Pressure mounts on Australian Government to launch space agency

AUSTRALIA’S space industry has launched a campaign calling on its Federal Government to establish a national space program and an Australian Space Agency. Despite having a long history in the industry, including test ranges in South Australia, the country remains one of the few OECD nations without a national space program or agency. The Australian space sector currently produces annual revenues of up to 4 billion and employs between 9,500 and 11,500 people from its 0.8 per cent share of the global space economy, which was estimated to be worth US$330 billion in 2014. The Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) says there is an opportunity to double in size within five years – if the Australian Government is prepared to commit to the establishment of an Australian Space Agency to lead a cohesive national space strategy.
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