SHARC Travel FAQ

Download and read the Adelaide Deployment Guide for instructions and tips to help you prepare for the upcoming deployment. This document will be updated as needed.
(Current version: November 9, 2020)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: (Answers to questions we have received are added often, scroll to the bottom for latest additions.)
  • Remember that you must login to the ESPO SHARC mission website to see the information and instructions provided, they are not accessible to the general public.
  • Your travel packages, approvals, etc. whether you are a civil servant or a contractor, must still be routed and booked by your respective offices/organizations. ESPO does not do that. Yes, we have organized a room block in Adelaide (pass the information to your travel office) and provided information about the entry process for Australia and how to obtain authorization (ETA). If you or anyone in your organization has questions, please let me know.
  • Obtaining the ETA described in a previous email, replaces the regular process of obtaining a visa via the Australia government website. Please follow the instructions provided.
  • In the email body for the ETA request, ensure that your description of the purpose of the trip mentions keywords such as Hayabusa and NASA. For example: "Supporting the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa 2 reentry on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)”.
  • Submit it as soon as you have the information, do not wait. You are submitting the request directly to the Australian Government, not ESPO.
  • If you already have a valid visa for Australia, you don’t need to obtain an ETA (if you already submitted a request, it is ok).
  • As of right now, our own arrival dates are in a little bit of flux. So, for your arrival date, ensure that it is a “Not Earlier Than” date. For most it should be around November 14, 2020.
  • MYKAD or MYKID do not apply to US citizens. Leave blank or type N/A.