Western Australia stakes space claim
How Western Australia is staking its claim as a hub for the global space industry:
Remote and Harsh Environments Expertise: Western Australia has been known for pioneering work in operating in remote and harsh environments, which has translated into advancements in safety, efficiency, and productivity. These innovations are seen as directly applicable to human spaceflight and exploration.
Global Space Infrastructure: Western Australia is already home to significant ground infrastructure that has supported global space missions and satellite constellations since the 1960s. Efforts are being made to leverage the state's expertise in remote operations and communications to enhance its role in the global space economy.
Industry Innovation: Companies like First Mode and LatConnect 60 exemplify how expertise from the space sector can lead to advancements in sustainable energy technologies and Earth observation services. By supporting the space sector, Western Australia aims to drive job growth, innovation, and broader economic benefits.
Investments and Support: Western Australia has seen significant investments in space ventures, with more than $2.5 billion invested since 2018. The state government has been actively supporting the sector through direct investments and initiatives like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope project.
SKA Project and Collaboration: The SKA project is a major initiative in Western Australia which, when completed in 2030, will generate vast amounts of data for space astronomy. This project is driving innovations in communication and computation infrastructure, including new laser communication technologies that will transform data transmission between Earth and satellites.
Overall, Western Australia is positioning itself as a key player in the global space industry by capitalizing on its expertise, infrastructure, innovation, and collaborations to drive advancements in space technology and exploration.
Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/western-australia-like-no-other/article/2024/jun/28/western-australia-stakes-its-claim-as-a-hub-for-the-global-space-industry
