Yatharagga Explained

-29.0462°N 115.3449°W

Yatharagga is an area associated with a homestead in the mid west of Western Australia (WA) near Yarragadee Station. It is located about 24km (15miles) north-west of Mingenew and about 100km (100miles) south-east of Geraldton.

The area is also associated with two Australian Earth stations with space related tracking systems at the West Australian Space Centre.^[1]

Homestead

The Yatharagga is a homestead listed by the Gazetteer of Australia.

Yatharagga Satellite Station

Yatharagga Satellite Station also known as West Australian Space Centre is owned and run by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)'s subsidiary SSC Space Australia, and services a number of government agencies and commercial organisations. It commenced operations under SSC in 2012.

MOBLAS 5 Satellite Laser Ranging Station

Near the homestead is a facility MOBLAS 5 Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) station^[2] originally established by an agreement between the United States of America and Australia effective 27 June 1978 to establish a NASA Temporary Mobile Satellite Laser Tracking Facility.^[3]

DORIS (geodesy)

Near the MOBLAS facility is a DORIS (geodesy) beacon, launched by France's CNES.^{[4] [5]}

US Navy Telescope

A US Navy telescope is located adjacent to the MOBLAS 5 SLR.

Dongara Satellite Station

Dongara Satellite Station is adjacent to Yatharagga Satellite Station, and acts as mutual backup to the site. It is also part of the Swedish Space Corporation, but is owned by the US subsidiary.^[6]

External links

• Carnavon Space Yatharagga: Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) Station
• The Living Moon MOBLAS 5 Satellite Laser Ranging station
• SSC Space Australia - Yatharagga Satellite Station
• SSC Universal Space Network - Dongara Satellite Station

Notes and References

1. News: $8m space centre opens in mid-west WA. 22 April 2017. ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 May 2012. en-AU.
2. Web site: International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) (NASA) MOBLAS Stations. www.thelivingmoon.com. 22 April 2017.
3. http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1978/12.html "Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement amending the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America concerning Space Vehicle Tracking and Communication Facilities of 25 March 1970 ATS 12 of 1978 "
4. http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1994/34.html "Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the French Republic on a Programme involving the Establishment and Use of the "DORIS" Precise Satellite Location Beacon System in Australia ATS 34 of 1994”
5. Web site: Australia. c\=AU\;o\=Australia Government\;ou\=Geoscience. Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite. www.ga.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. 24 June 2017. EN. 15 May 2014.
6. Web site: Dongara Satellite Station -SSC Universal Space Network SSC. sscspace.com. Swedish Space Corporation. 25 April 2017. en.