ANU to offer businesses access to space-testing facilities

The Australian National University (ANU) will offer businesses nationally access to its space-flight testing facilities, due to $250,000 from the ACT Government.

The university is home to key national space resources and has capabilities to support the new space agency with broad expertise from science through to law and policy.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC welcomed the funding commitment from the government to the university’s Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC), host of the national facility for space-flight testing.

“As Australia’s national university, we are pleased to be able to bring together talent and resources from across the country and internationally to boost Australia’s space effort,” he said. “We have a proud history of working on space technology and being an important player in many space missions, and we have built collaborative international partnerships with agencies including NASA and the European Space Agency.

“We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the ACT Government to help build a sustainable space industry in Australia.”

Professor Anna Moore, Director of the AITC, said the new investment from the government would help businesses nationally to explore ways to advance Australia’s space activities.

“We look forward to collaborating with new partners and providing entrepreneurs and innovators with access to our facilities and expertise,” she said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Nmedia