Ramona Adams
Lockheed Martin and the Space Industry Association of Australia have jointly facilitated a forum to discuss opportunities and challenges facing Australia’s space industry.
Lockheed said Wednesday the Securing Australia’s Space Industry Forum included a panel discussion and keynotes from Michael Frater, rector at University of New South Wales Canberra, and Tim Parsons, CEO of space startup accelerator Delta-V.
“The key to a competitive, sustainable space industry for Australia is in getting the policy settings right, and then harnessing the home-grown talent by funding ideas that could solve real problems here on Earth,” Parsons said.
“By nurturing a space technology start-up ecosystem with access to infrastructure, expertise and funding, Australia can establish a global advantage in space technologies,” the Delta V CEO added.
Parsons noted current reliance on major prime contractors will not provide necessary technological disruption.
Frater said the defense sector should lead efforts to develop and integrate instruments that complement allies’Â payload delivery systems.
SIAA Chairman Michael Davis stated Australia needs a new space policy coordination and national program oversight strategy to fulfill the nation’s space potential.
