Canberra could become Australia’s gateway to space, according to the ACT Space Update 2023, ‘launched’ today.

“Canberra has a range of competitive advantages in the space industry,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said. “Our knowledge-based economy, space governance leadership, innovative networks, and commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce create the right settings for space industry success.

“As well as a long history with space mission success, we are home to Australia’s leading enabling space infrastructure, and we have Australia’s only end-to-end facilities for designing, building, and testing spacecraft.”

The Update builds on CBR Switched On: ACT’s Economic Development Priorities 2022-2025 and includes a plan to develop a Canberra Space Hub, which will act as a connection point between research, industry and government.

The ACT Space Update 2023 has four missions.

1. BUILD a fit-for-purpose and diverse workforce through inclusive education and training pathways across education and tertiary institutions.
2. EXPAND scientific research capability by building partnerships with industry as well as connecting industry with customers to facilitate commercialisation.
3. UNLOCK investment and global markets by accelerating small and medium enterprise capability to both attract and increase participation in global markets.
4. PROMOTE ACT space-based technology and the downstream services sector using advocacy, marketing and ‘Team Canberra’ promotional support.

To further support the space industry and grow local industry, the ACT Government will contribute $1 million, to be matched by Smart Sat CRC, to establish an ACT space research and development partnering program.

Two projects funded under this program will include:

• OzFuel: The ANU Institute of Space and its partners will receive $1.3 million to develop OzFuel, a space-based senor platform that will assist in bushfire prevention, detection, mitigation, and resilience. Currently, fire management depends on an ageing fleet of foreign satellites that are not designed for monitoring Australian ecosystems and their associated fire risk. This project will position Australia as a credible global provider of space-sourced environmental information, underpinned by bushfire science and on-ground First Nations traditional knowledge.
   
• Smart Multi-modal Optical Surveillance System (SMOS): UNSW Canberra and its partners will receive $700,000 to develop SMOS to respond to the risks of an increasing number of space objects in Low Earth Orbit. This world-first will develop and test the continuous and autonomous detection and identification of space objects. Imaging in space struggles to track and capture fast-moving objects, within the frame and of sufficient resolution and image quality. This project addresses those challenges.

“These projects highlight the capability of Canberra’s space industry and our competitive advantages, which create the right environment for meaningful partnerships to thrive, helping businesses to create jobs and grow,” Mr Barr said.