Science Minister Roger Cook has congratulated local organisations who have been awarded $600,000 of funding to develop technologies that will support future space missions to the Moon and Mars.
Three Western Australian-led projects will each receive $200,000 as part of the Australian Government's Moon to Mars Demonstrator Feasibility Grants program.
The funding will be used to develop technologies needed for future space missions.
A total of 20 organisations across Australia each received up to $200,000 of funding to conduct feasibility testing and transfer their projects from concept to next generation space products and services.
Headquartered in Perth, the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium is part of two successful projects to receive funding.
One project led by AROSE will demonstrate the feasibility of an Australian operated Lunar Construction Rover and develop a business and commercialisation plan to secure further investment.
AROSE is also supporting Queensland University of Technology and Canadian space technology company MDA, to develop a robotic solution to handle logistics within NASA's future Lunar Gateway space station.
The McGowan Government has committed $1.5 million over three years to AROSE, from 2020 to 2023.
Curtin University's Binar Prospector will lay the foundations for proposed future Moon missions to locate and produce high resolution digital mapping of resources on the Moon using their Binar CubeSat space craft.
In January 2021, the McGowan Government announced it had invested $500,000 into Curtin University's Binar Space Program.
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with Fugro Marine Australia, will demonstrate the feasibility of their optical laser technology to provide communications support for NASA's inspirational Artemis Program to send the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024.
As stated by Science Minister Roger Cook:
"It's fantastic to see the potential of these Western Australian projects recognised with Moon to Mars Demonstrator Feasibility grants.
"The projects highlight the important contribution Western Australia is making to space exploration, research and commercial activities.
"As home to some of the most innovative organisations in the world, we are committed to harnessing opportunities that grow our space sector, which is key to diversifying our economy and creating new high skilled jobs across the State."
