Space

Western Australia has more than 60 years of experience in the space industry and is in a strong position to further develop this important industry. The State hosts significant space infrastructure for civil and defence applications. Our State has a range of facilities and institutions as well as strong research programs in our universities as well as a skilled workforce. Western Australia also has more than 70 international and Australian companies operating in space and space-related services.

Space industry capability in Western Australia

A report prepared by ACIL Allen in June 2018, for a Space Industry Steering Group, which was chaired by the Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken AC, concluded that Western Australia has the following advantages and opportunities:

  • Western Australia’s southern hemisphere location and longitude are ideal for space situational awareness and facilities that contribute to global coverage of space assets, including tracking of launches. The State also provides maximum access to Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) constellations
  • These geographic advantages have been reinforced by investments in communications, computational infrastructure and access to technical expertise. Western Australia is creating significant opportunities for space situational awareness, optical communications, astronomy, space operations and defence space applications
  • There are substantial capabilities in remote operations of space systems and ground stations in Western Australia. There are also established training programs that could be adapted to support growth in these areas and
  • Western Australia hosts capabilities in development and use of space-derived applications. Opportunities for competitive advantage lie in agriculture, mining, offshore oil and gas, remote operations and robotics. The greatest potential for economic growth and jobs is likely to be found in these areas

Read the full report, Space Industry Capability in Western Australia - June 2018.

MoU with the Australian Space Agency

On 10 July 2019, Western Australia’s Science Minister Dave Kelly and Federal Science Minister Karen Andrews signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State and the Australian Space Agency (ASA) for the advancement and growth of the space industry sector. The MoU focusses on advancing ASA’s goal to triple the Australian space sector to $12 billion and create another 20,000 jobs by 2030.

The Commonwealth Government has allocated $6 million from ASA’s Space Infrastructure Fund to WA for:

  • a robotics and artificial intelligence mission control facility, which will advance the remote operation of autonomous and robotic systems in space and
  • space data analysis facilities, which will support analysis of satellite data for areas including mining, agriculture, emergency services and maritime surveillance. These facilities will build capability in data analysis for space missions

Read the media statement, MoU Media Statement – July 2019.

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