The space launch services market is worth $15 billion. Image: Claudio Ventrella.
Western Australia is moving towards having its own spaceport, with the government recently announcing the recipient of the Spaceport Establishment Support Grant.
The recipient is Space Angel Pty Ltd, a Perth-based company that will receive $1.75 million in WA Government contributions, which the company will match.
The grant will help the company carry out the vital site assessments required for regulatory approvals and planning, and business case development, for proposed spaceport locations in the state.
Global space launch services represent a market worth more than $15 billion and are expected to grow 15 per cent a year, creating new opportunities for the economy.
Spaceport sites are equipped to launch, receive, test or maintain both rockets and spacecraft, with the most famous being Cape Canaveral in Florida and the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The grant forms part of the Cook Labor Government’s $2 million Made in WA commitment to speed up the development of a domestic space industry capability.
Meanwhile, the government is also undertaking a study to identify additional locations for spaceports in the state.
The move is part of a broader commitment to building new industries, attracting investment and creating valuable jobs in sectors where WA has strong competitive advantages.
“This is another important step as the Cook Labor Government continues to build Western Australia’s presence in the global space industry,” Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson said.
“With Space Angel Pty Ltd selected as the recipient of the Spaceport Establishment Support Grant, we can continue progressing plans to establish a spaceport in Western Australia.
“A spaceport would help attract investment, support high-skilled jobs, and create new opportunities for Western Australian businesses to participate in the global space economy.”
More information is available here.
