Image courtesy Fleet Space Technologies
The federal government has announced that it will provide a $20 million grant for Fleet Space Technologies’ Australian Space Manufacturing Hub, to be located at Australian Space Park at Adelaide Airport.
The funding is being made under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) and comes on top of $20 million already committed by the South Australian Government.
The $66 million project is expected to create 221 local jobs, as well as more than 1,000 others indirectly.
The purpose-built Space Manufacturing Hub will drive collaboration between Australia’s local space manufacturers to build innovative satellites and rockets, and already includes Fleet Space Technologies, AT Space, Alauda and Q-CTRL.
“The addition of this very significant investment from the Australian Government to the funds already pledged by the South Australian Government is affirmation of our nation’s commitment to the development of a rapidly growing industry and innovation in sovereign technological capabilities in space manufacturing,” said Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO and co-founder of Fleet Space Technologies.
“This industry is creating jobs, technological capability and lasting economic impact for Australia. The Space Hub in Adelaide will position South Australia as a true global centre of excellence in the development of space technologies.”
Federal Minister for Defence Industry and for Science and Technology, Melissa Price, said the investment will help future-proof the space sector by making it more self-sufficient.
“This project will lock in Australia’s ability to deliver along the entire space supply chain,” Minister Price said.
“From research and design through to manufacture and operation, Australia’s credentials as a leading space nation are going to be significantly strengthened by this investment.”
Fleet says the Space Manufacturing Hub will provide the required facilities to design, manufacture, test and launch critical components for space-going vehicles and satellites.
This will include the development of ‘Alpha,’ an entirely new constellation of small satellites utilising the latest additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology. This will drive down costs and democratise a technology that enables global connectivity across multiple sectors and user-cases.
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