)
The Federal Government will build a $6 million mission control centre to monitor orbiting spacecraft alongside the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide.
The Government has announced $12 million in funding to boost the space industry in South Australia, split 50-50 between the mission control centre and a space discovery centre for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.
These announcements follow last year's decision to select Adelaide as the hub of the Australian space industry.
Lot Fourteen (pictured), previously home to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, is the site of a new innovation precinct that will house the Space Agency and the mission control centre.
According to Karen Andrews, the Australian Industry, Science and Technology Minister, the centre will manage small satellite missions and allow space businesses to grab a slice of a US$345 billion industry.
"The Mission Control Centre will be a focal point for space missions in Australia, providing facilities to control small satellite missions, enabling real-time control and testing and the accelerated development of Australian satellite technology," says Andrews.
"It will be available for use by space startups and small-to-medium enterprise space businesses, as well as research and educational institutions from across Australia."
The Space Discovery Centre will provide STEM education, engagement and inspiration for young Australians, as well as activities such as mission simulation and training for tertiary education.
The Space Agency, established in 2017 with $41 million in funding, hopes to triple the Australian space industry by 2030, lifting its revenue to $12 billion and creating 20,000 jobs.
The selection of Adelaide as the new home for Australia's space agency is a major boon for local companies who are already performing well internationally.
Fleet Space Technologies and Myriota, both South Australian space startups, have already launched satellites and a payload that can help farmers and other industries use space to monitor sensor networks to improve the productivity of their business.
Never miss a news update, subscribe here. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
Business News Australia
)
