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Many new technologies developed for space exploration have applications on Earth as commercial products and services.
For example, NASA has identified more than 2,000 of its space technologies used in commercial products such as energy storage batteries, temperature-regulating clothing, scratch-resistant lenses, cordless power tools, and programmable implantable medication systems.
Western Australia is at the forefront of technology transfer between space and terrestrial industry sectors, leveraging space technology and systems engineering to solve challenges on Earth and transferring terrestrial technology for space applications. Key areas include remote operations, automation, AI, and robotics. The annual Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference (IPSEC) in Perth encourages technology transfer between space and terrestrial industry sectors
Ablano Research Services – Ablano is a nano-technology company that has developed a process to convert commercially available materials into advanced nano-materials. One product under development is a nano-based lubricant suitable for use in extreme conditions such as space. Ablano’s nano-materials also have attributes suitable for radiation shielding.
- AROSE consortium – the consortium is currently transferring terrestrial remote operations, AI, automation and robotics capability to develop a lunar rover under ASA’s Trailblazer Stage 1 project. Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy are supporting the consortium by providing knowledge transfer of their terrestrial robotic and automation capabilities.
- Curtin University and UWA have spun out radio astronomy technology developed for the SKA project forpassive SSA and optical satellite communications.
- Fugro-SpAARC – is a key partner within the AROSE consortium lunar rover project. Fugro-SpAARC is also transferring its marine remote operations expertise to space to support Intuitive Machines lunar program.
- First Mode – has pivoted from its space systems engineering origins to building clean energy solutions for heavy industry.
- OffWorld – has pivoted its robot swarm technology from off-Earth mining to terrestrial mining, processing, manufacturing, and construction.
- Transparent Earth Geophysics (TEG)/Advanced Navigation – TEG with Advanced Navigation have transferred their capability in terrestrial gravimetry (used for resources prospecting) to develop a state-of-the-art, autonomous lunar navigation system to be tested on the Moon by Intuitive Machines.
- Woodside Energy Group has partnered with NASA to explore automation, remote operation and the robot-human interface and is testing NASA’s Valkyrie humanoid system in the terrestrial resources sector.
The Western Australian Government is keen to accelerate technology transfer between space and terrestrial industry sectors. As such, the Government supported the establishment of the Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference that promotes uptake of space-enabled and cross-sector technologies and promotes technology transfer opportunities globally to benefit all industries.
