Key Points
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Australian Government announced on 25 September 2017 its intention to establish a national Australian space agency.
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The announcement comes while an ongoing expert reference group continues to assess and report on Australia’s space industry capabilities.
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The agency will hope to enhance Australia’s opportunities in the rapidly growing global space industry.
On 25 September 2017, the Australian Government announced its intention to establish a national space agency. The announcement came at the onset of the 68th International Astronautical Congress (IAC2017) which was held in Adelaide, South Australia from 25-29 September 2017.
Acting Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash commented that the establishment of a space agency is being reviewed by an Expert Reference Group which has been looking into Australia’s space industry capability. The agency will hope to enhance Australia’s role and market share in the rapidly growing global space industry.
The announcement of a national space program represents the start of some very exciting times for the Australian space industry, with overwhelming support for the establishment of an agency shown by stakeholders at the IAC2017. Hicksons attended IAC2017 and could sense the excitement in both space entrepreneurs and long-standing industry participants alike.
Hicksons will be offering its support for an agency model that best aligns with the Expert Reference Group’s findings and maximises the potential for native Australian involvement in the building of a ‘science non-fiction’ future. Hicksons stands ready to assist businesses looking to outer space, as well as in other technology and innovation sectors.
The official government announcement can be found at the following link:
http://minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/sinodinos/media-releases/turnbull-government-establish-national-space-agency
Post by Jack Guthrie and David Fischl