Making the most of Australia’s space frontiers – By Andrew Mannix

The local space sector was shocked when the federal government cancelled the National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO). However, industry understands the government’s pivot, and still has a critical role to play in lessening Australia’s dependency on foreign countries for our space services, writes Andrew Mannix.

Space underpins our technologically advanced way of life.

From banking, communications, land, sea and air navigation, Defence, national security and climate change monitoring, Australia depends on space capabilities and access to space.

Otherwise, the services we as Australians rely on in our day-to-day lives, including for our national security, are almost entirely dependent on overseas entities and countries we are buying it from to provide the access we need to continue our daily lives.

Nova Systems is one of numerous Australian SMEs building an Australian space sector.

We do this through the delivery of complex space and satellite communication programmes and engineering and advisory services such as mission analysis, space domain awareness, launch safety and regulatory support and training.

We established a Space Precinct (pictured), which hosts several satellite ground stations, and a prototype passive array radar system, which can locate and track satellites and space junk orbiting Earth.

In most, if not all cases, these initiatives are leveraging local heritage and expertise through the growing number of start-ups and research organisations specialising in space services and technology.

While Australia doesn’t need to be fully self-sufficient in space capabilities, Australia has a role to play in providing novel and complimentary space capabilities in support of our allies.

A long-term and bipartisan Commonwealth led commitment to Australia’s space sector that is focused on delivering global space-based services and national security capabilities, will create a thriving high technology industry that extends well beyond Australia’s space sector.

For this ambition to be achieved, the approach needs to allow Australia’s space sector to identify niche fields that we can excel in, evolve our expertise quickly through multiple satellite missions and collaborate with overseas partners who can bring experience and know-how to de-risk these missions.

This was the intent of the National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO) programme – a once in a generation opportunity that had existed to solidify Australia at the cutting-edge of the sector on the world stage.

While its cancellation is a major setback to Australia’s space industry, Nova Systems recognises the pivot in priorities.

In this context, the role that Australian industry plays to continue to grow Australian capabilities, skills and the future economy is more important than ever.

For Nova – one of Australia’s most prominent players in space – we are continuing to grow our footprint and currently have 100 people in our space team generating $50 million a year.

We will continue pursuing opportunities including through:

• The Australian Space Agency,
• Smart Sat CRC
• AROSE consortium building the Trailblazer Lunar Rover
• The Moon to Mars Demonstrator Missions
• Growing the Nova Space Precinct in South Australia, particularly in support of the NASA Artemis Program
• Partnering with academia on Project Resilience, to deliver an Australian owned
• Earth Observation Satellite for improved fire management
• And collaborating with academia on Space Domain Awareness innovation.

Space is inspirational and a key reason for our involvement in the AROSE consortium for the Trailblazer Lunar Rover Stage 1 project, is to inspire the next generation of STEM engineers and scientists through the ambition of placing Australia’s first Lunar rover on the Moon.

Most importantly, we will continue to collaborate with our network of industry and research organisations to grow Australia’s space capability and export opportunities – albeit at a slower pace without significant commonwealth investment.

We congratulate our space sector colleagues, collaborators and competitors alike, on
their successes and continual innovation and resilience.

Andrew Mannix is Nova Systems Executive General Manager – Mission Solutions Space.

Further reading:
Nova Systems opens space ground station
The importance of space technology in Australia – by Adam Gilmour

Picture: Andrew Mannix at the Nova Space Precinct with Nick Pengelly (at left, Nova’s GM of Communications, Information and Space)