ADELAIDE, Australia (Southern Launch PR) — Australian spaceport and space mission provider, Southern Launch, has been awarded an Australian Space Agency Moon to Mars Grant for their mobile launch rail.

The almost $1 million grant will enable Southern Launch to design, construct, and commission a mobile launch rail that will be capable of launching sub-orbital vehicles ranging in mass from 20kg to 3,500kg. The mobility of the rocket launcher will allow Southern Launch to utilise the launch rail at both the Koonibba Test Range and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.

GOLD COAST, QLD, 9 May 2022 (Gilmour Space Technologies PR) — Australia’s largest space company, Gilmour Space Technologies, has been selected to develop and launch a new sovereign surveillance satellite for the Department of Defence, as part of the government’s $7 billion investment in new space capabilities.

Australia’s Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton, announced the $15 million partnership with Gilmour Space, highlighting the government’s commitment to developing sovereign space capabilities.

In a statement, he said: “In line with our recently released Defence Space Strategy, Defence is closely engaged with the Australian Space Agency and Australian industry to develop and supply sovereign space surveillance and mission system capabilities,” he said

CANBERRA (Australian Government PR) — The Morrison Government is establishing Australia’s first ever national space mission as part of our plan for a stronger future. This is an historic investment that will strengthen our sovereign capability as well as grow the sector and create hundreds of new jobs.

The 2022-23 Budget includes $1.16 billion [USD $871.6 million] to 2038-39 and $38.5 million [USD $28.9 million] per annum ongoing for the first phase of a National Space Mission for Earth Observation, which will see Australia design, build, and operate four new satellites.

Led by the Australian Space Agency, this Mission will make Australia more self sufficient when it comes to critical Earth Observation data, while also growing capability and job opportunities that will set the industry up for future success.

ADELAIDE, Australia (Southern Launch PR) — Southern Launch welcomes today’s announcement of a $65m Space Infrastructure Fund by the Australian Federal Government. As Australia’s sole company with space launch facilities licensed to undertake space launches, today’s announcement broadcasts to the world that Australia is serious about a vibrant space launch capability in our nation. Launch creates a centre of gravity that underpins an enduring broader space industry, and today’s announcement […]

CANBERRA, Australia (Scott Morrison/Steven Marshall PR) — The Morrison Government is injecting more than $65 million [USD $47 million] to get Australian technologies into space sooner and to make our nation a leading destination for launch.

And in another major boost for the Australian space sector that will drive jobs and technology investment, the Government has also instructed the Australian Space Agency to embark on a mission to put an Australian astronaut back into space.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new $65 million [USD $47 million] funding was part of the Government’s ongoing mission to expand the sector, invest in cutting edge technologies and create new jobs.

SYDNEY, Australia, November 23, 2021 (Saber Astronautics PR) — Saber Astronautics has signed a deal with private spaceflight leader Axiom Space, Inc. to create an Australian presence on the International Space Station (ISS). Saber Astronautics will develop the first formal program to enable Australians and Australian industry to, via Axiom, access the Station’s orbiting microgravity laboratory and develop a new generation of space-developed products for human health, materials, electronics, cleantech, and more.

The Saber Astronautics program aims for direct industrial involvement and flights using people selected from the Australian public. Saber’s CEO Dr. Jason Held explains, “What we would like to do is open the benefits for broader industrial use by conventional industry.”

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — International and commercial partnerships are a critical component of NASA’s long-term plans on and around the Moon under the Artemis program. The agency recently signed a new agreement with the Australian Space Agency that will further support human and robotic lunar operations for both countries.

CANBERRA, September 22, 2021 (Angus Taylor PR) — The Morrison Government is helping Australian space businesses break into international supply chains, with a further $3 million [US $2.18 million] in funding awarded today under the Moon to Mars initiative.

Round 3 of the Supply Chain Capability Improvement grants will support four local companies to improve their technical capabilities and help them enter new national and international markets.

Acting Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Angus Taylor said the grants will strengthen Australia’s space manufacturing base, while also boosting the economy and creating new high-skilled jobs.

HOMEBUSH, NSW (Abyss PR) — Australian and Houston-based AI and robotics leader Abyss Solutions has just received a Demonstrator Feasibility grant under the federal government and Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative. The company that builds AI solutions to drive autonomous robotics applications for the offshore oil and gas industries will now apply those next-gen technologies to Mars and space.

Abyss received the grant to conduct feasibility testing and transform their space borne robotic inspection and intervention project into a next-gen technology that can be used in future NASA missions to the Moon and beyond.

Memorandum of Understanding signed with Canadian company Stardust and Australia’s University of Technology Sydney and EXPLOR Space Technologies

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (ispace PR) – Today, ispace, inc. (ispace), ispace Europe SA (ispace Europe), Stardust Technologies Inc. (Stardust), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and EXPLOR Space Technologies (EXPLOR) collectively signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a mining rover with a multipurpose robotics arm utilizing virtual reality, haptic feedback in the framework of in situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities on the Moon.

Under the proposed collaboration, the parties involved plan to engage in the form of one or more of the following: