The news, revealed by Science Minister Ed Husic in Adelaide, comes weeks after Australian MPs and senators approved the treaty, known as the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA).
“It’s a great deal for Australia and our space industry,” said Minister Husic. “It strikes a balance between protecting sensitive US technology while unlocking new commercial opportunities for Australian companies.
“We’re already seeing evidence of that, just from the signing of the agreement late last year.
==
==
“The relationships built through this process – and the vote of confidence from the US that it trusts Australia – is generating activity before the agreement even beds in.
“The CEO of Southern Launch has described the TSA as a ‘game changer’ that will “accelerate the development of the Australian space industry.
“Plans are already underway for US company Varda Space to return its capsule to Koonibba in regional South Australia later this year … and conversations have also begun about future launches.
“With the TSA in place, it’s estimated Australian spaceport operators could supply between 45 and 95 space launches over the next decade with a value of between $460 million to $1.2 billion.
PROMOTED CONTENT
“This would be a massive uptick for Australia’s launch sector which was worth $27 million in the 21–22 financial year.
“This demand will increase investment in local infrastructure and scale the Australian launch and return sector. It will expand the market that is open to Australian companies and uplift the entire local space sector.
“It also sends a powerful signal to other global collaborators that the world’s largest space nation trusts Australia and wants to do business here – and that they should too.”
Australia currently has several sites preparing to launch rockets, including ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, and Southern Launch’s Orbital Launch Complex in South Australia.
However, launching US spacecraft in Australia has been difficult, given concerns about protecting sensitive US technology.
The new deal has been praised by both ELA and Southern Launch for removing red tape but criticised by rival Gilmour because it contains a number of controversial constraints, including one which means only US staff are allowed near their launch vehicles in specially defined “segregated areas”.
“Australia’s role would be essentially limited to renting out concrete pads and providing morning coffee to our American friends as they walk into their secured site,” Adam Gilmour told The Australian earlier this year.
“So much for supporting growth across our local supply chain and opening new doors for highly skilled tech jobs and supply chains in Australia.”
As part of his speech, Husic also announced the Australian Space Agency had opened a consultation on the next set of reforms to the space activities legislation regarding launches.
“The purpose of this set is to remove inefficiencies and improve flexibility, while not impacting on safety,” he said.
The changes could include removing the three-stage application process for a launch facility licence and reducing the notice period that the Launch Safety Officer must give before a launch from “30 days” to “20 days”. For more information, click here.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
Receive the latest developments and updates on Australia’s space industry direct to your inbox. Subscribe today to Space Connect here.
