Airbus to locate at Adelaide space manufacturing centre

Airbus is to locate at the Australian Space Park in Adelaide, South Australia, the site of a dedicated space industry manufacturing hub.

The company will join other companies locating manufacturing at the park which is adjacent to Adelaide airport – Fleet Space Technologies, Alauda Aeronautics, ATSpace and Q-CTRL.

The first major prime contractor at the park is responding to the need to deliver Australian industry capability to the expanding space sector through a dedicated assembly and integration (AI) presence.

Airbus Defence and Space Ltd Managing Director Richard Franklin said in a statement that Airbus’ investment will significantly expand Australia’s sovereign satellite manufacturing capability, enabling the production of satellites up to 300kg.

He said this was a big step in terms of scale and sophistication of satellites being assembled in Australia.

Airbus’ involvement in the Australian Space Park will provide a platform for industry to scale its satellite manufacturing capabilities. Airbus aims to be a national asset for Australia to support the government’s wider strategic aspirations of a sustainable space industry.

Franklin said: “As the burgeoning hub for Australia’s space manufacturing industry, South Australia is the natural choice for Airbus to establish a dedicated satellite assembly and integration presence.

“Our vision for this facility is to provide a national asset to support the Australian Government’s wider strategic aspiration to build a sustainable space industry. We look forward to working closely with the government of South Australia and industry to help lead this vision.”

The Australian Space Park provides the opportunity to construct a common user facility to support small satellite constellation manufacturing as well as other spacecraft and components.

The park will help to support the national aim to triple space’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product to $12 billion by 2030.

Picture: investsa.gove.au/Australian Space Park

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