Australia's drive into space is gaining momentum, on the back of a new $41 million national space agency supporting our national space industry to potentially triple its current size to $12 billion by 2030.
In October, the agency released a Charter that provides details of its purpose, responsibilities and governance structure, which in addition to an independent Advisory Board will also include a Space Coordination Committee and a Space Industry Leaders Forum.
Led by former CSIRO chief Dr Megan Clark the agency will be located in Adelaide, as was announced in December. It's a controversial decision , but the strong responses from political and academic leaders also highlight the economic importance of space related activities.
In 2018, the value of the global space industry reached around US$360 billion, and according to some forecasts, including from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, it will exceed $1 trillion by 2040.
In Australia, the prospect of getting a bigger slice of this growing cake not only drives a domestic space industry, but also increasingly attracts investments from our public research organisations.
For example, the CSIRO has recently added a $16 million Space Technology Future Science Platform to its portfolio of ten focus areas that have the potential for new industries in Australia. The Space Technology FSP will initially focus on advanced technologies for Earth observation, and then address challenges such as space object tracking, resource utilisation in space, and developing manufacturing and life support systems for missions to the Moon and Mars.
CSIRO has also announced it will be the first Australian-owned organisation to provide maintenance and operational support for the European Space Agency's (ESA) deep space tracking station at New Norcia in Western Australia. The New Norcia station operates since 2003, and provides tracking, communication and data download services to European Space Agency missions exploring our solar system, as well as missions of other international space agencies. It is also used by ESA to remotely controls its spacecraft and satellites.
Other recent developments include the official opening of a new Institute for Space at the Australian National University. The InSpace facility will coordinate the university's activities related to space, including its technology development, science missions, space test facilities, and its commercial space law and business and finance.
“InSpace will serve as a bridge between academia and industry, and is designed to drive co-investment between industry and government partners in space projects,” said federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews at the launch.