This could be the first commercial rocket of its kind to launch in the world. ![]() Or perhaps Gilmour, as it tests a revolutionary hybrid propulsion rocket in partnership with the Australian National University. Inovor, which builds tiny nanosatellites may be among the first. With our own spaceport, Australia will join the ranks of just 13 other nations that have launch capacity from their territory.Īnd aside from NASA, many Australian companies and research institutes will be keen customers. As a result, the company is developing the spaceport, where it will specialise in new launch technologies for small and light satellites. NewSpace company Equatorial Launch Australia is the first commercial company ever to receive a launch contract from NASA. SpaceX reaches for milestone in spaceflight – a private company launches astronauts into orbitĮven the opening of our own spaceport in East Arnhem land, expected by early 2021, is thanks to industry innovation. Giants such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing NewSpace technologies alongside their larger launch projects, and smaller companies benefit from their success when it comes negotiating public-private partnerships. This is a term associated with small and medium sized companies developing smaller, lighter, and therefore cheaper technologies that can be repurposed and turned into “off the shelf” components.Īustralian companies excel at this, as demonstrated by Gilmour, Neumann Space – which has a unique thrust technology for small satellites – and Myriota, a world leader in groundbreaking Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. ![]() Rather than large, expensive technologies developed for single purposes by government agencies, we’re now in an era of “NewSpace”. Just this month, the Australian Department of Defence signed a contract with Queensland company Gilmour Space technologies to develop rockets for small military cargo and satellites. Many national space programs and militaries outsource to commercial entities for space services. However, today’s space race is highly commercial. The 20th century space race began with government programs spurred by a technological and ideological competition between the US and the Soviet Union. NASA Kennedy/Flickr, CC BY The commercialisation of spacefaring The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. But Australia is a new entrant to the space sector that benefits from full government support through an industry-dedicated space agency. Many countries over-regulate their space industries, or fail to give them legislative support. The global commercial space sector is now watching Australia with excitement, and possibly some envy. In 2018, the Australian Space Agency (ASA) was established with a mandate to the support Australian space industry, rather than develop a national civil space program. This includes satellites, and technologies for telecommunications or television, bushfire monitoring, weather and climate tracking, search and rescue, navigation, deep space research, and defence and security. SpaceX astronaut launch: here's the rocket scienceĪn estimated 770 Australian entities already develop space-related infrastructure. By then, the Australian space sector is also expected to be worth A$12 billion. Globally, the space sector is worth at least US$415 billion, and is expected to grow to US$1 trillion over the next decade. Official SpaceX Photos/Flickr, CC BY-NC A burgeoning local industry The Crew Dragon spacecraft can carry up to seven astronauts.
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