Congratulations to the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) industry consortium, who this week has been announced as one of two successful recipients for Stage 1 of the Australia Space Agency's Moon-to-Mars Trailblazer program.
The AROSE Consortium will receive $4 million to design, build, test and operate early-stage prototypes of a semi-autonomous rover that will be used to support NASA's Artemis program.
The Western Australian State Government has also provided funding to support AROSE's Stage 1 activities.
The rover's mission will be to collect lunar soil on the moon and transport this to NASA equipment, which will attempt to extract oxygen from the sample.
The rover will be a major step towards a sustainable human presence on the Moon and supporting future missions to Mars. It aims to launch by 2026.
“Programs like Trailblazer are important to growing our space sector, as well as our know-how in robotics and automation,” said Federal Minister for Science Ed Husic.
“It also has an important role to play in inspiring more young Australians to consider STEM careers.”
AROSE’s Trailblazer consortium is led by Fugro Australia, creators of the Perth-based Space Automation, AI & Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC), and Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand, an Australian-owned engineering services and tech solutions company.
The consortium is also supported by its resources sector partners Woodside Energy and Rio Tinto, providing knowledge transfer of their terrestrial robotic and automation capabilities.
Launched on 17 January 2020, AROSE is a not-for-profit industry consortium which aims to position Australia as a trusted international leader in remote operations science, technology and services both on earth and in space.
AROSE’s successful Trailblazer bid is a testament to Western Australia’s diverse space capabilities, world-leading expertise in robotics and remote operations, and our State’s growing role in advancing Australian sovereign space capabilities and critical support of international space missions.
The WA Government has highlighted space industries as a priority sector for economic development under the Diversify WA Supply Chain Development Plan, with advanced manufacturing and science, innovation and technology listed as key cross-sector activities.
Find out more about Western Australia’s space industry capability and upcoming opportunities at the Department of Jobs, Tourism Science and Innovation’s space industry webpage.
