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Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses

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The Moon to Mars initiative gives Australian businesses and researchers the opportunity to showcase their immense knowledge and capabilities in projects that can support NASA’s Moon to Mars program.

The Australian Space Agency is proudly partnering with NASA to help Australian businesses lift off into the space industry.

The Moon to Mars initiative is a five year program that will get Australian space tech, manufacturing, resources, and defence businesses into local and global space supply chains. 

By supporting NASA’s inspirational plan to go to the Moon, and on to Mars, we’ll increase demand in Australia for new capabilities and technologies that fuel economic growth. 

The Moon to Mars initiative involves three key programs.

The Supply Chain program will build capability and help local industry deliver products and services into national and international space supply chains. 

The Demonstrator program will support Australian businesses and researchers to develop and launch products, providing pathways to showcase Australia’s strengths to the world. 

The Trailblazer program is our signature piece. It will see Australian playing a role in NASA’s mission to go to the Moon, and on to Mars. Inspiring Australians from all walks of life, to look up at the stars, and be proud of what we can achieve as a nation. 

The Moon to Mars initiative will show the world what we can accomplish in space, while creating jobs and developing technologies that make life easier on Earth.

The Moon to Mars initiative is part of the Australian Space Agency’s broader vision to create up to 20,000 jobs, and triple the size of Australia’s space sector to $12 billion by 2030.

Investment in Australia’s space industry today, will help Australian businesses lift off in the global space economy of tomorrow. 

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The Moon to Mars initiative is a result of our partnership with NASA on future space cooperation. This partnership launched in September 2019.

Funded by a $150 million investment over 5 years, the Initiative:

  • showcases Australia’s best ideas and technologies, to support space missions to the Moon and Mars
  • enables Australian businesses and researchers to enter national and international space supply chains
  • creates jobs and supports industry transformation across Australia.

The Initiative contains three integrated programs.

Supply Chain program

The Supply Chain program funds projects that deliver products and services into space supply chains. It offers support through grants and facilitation services.

The Supply Chain program consists of two elements:

The Supply Chain Capability Improvements Grants are now open.

Visit the Business Grants Hub for more information or to apply.

Demonstrator program

The Demonstrator program provides a pathway to develop and launch products into space, which will create new capability and build space heritage.

The Demonstrator program consists of two elements:

  • Demonstrator Feasibility Grants. Grants to develop the feasibility of space projects and missions.
  • Demonstrator Mission Grants. Grants for space activities at more advanced stages of mission development.

Demonstrator Feasibility grants are now closed.

Read about the successful applicants.

Demonstrator Mission grants are expected to open late 2021.

Trailblazer program

The Trailblazer program is the flagship element of the Moon to Mars initiative. It supports NASA’s space exploration program, and their endeavours to return to the Moon and then go on to Mars. It will:

  • contribute flagship Australian space capability within an international space exploration program
  • leverage Australia’s competitive strengths in space and showcase Australian capabilities to the world.

The Trailblazer program grant is expected to open late 2021.

Read about the program consultation.

Find out more

To find out more about Moon to Mars opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter.

Public consultation

We sought feedback on the initiative’s design in February and March 2020. Public consultation is now closed.

See how the public had their say.

Case studies

Skykraft and XTEK

Skycraft is an Australian space services company that specialises in the conceptualisation, design, manufacture and operations of SmallSat constellations for the delivery of global services. 

We needed specialist carbon fibre manufacturing for our Skycraft satellites. Manufacturing and launching lightweight satellites are the future of communications technologies and small satellite constellations in general. 

Companies like XTEK here in Canberra have the manufacturing expertise we need to give us the edge in the global space economy. 

It’s an exciting time to be involved in Australia’s space industry. 

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Myriota and Motherson

Myriota provides data connectivity anywhere on the planet for the Internet of Things. In partnership with Motherson, our manufacturing supplier right here in Adelaide, we produce the Myriota Module. 

The Myriota Module makes sharing and receiving data from remote locations here on Earth or out in space easier and much more affordable. 

Being a high-technology company in the space industry has really helped our company take off.

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EOS Systems and Austec

EOS observation technologies are used for tracking, identification, communications and remote manoeuvring. 

The telescope componentry we need is fabricated via our partnership with Austec, an Aussie-owned welding, CNC-machining and fabrication company. We really couldn’t see into space without them. 

There’s opportunity for all Australian businesses to benefit from the growing Australian space industry. 

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Connect with us

Contact us

  • Email enquiries@space.gov.au
  • Media email media@space.gov.au
  • Media phone 08 8406 4798
  • Phone 1800 087 367 (within Australia) / +61 2 6276 1166
  • Head office: Lot Fourteen, McEwin Building. North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
  • Write to us at Australian Space Agency, GPO Box 2013, CANBERRA ACT 2601

Last updated: 3 August 2021

Content ID: 67017