Cape York International Spaceport - an Experiment in Government/Learned Society Collaboration

Beginning in September 1986, the Queensland Government commissioned Parts I and II of a Feasibility Study of a space launch site on Cape York Peninsula in north-eastern Australia. The involvement of The Institution of Engineers, Australia in the study represents an experiment in collaboration between a government and a learned society in the management of a large and complex project. This paper gives the historical background which led to the study, the terms of reference for the Institution and the manner in which the study was conducted. Lessons learned from this new type of activity are discussed.