This page belongs to: Australian Space Agency

Developing Australia's space industry capability

What we are doing to develop our space industry and how we collaborate with businesses in the industry.

Space is a fast-growing and competitive commercial sector. Space technologies support Australian innovation and the digital economy.

Developing roadmaps for the Australian space industry

We have identified 7 national civil space priority areas. These areas will deliver the best outcomes for the Australian space sector.

The roadmap for each area:

  • guides and informs industry, research, and government
  • maps out the future workforce
  • aligns the space sector
  • advances the Australian space industry over the next decade.

We will release roadmaps through 2021 and 2022.

Coordinating the Australian space industry

We coordinate the Australian space industry and prepare it for the future by:

  • closing market gaps
  • developing emerging areas of interest
  • stimulating commercial investment in areas of competitive advantage.

Key priorities 

Funding space programs and initiatives

Australia’s space projects and funding opportunities for businesses.

Australia to support NASA’s plan to return to the Moon and on to Mars

The Australian Space Agency and NASA have launched a new partnership on future space cooperation.

Leading international space collaboration

We are actively involved in the national and international space industry.

Regulating Australian space activities

Rules and regulations for Australian space activities and how they are enforced.

Key publications

Jul 2022 Australian Space Agency

Review of Australia's space industry capability

The government conducted a review of Australia’s space industry capability. The review led to a report to the government on how grow our space industry.
Jun 2020 Australian Space Agency

Definition of the Australian space sector

The space sector provides essential data and services for every day activities, from banking and internet access to knowing where you are. See our definition of the space sector and activities included in the sector...

Cooperating with businesses in the space industry

We develop statements of strategic intent and cooperation (SSIs) with businesses. These agreements:

  • promote industry investment in the space sector
  • are non-binding joint statements between the agency and commercial organisations operating in Australia.

Through SSIs we invite commercial organisations to:

  • support the agency’s goals to grow the Australian space economy and increase employment
  • invest in facilities, people, and research and development.

Call for businesses to develop SSIs

You should talk to us if you’re a business doing any of these things:

  • operating in the traditional space sector
  • providing goods and services, and you identify space as a potential new market
  • using space technologies as a key part of your business model, like supporting agriculture or remote asset management.

Conditions for an SSI

To develop an SSI, commercial organisations must:

  • be Australian, or an Australian subsidiary of an international organisation
  • align their activities with the Australian Civil Space Strategy’s priority areas, strategic pillars or both
  • align investments and activities with the Australian Civil Space Strategy’s investment principles
  • identify and quantify the investments they will make in Australia – these must contribute to the growth of our space industry and lift the economy
  • ensure the proposed investment’s business practices align with the agency’s values and do not violate human rights or Australian laws.

Opportunities for startups

Our department provides support for startups on business.gov.au.

CSIRO funding schemes can help businesses with a turnover of less than $100 million.

Space news

Illustration showing what Australia’s lunar rover would look like on the Moon.
Australian Space Agency

Competition to name Australia’s lunar rover

Australians have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to name an Aussie-built rover that will go to the Moon.
Photo of team in lab standing in front of the oven
Australian Space Agency

Local manufacturer shows Australian ingenuity with space-ready circuitry

Brisbane-based Crystalaid Manufacture Pty Ltd is attracting international attention by producing high quality printed circuit boards (PCBs) suitable for space environments.
Decorative banner for Earth Observation from Space Roadmap 2021-2030
Australian Space Agency

Changes to Space (Launches and Returns) Rules

Amendments to the General Rules and High Power Rocket Rules came into effect on 17 August 2023. The amendments have removed most ‘not a related party’ requirements.
Students being awarded certificate
Australian Space Agency

Australian Indigenous students chosen for NASA internship

Five Indigenous Australian university students will next week head to the USA for a once in a lifetime internship with NASA
A young man smiling and displaying ‘peace fingers’.
Australian Space Agency

Australian student experiment to be tested by ISS astronauts

An experiment proposed by an Australian university student will be carried out on the International Space Station (ISS).