The Australian Space Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tasmanian Government. The MoU draws on the support of Tasmania’s space capabilities including space medicine, ground stations and tracking facilities.
This MoU will support Tasmania’s existing capabilities, propose areas for expansion and leverage these to grow Australia’s wider space industry. The state is host to the Centre for Antarctic, Remote and Maritime Medicine (CARMM), a partnership between the Australian Antarctic Division, Australian and Tasmanian Governments and the University of Tasmania.
Tasmania also hosts the Australian Antarctic Division, which has been affiliated with NASA since 1993. Antarctica’s remote nature makes it an excellent space analogue for remote operational medicine and human research.
Acting Head of the Australian Space Agency Anthony Murfett said the signing also builds upon the Space Infrastructure Fund to upgrade space tracking facilities in Tasmania.
The Australian Government has committed $1.2 million to upgrading the University of Tasmania tracking facilities under the Space Infrastructure Fund.
“The Australian Government will support the upgrade of existing infrastructure to commercial standard to allow for precision tracking of satellites and spacecraft for orbit and de-orbit tracking,” Mr Murfett said.
“We are looking forward to working closely with all states and territories in our effort to grow Australia’s space industry.”
This signing is another step in the Agency’s goal to transform and grow Australia’s space industry to $12 billion and create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030.