Australia's Emergency Services and Military Prepare for Worst-Case Scenario In a sobering reminder of the country's vulnerability to space-based threats, Australian emergency services and military personnel are undergoing training in traditional communication and navigation techniques. The move comes as experts warn that a massive solar flare or other catastrophic event could cripple the nation's space infrastructure, leaving citizens without access to critical services like GPS and secure communications. A recent panel discussion at the Australian Space Forum in Adelaide highlighted the potential consequences of such an event, with experts urging the government to take proactive measures to mitigate the risks. As the nation's reliance on space-based technology continues to grow, the training of emergency responders and military personnel in analog skills is a crucial step in preparing for a worst-case scenario.
Military and SES personnel being taught analog communication and navigation techniques as experts warn solar flare could knock out ‘critical space infrastructure’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s emergency services and military personnel are being trained to read paper maps, navigate without GPS support, and sail by the stars in case something knocks out the nation’s space capabilities.A panel at the 19th Australian space forum in Adelaide on Wednesday was asked to consider what would happen “if we suddenly lost access to critical space infrastructure – no satellites, no GPS, no remote sensing, no secure communications?” Continue reading...
