Space

Queensland’s strengths

• Suitable for launch

  The annual global launch services market is worth US$5.7 billion and growing. Reducing launch costs, combined with the rising demand for space-enabled services, are driving the demand for rocket launches and creating opportunities to launch, operate, manufacture, test and develop launch supply chains.

  Image courtesy of Rocket Technologies International

  In Queensland, Black Sky Aerospace, Gilmour Space  and Hypersonix are developing affordable access to space for small- and medium-sized payloads.

  Launching from Queensland

  There are a number of technical considerations to identifying a suitable launch location.

  Queensland is the only state on Australia’s eastern seaboard with direct access to equatorial orbits. Ideal latitude, clear skies and open waters to the east means that Queensland can launch larger payloads, and into more orbits, than any other place in Australia.

  Queensland’s coastline is comparable and at better latitudes to Cape Canaveral, Florida, which hosts the Kennedy Space Centre; one of the world’s busiest launch sites.

  Opportunity for launch

  Queensland’s geographical attributes, skilled workforce and innovative industry position the state to expand its place in the world’s growing launch supply chain.

  Some opportunities to support the development of Queensland’s launch industry include:

  1. National support and leadership – launch is a national capability that supports the growth in Australia’s space industry and sovereign capability. A national approach to capability development is key to optimising these benefits.
  2. Support for enabling infrastructure – development of enabling infrastructure to test launch vehicles, components and payloads will strengthen Queensland and Australia’s launch supply chain. Key considerations are a static test site and an orbital launch facility in proximity to launch vehicle developers.
  3. A versatile launch site – that can launch to multiple orbits and cater for multiple users. A Queensland launch facility would bolster national capability, providing the Southern Hemisphere with a launch location accessible to international markets.

• Ready to host ground stations

  A prime location

  Ground stations, often situated in satellite parks, track and control satellites and download data, including in real time to customer industries for time-based analytics.

  Image Courtesy of UniSQ

  Most ground stations in the global space economy are in the Northern Hemisphere. Increasing capacity in Australia will provide more access to time-based services for Australian and other Southern Hemisphere businesses.

  Ground stations have specific requirements to operate. They require large areas free from radio traffic, clear skies, dry weather, internet connectivity and security, requirements that Queensland is uniquely positioned to provide.

  Our ground systems opportunity

  With clear skies and in proximity to the equator, Queensland – particularly Western Queensland – offers multiple locations for ground stations that can scan both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

  The ability to purchase satellite data in real time enables new services to grow. For example, real time data can improve decision making for environmental management and disaster relief. Queensland’s space industry and the wider economy could benefit from ground station capability, particularly in:

  • the ground system sub-sector – with the opportunity to attract large companies to Queensland
  • the space-enabled services sub-sector
  • space industry consumers such as the mining, environmental management and agriculture industry sectors
  • exports – by enabling the rapid export of data and analytics from Australia to the world through the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Submarine Cable

• Space-enabled services

  From satellite communications and satellite navigation to Earth observation and remote sensing, the world is increasingly relying on space-enabled services.

  

  In Queensland, the space-enabled services sub-sector is primarily being driven by Earth observation and satellite navigation.

  Satellite communications – the US$168 billion Satcom market is shifting from video to data-centric services.

  Satellite navigation – the US$126 billion Satnav market has been driven by government-funded systems, which have opened up civilian and commercial activities around the world.

  Earth observation – the US$6 billion Earth observation market has historically been dominated by government services. This is changing as commercial opportunities emerge.

  Observing Earth from Queensland

  Queensland is a world-leader in the field of Earth observation.

  The state’s Earth observation sub-sector is the largest in the country and has created a unique cluster through long-term investment in research.

  Earth and marine observation has enormous economic benefits to other industries. The value of Earth and marine observation to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum economies is estimated at US$372 billion.

  With Queensland’s proximity to APEC nations and its role as Australia’s leader in Earth observation, its Earth observation ecosystem is positioned to expand through both domestic and international uptake of its products and services. This growth will complement emerging capabilities in Queensland’s ground system sub-sector through increased availability of data.

  Space-enabled supply chain opportunities

  Demand for space-enabled services drives demand throughout the rest of the space supply chain such as launch and satellite-building programs. More demand for data means more demand for satellites and the capability to build, launch and control them.

  Space-enabled services have the potential to grow Queensland’s economy in two ways:

  • direct benefits and efficiency gains to consumer industries – particularly in industries that currently have a low awareness of space-enabled services but an untapped potential for growth
  • increased demand in the greater space supply chain – by increasing the demand to manufacture, launch and operate space systems to capture data.

• Space systems

  Our manufacturing base

  Queensland’s vast geographical landscape and remote conditions share parallels with space exploration. Queensland also has a long history in robotics and remote asset management through its mining and advanced manufacturing industries.

  Image courtesy of Boeing Research and Technology Centre

  Queensland’s manufacturers are innovative, customer-focused and seek ways to address emerging issues. The existing advanced manufacturing base includes:

  • additive manufacturing technologies
  • advanced forming technologies (medical and aerospace)
  • advanced materials
  • biomanufacturing
  • electronics manufacturing (including aerospace and defence)
  • heavy engineering
  • high temperature superconducting technologies (energy and defence)
  • precision tooling and niche machining (including for aerospace)
  • technologically superior microwave systems
  • next generation broadband and defence systems.

  Opportunities to grow and diversify manufacturing

  As Queensland’s space industry grows, opportunities will increase for aerospace, defence and manufacturing to diversify into the space supply chain.

  For example, Queensland’s leading research and industry organisations are already identifying ways to support the Australian Space Agency and contribute to NASA’s robotics and automation capabilities.