We do have a space industry

of sorts. 

No, we are not sending astronauts up to that space station somewhere "up there" but we do help other countries to do that - and to keep those who make the journey safe.

My maternal uncle worked on the early space program in Downunder. Every so often he would be off for a few days to the mysterious "rocket launching site" in the north of this state.  What he did there was a mystery. It remains a mystery. He was not permitted to talk about it. We knew he was helping with the rocket launches but that was all. 

As he was, like his father, a "precision man" he was probably working on something that required the sort of measurements that are hard to comprehend  - the one thousandth of a millimetre type.  I doubt I would have understood a word even if he had told us anything. My brother would have been more interested -  but not so interested he wanted to go into that sort of work. I know one young man  who would be interested. He is studying "micro-engineering". His real interest is in medical applications but he would see connections.

Our present space industry is supposed to be one of those areas where the future lies but it is struggling for funds. There are people who simply think it is all a waste of money. They sit there each day and work via computer and forget that without the space industry we would not have the satellite connections that allow the internet to work. Knock out a satellite or two or three or more and the world would be a very different place. 

As a kitten in primary school I went on an excursion. The entire school, about fifty children altogether, went to the weather station on what is known as the "west coast" of this state. We saw all the equipment which was used and the meteorologist there answered all our questions. He also launched a black balloon which was used  to help with the forecasts.  I remember the awed silence as he explained all this. 

Now it all seems very primitive. Satellites are used for weather forecasting. They let scientists make observations about climate and natural disasters.  There are still all sorts of instruments here on the ground, some of which make those fascinating patterns, but  a lot of the work is now done using satellites and the instruments within them.

We need a space industry. I am not sure about "sending men to Mars" but help to read the weather is useful....and so is the internet.