Government statement sets goals for Australia's space industry

The federal government has announced a new Statement on Space to make clear its vision for the space sector, along with focus areas to support the local space industry to increase local industrial capability, move up the value chain, and extend reach further into global markets.

Australia’s space sector is vital to Australia’s economic resilience and national security, creating export opportunities in a rapidly growing global space economy.

The global space economy is expected to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2035, with more than half a billion dollars in private and public investments going into the sector in the last 18 months. Australian companies are using their expertise to build Australian capability in rockets, satellites, positioning and advanced navigation technologies, hypersonic aircraft, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

To date, the government’s National Reconstruction Fund has invested almost $200 million across six companies, supporting 600 jobs which are expected to more than double.

The Statement identifies five focus areas where Australia’s space capability has unique opportunities, has market potential and supports national resilience. The focus areas are:

• trusted space services
• spaceflight ecosystem
• space platforms
• microgravity ecosystem
• exploration technologies.
   

The Statement also identifies where government activity can enable conditions for greater investment, coordination and delivery.

As a first step, the government has also issued a new Statement of Expectations to the Australian Space Agency, focused on speeding up regulatory approvals and modernising the regulatory framework for emerging activities.

With more than 30,000 human-made objects being tracked in space, it also makes clear the government’s expectation the agency should focus on community safety, through an increased focus on space monitoring.

The Australian Space Agency will lead targeted consultation with industry, academia and government stakeholders to develop the detailed actions that will support growth of the space sector. These are expected to be released later this year.

“Australia’s space sector is seeing exciting and diverse applications right across Australia’s cities and regions,” said Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres. “The Albanese government’s Statement on Space provides direction and focus so that we can further grow Australia’s space capability, support national priorities and connect to global opportunity.

“We want to see more Australian ideas commercialised, more Australian technology deployed globally, and more of the economic value harnessed here at home.”

“Australia is already an appealing and trusted partner in space,” said Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency. “This Statement strengthens that case so our industry can contribute in a way that embeds it into global supply chains and delivers economic benefits here at home.

“The five Focus Areas provide a basis to target effort where Australian industry capability can support national needs, connect into global demand, open market pathways, and contribute to the productivity, resilience and security of Australia’s economy.”

The full Statement on Space can be accessed here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Inok