The Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative is a significant investment in Australian industry to grow the national space sector.

This program will accelerate the growth of Australia’s space industry and showcase our best ideas and technologies to world. The result will see Australia advancing its contribution to the global space economy, while also supporting NASA’s Moon to Mars endeavours and future space missions. 

The initiative includes the design and development of an Australian-made rover that will go to the Moon with NASA later this decade.

The Australian Space Agency, in partnership with NASA, is working with Australia’s space industry to design and build Australia's lunar rover, Roo-ver.

Drawing on Australia’s world-leading remote operations expertise, Roo-ver will collect lunar soil, known as regolith, and will work with NASA to develop key capabilities that lead to a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

ELO2 is the industry consortium that will design and develop the fully realised rover for its mission to the Moon.  ELO2 is made up of start-ups, SMEs, major resources companies, universities and other research partners. 

Meet Roo-ver G'Day Moon campaign

Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic and Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo posing with Roo-ver, Australia's first lunar rover

Funding Australian space tech

 We have been supporting several to help Australian businesses and research institutions complete space projects.

This program draws on Australia’s competitive strengths. It builds capability and helps a variety of industries deliver products and services into global space supply chains.

This can include backing businesses to:

  • develop a product from an adjacent industry, such as manufacturing and resources, to support the space sector
  • improve or qualify an existing product to meet a supplier standard for an international space company 
  • buy, lease, construct, install or commission equipment, including specialist software.

Visit our page to find out about our Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grants Recipients. 

This program consists of two funding streams that support Australian businesses and researchers:

1) Demonstrator Feasibility Grants

  • Provides industry and research institutions with grant funds to conduct feasibility testing to transform concepts into next generation space products and services.
  • $4 million in funding was provided across 20 organisations.

Visit our page to find out about our Demonstrator Feasibility Grants Recipients.

2) Demonstrator Mission Grants

  • The funding will give companies a boost to get their technologies ready for space and value-add to a range of other industries.
  • 10 projects shared in close to $40 million in funding under this program.

Visit our page to find out about our Demonstrator Mission Grants Recipients.

Documenting the early stages of developing our Aussie-made lunar rover 

Watch our video series highlighting the work that was undertaken as part of an initial 18-month preliminary design process.  

This initial phase included two Australian industry consortia – AROSE and ELO2 – that were developing early-stage concepts of Roo-ver before ELO2 was selected to produce the fully realised rover for Australia’s mission to the Moon.

Advancing national capabilities

An iconic moment for the country

First-hand stories from the teams

An image of satellite dish

Australia’s Space Infrastructure

We have funded several national space facilities to accelerate Australia’s delivery of space-based services.

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Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.

We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.