People have always been fascinated by the idea of space and space travel. As Australia’s space industry transforms and grows, there are increasing opportunities for businesses across the country to make the idea of space a commercial reality, writes Anthony Murfett.
The reason Australia’s space industry is expected to grow at an annualised rate of up to three times that of GDP over the decade to 2023-24 is because the space sector is no longer restricted to governments. It is becoming a fast-growing and fiercely commercial sector, driven by falling costs of launch and rapid technology development. This means the time is right for Australian industry to leverage its competitive advantages that can support the growing space economy, including in advanced manufacturing, automation and robotics, and next generation communications.
We have amazing companies, from those working in robotics that can support activities in space, Artificial Intelligence that will assist satellite activities, and new rocket technology. However, there are also companies working in a range of manufacturing fields that could apply their trade to space. For example, companies specialising in the 3D printing of metals that could withstand the extreme conditions of space. We’ve seen start-up spinoffs from the research sector that have 3D printed an entire rocket engine. There are also companies using silicone injection moulding technologies to manufacture devices that are used in harsh conditions, and companies developing machined components and gears that could be transferrable to spacecraft. I could go on – the point is we’ve got industry capability in spades.
The Australian Government aims to significantly grow Australia’s space market segment from around 10,000 jobs and a market size of $3.9bn up to another 20,000 jobs and $12bn by 2030, with further jobs and economic growth from spillover effects.
At the heart of this mission is Australia’s Moon to Mars initiative.
Late last year the Australian Government launched a new partnership on future space co-operation between the Australian Space Agency and NASA. This partnership consists of a $150m investment in Australian businesses and researchers to join NASA’s inspirational plan to return to the Moon and travel on to Mars – our own Moon to Mars initiative. It’s an investment here in Australia to grow our industry.
The Moon to Mars initiative is a five-year program that will support the transformation of industries across the economy and accelerate the growth of the space sector through three integrated programs: Supply Chain, Demonstrator and Trailblazer.
Opening in the second half of 2020, the Supply Chain program will focus on building national capability and capacity to enable Australian space and non-space industries to supply products and services to international space supply chains. Another focus area of this program is to open doors for Australian firms and support those firms to meet the conditions to engage and provide products and services in the space industry. This extends from ensuring businesses meet specific standards and qualifications, like cyber security, to demonstrating capability to support the development of space technology and products, for example showing a machined component can be used in space. Ultimately, the Moon to Mars initiative provides opportunities to develop Australian capabilities in a wide range of industrial areas that have space applications.
For example, Australians have already demonstrated world-renowned ingenuity in remote and extreme environments, an excellent testing ground for technology that has applications in space. In Western Australia’s Pilbara region there are mine sites being operated remotely from Perth, 1,600km away. There are also companies controlling robots with satellite communications to service pipelines underwater. With space only 100km above our heads, the potential for the use of this technology in space is an enormous opportunity.
Australia also has immense experience in terrestrial resource infrastructure and extraction, meaning we are well positioned to investigate resource extraction and processing in space, as well as become a leader in advanced in-space manufacturing, such as additive manufacturing. As it becomes more accessible, space will become another place to operate and opportunities around these areas will grow.
Our role at the Australian Space Agency is to help open doors nationally and internationally, to stimulate commercial investment in partnership with industry as outlined in the Australian Civil Space Strategy 2019-2028.
To that end, the Agency has signed joint statements of strategic intent and cooperation with industry to highlight areas of investment and growth for Australia and build upon our unique potential. These companies include small and medium businesses like XTEK, which uses advanced manufacturing techniques to create lightweight, composite materials and equipment for space applications. There are also larger industry primes including Airbus, which is progressing space-related high-tech manufacturing, and the likes of Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Thales, which are expanding Australia’s advanced manufacturing in space through industry and research partnerships.
The Australian Space Agency can change how Australia defines itself in space by working as a co-ordinating body to open doors internationally, managing the regulations and legislation, and kickstarting the space economy so that commercial enterprises can focus on their missions.
I encourage you to talk to us and keep an eye to the Moon to Mars initiative, which will open soon. The ultimate focus of the program is capability development so companies across industry, including advanced manufacturing, can contribute to the rapidly growing space sector.
Watch this space.
Anthony Murfett is Deputy Head of the Australian Space Agency.