Much-anticipated report into an Australian space agency looms

AUSTRALIA may be coming late to space but it’s “coming aggressively”, says the woman in charge of launching 100 nanosatellites into orbit.

• How Adelaide leads the Star Wars rule book
• Adelaide aiming for slice of space pie
• Push for global hi-tech hub at old RAH site
• Uni’s push to make oRAH into defence centre

AUSTRALIA may be coming late to space but it’s “coming aggressively”, says the woman in charge of launching 100 nanosatellites into orbit.

Fleet Space Technologies chief executive officer Flavia Tata Nardini says the nation and South Australia particularly are set to benefit from the “astronomical” potential of the space industry.

The Federal Government will release a report on establishing an Australian space agency within weeks, and Ms Nardini says it will show the need for the nation to “throw itself” into the commercial space race.

She was part of an expert group that informed the report which will shape the multi-billion dollar industry. SA has been lobbying to be a major part of the new agency.

Fleet Space Technologies chief executive officer Flavia Tata Nardini.

“This space agency will breathe and live commercial. It’s time for Australia to leapfrog into the giant industry in space,” she told the Geosmart conference yesterday.

“You are in the middle of a revolution and Australia is leading the change, and SA’s position is leading beautifully.

“We are just at the beginning and this is going to hit us all ... It’s such a good time to be alive.”

Fleet is building a network of satellites to connect the Internet of Things, which Ms Nardini says will ultimately mean 75 billion smart devices coming online. The technology will be used to monitor agriculture, the environment — almost anything that moves.

She told the conference that when she goes to Silicon Valley they are talking about Australia’s role, as more and more space start-ups get going.

The Advertiser revealed last year that the Federal Government was planning a space agency to co-ordinate research and industry. Australia is the only developed nation without an agency after New Zealand started one last year.

Such an agency would help create thousands of jobs and help Australia tap into the $420 billion industry.

The former Labor state government opened a Space Industry Centre to get ahead of the game, while federal Labor has also announced plans to double the size of the industry within five years.

Adelaide University wants a hi-tech hub focused on space and defence at the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site.