Australian manufacturing took centre stage at the International Astronautical Congress 2025 in Sydney, showcasing the nation’s growing capability.
Australian manufacturing stood in the spotlight at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025, held in Sydney from 29 September to 3 October. As the world’s premier annual space event, IAC drew more than 7,400 attendees from more than 90 countries, alongside over 19,500 members of the public – and positioned Australian industry, particularly manufacturers, as key enablers of a fast-emerging global space economy. The event was organised by the International Astronautical Federation, hosted by Space Industry Association of Australia, and co-hosted by Australian Space Agency and NSW Government.
With a theme focused on “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth”, this year’s Congress marked a pivotal moment not just for aerospace, but for Australian manufacturing’s role in orbit and beyond.
From launch pads to supply chains: Australia’s expanding space capability
Since IAC last landed on Australian soil in 2017 – when the Australian Space Agency was officially announced – the national space sector has expanded. Today, with more than 800 space-capable organisations across the country, Australia has become a highly sought-after partner in the global space ecosystem, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia’s geographic advantage continues to be a strategic asset. The successful test flight of an Australian orbital rocket by Gilmour Space in July – with the next flight planned for 2026 – signals growing domestic launch capabilities. Meanwhile, Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in South Australia is making history as the world’s first commercial site for space capsule returns, with two successful landings of Varda Space Industries’ in-orbit manufacturing capsules already completed. At IAC 2025, Southern Launch and Varda signed a contract for 20 more spacecraft returns, which is a big step forward for the Australian space ecosystem.
These developments unlock opportunities in space-based manufacturing and re-entry logistics, placing Australian companies at the heart of a new industrial frontier.
Innovation at the intersection of space and manufacturing
Key Australian companies are already building the infrastructure of this next chapter. Gilmour Space Technologies, headquartered in Queensland, is developing Australian-made launch vehicles and satellite platforms, supported by a supply chain of more than 500 local manufacturers – from materials suppliers to precision engineering firms.
In New South Wales, Space Machines Company is preparing to scale satellite production at the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF), aiming to produce hundreds of satellites by 2030. In South Australia, Inovor Technologies, alongside government and industry partners, will deliver a sovereign Low Earth Orbit satellite from the Lot Fourteen innovation precinct by 2028.
Meanwhile, Waratah Seed, a New South Wales-built CubeSat mission, took home the SmallSat Mission of the Year award – widely regarded as the “Space Oscars” – further validating Australia’s growing credentials in space innovation.
These achievements directly align with the federal government’s Future Made in Australia initiative, which seeks to revitalise domestic industry through advanced manufacturing and sovereign capability.
New horizons for local manufacturers
Perhaps most significant for the broader manufacturing sector is the emerging demand for non-traditional space suppliers. At IAC 2025, many Australian manufacturers – from advanced materials and composites to robotics and electronics – discovered their products and processes are increasingly relevant to the demands of space missions.
One example is NH Micro, which began life as a watchmaking business – Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker – before evolving into a vertically integrated precision manufacturing facility over the past decade. Once it established that capability, it found it was directly transferable to ultra-high precision sectors – most interestingly, space. The same skills required to build finely tuned mechanical watches – machining extremely small, precise, and complex components – are now being applied to space-grade parts.
NH Micro exhibited as part of the NSW Government stand at IAC 2025, gaining exposure to the global space community. The event provided the company with opportunities to reconnect with existing customers while generating leads with new ones – a clear sign of the growing demand for ultra-precision expertise in space hardware.
As demand for space-grade components, modular systems, and resilient supply chains continues to grow, Australian manufacturers are well-positioned to diversify into this high-value, strategically important sector.
The Australian pavilion at IAC 2025 featured 150 exhibitors, with representation from seven out of eight states and territories. Australian researchers contributed 10 per cent of the event’s 4,100 technical papers, underlining the depth of local expertise and innovation.
The event delivered an estimated $47 million to the New South Wales visitor economy. Perhaps more importantly, it served as a launchpad for new partnerships, investment opportunities, and supply chain expansion across the manufacturing sector – marking a turning point for Australia’s industrial engagement with space.
Manufacturing’s role in Australia’s space future
IAC 2025 made one thing clear: space is no longer the exclusive domain of aerospace giants and government agencies. It’s a growth frontier for Australian manufacturers – from SMEs to major industrial players – ready to adapt and scale for a future beyond Earth.
As the space economy moves from exploration to commercialisation and industrialisation, Australia has the talent, infrastructure, and sovereign intent to lead. The foundations laid in launch capability, satellite design, and capsule recovery are only the beginning.
For manufacturers looking to future-proof their operations and tap into a sector expected to be worth over US$1 trillion by 2040, now is the time to engage.
Australia has arrived – not just as a space-faring nation, but as a space-manufacturing one.
