Space industries
Western Australia is the Southern Hemisphere’s global hub for space operations and exploration.
Western Australia has played a significant role in the global space industry for over 60 years, supporting international space agencies and the commercial space sector.
Home to clear skies, vast land expanses, and geographic latitude and longitude ideal for space activities. Western Australia is involved in a range of space domains, hosts significant space infrastructure and is home to more than 130 International and Australian organisations operating space and space related services.
This is supported by a vibrant research and technology sector with significant intersection between space and terrestrial industries across, mining, energy, agriculture, defence and maritime.
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Why Western Australia
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Ideal latitude and longitude and environmental conditions for space activities.
Strong partnerships with international space organisations.
Comprehensive capabilities and the largest radio telescope in the world.
Emerging as a critical space hub for the global industry
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Cross sector demand for space related services and products.
Vibrant research and development ecosystem.
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Skilled workforce with a continuous pipeline of talent.
Western Australia's Space Infrastructure
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Key projects
Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE)
AROSE is at the forefront of technology transfer between terrestrial industry and the international space sector. AROSE is currently leading the development of a lunar rover under the Australian Space Agency’s Trailblazer mission.
Australian Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC)
SpAARC is a world-class facility providing remote operations from deep sea to space. SpAARC will be supporting Intuitive Machines upcoming lunar missions.
HPC and Data Science Hub
Western Australia is home to the Australian Space Data Analysis Facility (ASDAF) and the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, which houses the most powerful research supercomputer in the Southern Hemisphere.
The University of Western Australia International Space Centre (ISC)
ISC combines leading space science, research and teaching capabilities across a wide range of space domains. Key activities include optical communications, space medicine and biology and space situational awareness.
Curtin University Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC)
Curtin University is home to the largest planetary research group in the Southern Hemisphere. Key activities including the Binar CubeSat program, remote sensing, radio astronomy, SSA and satellite positioning and navigation.
Critical Space Infrastructure
Western Australia hosts a plethora of critical space infrastructure, for parties including the NASA, European Space Agency, US Space Force, and major private companies including LeoLabs and Capricorn Space. WA is also home to Australia’s only designated satellite park, the Mingenew Space Precinct, and the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest radio quiet zone.
Why Western Australia
Western Australia has the following advantages and opportunities:
- Southern hemisphere location and longitude are ideal for space situational awareness and provide maximum access to Global Navigational Satellite System constellations.
- Ideal environmental conditions for space communications with clear skies (low rainfall and cloud cover) and large arid areas with minimal radio interference.
- Significant investment in space infrastructure including ground stations, space radars and telescopes and computational infrastructure.
- Substantial capabilities in space systems, communications, astronomy, planetary research, data analytics, cybersecurity and terrestrial application and adoption of space data and technology.
- World-leading capabilities in remote operations, automation and robotics in remote and harsh environments.
- Partnerships and extensive activity with international space agencies.
- Emerging capabilities in optical communications; Earth observation; satellite payloads and IOT; and CubeSat design, construction and operation.
- Diverse and highly-skilled workforce with more than 100 international and Australian organisations operating in space and space-related services.
More information
Western Australia’s tech talent arrive on the international stage
Some of Western Australia’s smartest tech talent has represented the State at a global technology festival. The first ever virtual London Tech Week (LTW) was held in 2020 and remained an online event this year for international participants due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Get in touch
If you are looking for opportunities in business, investment or trade, contact our experienced team at Invest and Trade WA.
Our in-house experts can support you directly and provide referrals or introductions across our network of overseas offices, industry bodies and government agencies.
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