The International Space Investment initiative supports strategic space projects that build relationships with international space agencies. Its purpose is to grow Australia’s space industry capability.

Ten projects from across the nation will benefit from $11 million in grants. This supports:

  • 24 Australian businesses and research organisations
  • more than 10 international space agencies, companies or researcher organisations

These projects are creating new technologies also designed to help us here on Earth, including:

  • The SpIRIT (Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal) CubeSat mission by University of Melbourne in partnership with Inovor Technologies, Sitael Australia, Nova Systems and Neumann Space — CubeSats that will enable Australian products to enter the global supply chain of small-sat constellations.
     
  • Spacesuits for Preserving Human Health and Mobility by Human Aerospace — a spacesuit that reduces the unhealthy side effects of living in space, such as bone and muscle loss, and fainting upon return to Earth.
     
  • South Australian Multi-Sensor Space Observatory for SSA/STM by Silentium Defence — a new space observatory in rural South Australia, with sensors to support space traffic management and debris tracking.
     
  • AI Crew for space: helping with complex systems tests by Akin Australia — an Artificial Intelligence (AI) space crew complements human teams to help people work more effectively in remote environments.
     
  • Design and qualification of micro-satellite constellation launch systems by Skykraft — the design and qualification of a satellite launch system for the launch and deployment of microsatellites into low Earth orbit. 
     
  • OSSO: The Open Source Space Operations infrastructure by Saber Astronautics — developing open source software infrastructure for spacecraft operations.
     
  • Advanced GNSS Receiver for CubeSats, Rockets and Remote Sensing by the University of New South Wales — an advanced GPS receiver for CubeSats, rockets and remote sensing. This will improve timing and position or velocity estimation.
     
  • Decision Support System for Collision Avoidance of Space Objects by Stamen Engineering — a tool to help satellite operators assess the real risks to satellites from collisions with other satellites and space debris. Operators will be able to make quicker and more accurate decisions.
     
  • Underwater Virtual Reality Training Simulations for Astronauts by Raytracer — developing an underwater virtual reality training simulator for astronauts and human space exploration.
     
  • VertiSense-Mitigation of Sensorimotor Effects of Simulated Weightlessness by University of Canberra — countering sensorimotor disturbances experienced by astronauts after spaceflight.

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.