- WA Government investment helps UWA win funding under the Australian Space Agency Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission program
- $6.5 million UWA project uses new technology to provide high speed communications for commercial space missions
- Investment in world-leading research helps diversify WA's economy and support job growth
With financial assistance from the Western Australian Government and industry support, The University of Western Australian (UWA) has been successful in its bid to advance its cutting-edge space communication technology for commercial application.
As part of its Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission program, The Australian Space Agency (ASA) will contribute $4.4 million towards UWA's $6.5 million TeraNet Project, which will see a commercial optical communications ground station network established in WA.
Using super-fast lasers to talk to satellites and spacecraft, the initiative is set to revolutionise data transfer to and from Earth. The new technology is 1,000 times faster and more secure than the radio communications currently used.
As the first of its kind in Australia, the network will have two fixed ground stations located at UWA's Crawley campus and Mingenew, and a third mobile station, initially deployed at the European Space Agency's New Norcia Deep Space Ground Station. UWA will collaborate with Thales Australia and Goonhilly Australia to deliver the TeraNet project.
The globalsatellite communications marketsize is projected to reach USD $159.6 billion by 2030. UWA's TeraNet Project positions WA to capture a share of this market, helping diversify WA's economy and the creation of new highly skilled jobs.
As well as bolstering critical defence capability by delivering secure, jam-proof GPS systems, the satellites will also have the capacity to put WA at the forefront of disaster management by providing advanced and real-time satellite imagery.
WA company, Transparent Earth Geophysics, as part of Advanced Navigation's Laser measurement Unit for Navigational Aid (LUNA) proposal, was also successful in receiving grant funding under the ASA Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission program. The consortium, led by Advanced Navigation, was awarded $5.3 million to develop lunar navigation and guidance technology and demonstrate its operation on the moon. Transparent Earth Geophysics will test the technology in a series of terrestrial airborne trials.
Perth headquartered, DUG Technology, is also a supporting partner on Fleet Space Technologies led lunar seismic exploration and research proposal. This project was awarded $3.9 million under the ASA Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission program.
As stated by Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy; Science; Minister Assisting State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade Stephen Dawson:
"I am thrilled the State Government's co-investment has led to this exciting project being delivered by WA.
"WA's geography and climate make it a prime location to host ground stations and initiatives like these will see the State become a world-leader in commercial laser satellite communications and supporting space missions.
"The Cook Government is committed to propelling the State's space sector, which will also lead to advancements in other industries. This will help to diversify the WA economy and lead to more highly skilled jobs."
