Concept art of the final layout of the Fugro SpAARC facility. Image: Fugro.
Western Australia’s ambitions to be a major player in Australia’s burgeoning space industry have received a major boost after the state government kicked $5 million into the Fugro Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (Fugro SpAARC).
The funding announcement coincided with Perth hosting the 2023 Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference on 23-24 October. The conference was described as an opportunity to show off WA’s space and technology sectors to a global audience of hundreds of leaders from around the world to explore opportunities in space, cross-sector technologies and innovation.
The government says the funding will bolster the complex’s operational capability for space missions, and help to attract experts to Fugro SpAARC to support international space missions from Perth.
“Growing the space industry is a key focus of our Diversify WA framework, which supports the creation of local jobs, new business opportunities and economic diversification,” Premier Roger Cook said in a release.
“This new investment in Fugro SpAARC is a fantastic example of the Cook Government’s commitment to establishing the state as a major global space player.
“The funding will allow local operators to support international space missions, setting us on a path to become the go-to hub for space operations and exploration in the Southern Hemisphere.”
The investment in Fugro SpAARC was provided by the government’s Investment Attraction Fund, which was established to invest in projects that encourage investment in WA, create local jobs, and diversify the economy. It comes on top of $3.5 million previously provided by the WA Government and $4.5 million from the Australian Space Agency to set up SpAARC last year.
Fugro says SpAARC is its largest remote operations centre to date, and that it will manage robotics and other harsh-environment remote operations in Australia, around the world and in space.
The company says it was established using Fugro’s advanced remote operations expertise, and is set to improve Australian space missions by creating a scalable and accessible industry operating standard, and will also facilitate complex missions for Australian industries and researchers, including the remote operation of autonomous and robotic systems in space.
Science Minister Stephen Dawson said: “It is an exciting time to be in WA as we look to the skies and commit to becoming a key location for space exploration. Our State has world-leading capabilities in areas like robotics, remote operations, and radio astronomy, which have the potential to drive huge economic benefits.
“The Cook Government is continuing to support our local space industry, which could play a key role in NASA returning to the Moon.”
