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;

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;

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