SA set for space hub
South Australia will be the site of Australia’s space mission control, forming the heart of the nation’s first space hub.
A new Mission Control Centre has received $6 million from the Federal Government and $2.5 million from the State Government, with Saber Astronautics lined up to build the facility.
The centre will allow researchers and astronautical companies to control missions and communicate with astronauts at the International Space Station, all from the comfort of Adelaide's CBD.
Mission Control will be constructed within the Australian Space Agency's headquarters in Adelaide's innovation precinct Lot Fourteen, planned to open in early 2021.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews says the centre will grow Australia's space sector and will promote jobs within SA.
“Space is also an incredible tool which can help other Australian industries to grow – from making our farmers more productive to giving our advanced manufacturers new supply chains to become a part of,” she said.
The facility will include the new Space Discovery Centre - an international educational facility to promote the next generation of Australia’s space industry.
The Federal Government has pledged to invest $700 million into the space sector, tripling its size to $12 billion and allowing it to add an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.