Australian Space Agency

Under round two of the Demonstrator Program as part of the Moon to Mars initiative, Australian small and medium businesses will be able to apply for mission grants between $750,000 and $10 million to help launch their technologies into space. 

CSIRO has opened applications for its new Innovate to Grow: Space program for SMEs working in the space sector, to accelerate growth in Australia’s burgeoning space industry. 

Australia will accompany NASA to the Moon, with an Australian made rover set to be included in a future mission. This will be backed by $50 million in funding from the federal government’s Trailblazer program under the Moon to Mars initiative. 

Space tech innovators have proposed solutions to world-changing problems from climate change to healthcare supply chain management across the globe, as part of round 03 of the GRAVITY Challenge. 

Alexandra Cooper speaks with the Australian Space Agency deputy head, Anthony Murfett, Titomic executive director and CTO, Jeff Lang, and Monash University’s School of Physics and Astronomy associate professor, Michael Brown, to uncover where the opportunities lie for our future in space.  

Caroline Tung interviewed researchers at RMIT to find out more about a prototype being developed in Australia that could help determine if humans can settle on the Moon.  

Valiant Space, a Brisbane-based propulsion company, has been awarded a $200,000 grant as part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative, to develop Australia’s first in-space chemical thruster for its flight to space onboard a Skykraft satellite. 

Commonwealth approval has been granted for a second rocket launch facility licence, awarded to space company Southern Launch in South Australia, further growing the country’s civil space sector. 

The federal government is investing more than $475 million in the 2021-22 Budget to drive industry growth and scientific development, and help create high paying, sustainable jobs in manufacturing. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Christian Porter, said the new funding is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to secure Australia’s future as a globally … Continue reading Budget boost to manufacturing to secure Australian jobs →

Another international space project will be built in Western Australia to develop Australia’s capability in the sector. The European Space Agency has announced it will collaborate with the Australian Space Agency to construct a $70 million deep space antenna at New Norcia, 140km north of Perth. The project comes as the federal government announced a … Continue reading Australia and Europe collaborate to build new space dish →

The Australian and UK space industries have strengthened ties with the signing of a new arrangement to increase connection, exchange and investment. The Space Bridge Framework Arrangement enhances cooperation between the Australian Space Agency, the UK Space Agency and each country’s trade and investment agencies. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the … Continue reading News agreement to unite Australian and UK space industries →

A new agreement between the Australian and Indian governments will further grow the space collaboration between the two countries. The amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and India announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and … Continue reading Australia and India expand space cooperation →

The South Australian state government has launched its Space Sector Strategy at the 10th Australian Space Forum. The new strategy will aim to drive the state’s contribution to the Australian Space Agency goal of tripling the size of the nation’s domestic space industry to $12 billion by 2030, helping to create thousands of jobs. South … Continue reading SA government announces Space Sector Strategy →

The federal government has invested another $25.7 million to grow Australian business capability in the space sector supply chain. The funding will create jobs and help Australian companies take part in NASA’s inspirational mission to travel to the Moon and Mars. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews said the Supply Chain Capability Improvement … Continue reading Launching Australian businesses into space supply chain →

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe acknowledged the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Australian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at the Australia-Japan Virtual Leaders Meeting. The MOC strengthens Australia’s long-standing space cooperation with Japan to grow the space industry and create new jobs. The … Continue reading Australia and Japan agreement to grow space sector →

Australia’s first Mission Control Centre is one step closer to lift off with local company Saber Astronautics chosen to establish the state-of-the-art space hub in Adelaide. The Mission Control Centre will provide facilities for space businesses and researchers to control satellite and space missions, and include a live link to the International Space Station so visitors can watch … Continue reading Saber Astronautics chosen to set up Mission Control Centre →

Registrations have opened for space innovation program, the Gravity Challenge, which will run in Australia and the UK this year. The program, backed by Deloitte and Amazon, brings together challengers (businesses, government agencies, universities) and innovators (entrepreneurs and small businesses) to solve challenges using space data and technology. Deloitte’s head of innovation, Jason Bender said … Continue reading Deloitte and Amazon space challenge expands into UK →

The Australian Space Agency are measuring the contribution of space activities to the Australian economy. They have announced that they are inviting organisations contributing to the space industry to complete an economic activity survey of the Australian space sector, conducted by independent consultancy, the Nous Group. The Agency launched in July 2018 with the goal … Continue reading Economic activity survey to measure Australian space sector growth →

Prime Minister Scott Morrison officially opened the Australian Space Agency’s new home in Adelaide’s innovation precinct Lot Fourteen, on Wednesday. “The Australian Space Agency is central to my Government’s vision to secure more jobs and a larger share of the growing space economy – forecast to be over $1 trillion in size around the globe … Continue reading Australian Space Agency officially opens →

The Australian Space Agency has signed a Statement of Strategic Intent and Cooperation with local rocket manufacturer Gilmour Space Technologies. The company has already caught the eye of international investors through its innovation in low-cost space launch vehicles. These technologies have the potential to rapidly decrease the cost of getting a satellite into space, enabling … Continue reading Space agency signs with local rocket manufacturer →