The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one – but the odds of NASA and other space agencies reaching the red planet are now much greater, thanks to a new optical ground station in the ACT.

The ANU Quantum Optical Ground Station is a telescope based at the Australian National University’s Mt Stromlo Observatory.

Supported by the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative, the station will have the latest optical technology to communicate with NASA-crewed missions beyond low-Earth orbit, from the Moon to deep space.

It will also drive research on advanced communications technologies, providing satellite networks with quantum security and global connectivity.

Associate Professor Francis Bennet, a researcher of optical instrumentation from ANU, said the ground station was the “preeminent technology of its kind in Australia”.

“Using lasers, the ground station will allow us to communicate with satellites and crews hurtling through space, supporting major crewed space missions and future space exploration,” Associate Professor Bennet said.

“We have built systems that are cutting edge in their capability, and upgrading them to be compatible with NASA missions that will help permanent operations on the Moon, and improve astronauts’ ability to connect back with Earth and allow high-definition video from the Moon and Mars.

“This includes compatibility with NASA’s crewed lunar mission Artemis II.”

That mission, expected to launch in November 2024, will be NASA’s first mission with crew aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities. The 10-day flight will take four astronauts around the Moon, with a view to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration.

Professor Anna Moore, Director of the ANU Institute for Space, said the optical ground station was a “stellar” example of how ANU and Australian research made major contributions to the future of space technology and exploration.

“It’s really exciting to see this new technology that will play a pivotal role in major future space missions come online,” Professor Moore said.

“With this technology, we will also be able to better access unused data and information about the Universe.

“We are thrilled that this station is now built and excited about the pivotal role it will play in our exploration and understanding of space. We look forward to working with our project partners on this nation-leading technology for many years to come.”

The ANU Quantum Optical Ground Station is supported by funding from the ACT Government’s Priority Investment Program.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ground station located in Canberra was a key national asset that positioned Australia and the Indo-Pacific region to collaborate and compete on the global stage.

“Canberra has the capabilities to support space industry success and to take advantage of the enormous investment being made globally in space, through our growing knowledge economy,” Mr Barr said.

“The ANU Quantum Optical Ground Station is another of the ACT’s strategic space sector co-investments that will enable competitive advantage for Australia’s space industry, attract talent from researchers, academics and industry to the ACT not only to help our economy continue to diversify but to equip industry with vital infrastructure to innovate and grow.”

Additional support came from the Australian Space Agency, CSIRO, and TESAT.