Minister Barr: New investment in Canberra’s National Space Test Facilities
- Written by ACT Government
Released 27/07/2018
The ACT Government will provide $250,000 to the National Space Test Facilities at Mount Stromlo to provide greater access for local space sector businesses.
This investment will ensure that these world-class facilities are available for all participants in the space industry, and will further enhance our suitability as the permanent home of the Australian Space Agency.
Canberra provides a compelling, enabling environment for the Agency – we have a high concentration of space industry organisations with extensive technological capability, world-class research, including:
- ANU’s National Space Testing Facilities at Mount Stromlo
- UNSW Canberra Space, Australia’s largest and leading space research and education capability
- Major multinational companies that have an interest in the development of the Australian space economy, such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman
- Major Commonwealth Government agencies who will be important partners for the Agency, such as the Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Attorney-General’s Department, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, GeoScience Australia, The NASA Deep Space Tracking Station, the Space Environment Research Centre, and CSIRO
- And significant commercial players such as EOS Space Systems, Geospatial Intelligence, Geoplex, Quintessence Labs, Liquid Instruments and Skykraft.
Professor Brian Schmidt AC (ANU), Professor Russel Robert Boyce (UNSW Canberra) and Professor Anna Moore (ANU National Space Test Facility) will join me to show their support for the Agency to be located in Canberra, at the heart of national policy where it can drive the growth of our space industry across the country.
Almost one-in-four Australian space industry jobs are based in Canberra and we are the home of the next generation of researchers, engineers and scientists that will support the future growth of the industry.
I met Australian Space Agency head Dr Megan Clark AC last week and we discussed Canberra’s strengths as a connected, national leader in the space industry, and the ACT Government’s long-term approach to the industry’s development.
To find the prospectus and find out more, visit act.gov.au/space
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
