (photo from the Helena Binns collection)

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  Kate Doolan polishes a NASA space shuttle model at the Galactic Tours convention (photo from the Helena Binns collection)

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  Helena Roberts meets Apollo 16 astronaut John Young in Melbourne, 1987 (from the [Helena Binns] collection)

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  Kate Doolan and Mark Hillyer interview Apollo 16 astronaut John Young in Melbourne, November 1987 (photo from the Helena Binns collection)

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  Space Association of Australia folks meet former NASA Administrator, Thomas Paine, in Melbourne on 18 October 1988. This includes Helena Roberts, Wynne Whiteford, and Geoff Allshorn

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  Fan Geoff Allshorn meets Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke, 1990

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  NASA astronaut Pierre Thuot with Dr Joseph Leach and space fan Helena Roberts, Melbourne, 28 April 1990

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  Helena Roberts at USSR space exhibit in Melbourne, January 1991

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  Helena Roberts at Southern FM radio station in Melbourne, assisting with the 'Space Show' for the Space Association of Australia. June 1991 (photo by Geoff Allshorn).

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  Special Star Trek 25th anniversary program on the Space Show, Melbourne's "Southern FM" radio station, 8 September 1991. From left: Greg Franklin, Diane Marchant, Geoff Allshorn, and Wynne Whiteford.

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  Australian astronaut Dr Paul Scully-Power with Kate Doolan, Melbourne, 15 July 1994.

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  Kate Doolan at the Kuiper Space Plane during its visit to Melbourne, 16 July 1994

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  Fans Kate Doolan and Geoff Allshorn meet Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke in Melbourne, 16 September 1995

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  Australian astronaut Andy Thomas with Kate Doolan, September 1996.