Western Australia's space industry played an important role in the United States led mission to the Moon.
Fugro’s Perth-based Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) partnered with Intuitive Machines (IM) in the USA to provide vital support in mission operations for its IM-1 lunar lander.
Odysseus reached the moon on Friday 23 February, making it the first commercial lunar landing as well as the first US Moon landing since 1972.
Following this mission, SpAARC will support IM in the IM-2 and IM-3 lunar missions, scheduled to launch later this year.
SpAARC is a world-class facility which trains, tests and controls remote and autonomous operations in space and other harsh environments.
The WA Government co-invested $3.5 million to establish SpAARC, leveraging $4.5 million from the Commonwealth Government.
In October 2023, the WA Government committed a further $5 million to grow the facility’s space mission operations capability under the Perth City Deal Program.
Since 2018, there has been more than $1.2 billion invested in or committed to the State's space sector, including more than $250 million private investment.
Scheduled for November 2024, Perth will host for the 30th annual session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum.
The event is the largest space agency forum in the Aisa-Pacific Region, attracting representatives from international space agencies, private industries, government and research organisatons.
Western Australia’s space industry is expanding its capabilities in space mission operations, optical communications, satellite development and launch.
The growing capabilities of SpAARC supports the generation of new jobs and promotion of investment opportunities.
Learn more about Western Australia's involvement in the space industry through the Space page.
Photograph supplied by Intuitive Machines.
