Australia’s only NASA astronaut, Andy Thomas, says SA the best place for Space HQ

ADELAIDE astronaut Andy Thomas has thrown his support behind making South Australia the nation’s Space HQ — and says manufacturing satellites here would create a hi-tech jobs boom.

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ADELAIDE astronaut Andy Thomas has thrown his support behind making South Australia the nation’s Space HQ.

Standing next to Premier Steven Marshall on Thursday at the University of Adelaide, where he studied, the now-retired spaceman said the agency needed to be headquartered in SA.

He said it was not about sending astronauts to the moon or Mars, but about manufacturing satellites. That is one of SA’s specialties, as Fleet Space Technologies is already developing nanosatellites, while The Advertiser revealed today that larger satellites will now also be built here.

Astronaut Andy Thomas supports SA for Space HQ, says: “Space and dinosaurs are the most motivating things for young people to study and it has been tactfully pointed out I represent both.” Story to come on @TheTiser #ASPISpace

— ToryShepherd (@ToryShepherd) June 14, 2018

Dr Thomas said SA was in the perfect position to take advantage of the $400 billion industry, which is growing at 8 per cent a year.

“I’m unashamedly pro-SA, it’s very logical to put the headquarters for such an agency here in SA,” he said.

“SA has a long history of participating in space. SA made Australia the fourth country in the world to launch a satellite.

“SA has a huge defence industry and defence and space go hand in hand, you can’t have one without the other.

“In my unvarnished opinion, SA has the heritage, the technical resources, the background, the technical infrastructure, the industrial base. All the things you need to have a burgeoning space industry.”

Retired astronaut Andy Thomas said the space agency needed to be headquartered in South Australia. Picture: Kelly Barnes/The Australian

Mr Marshall said SA was the “logical place” for the agency to be based.

“You’d have to have been living under a rock if you didn’t know that the Federal Government had 1) announced a national space agency and 2) they’re going to determine where that is going to be by the end of the year,” he said.

“I can guarantee you one thing, we will be putting in a very compelling and competitive bid to bring the space agency here to SA.”

SA is positioning itself for a key role with the National Space Agency that will officially start on July 1. SA has pledged to work with the Northern Territory, which might host a launch site, and the ACT, where the agency will initially be based.

Pam Melroy, a space shuttle commander who moved from Houston to Adelaide to be part of the space buzz, said Adelaide absolutely had “a story to tell” but Australia needed to learn from her old agency.

She said the NASA experience was that it was more important to be nimble and use the advantages of various locations, rather than having a single sprawling headquarters.

In recent days Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia have kicked off campaigns to be the centre of space agency activities.

“Back off,” said Mr Marshall.

Dr Thomas with Premier Steven Marshall at Adelaide University's 3D printing lab. Picture: Simon Cross

Dr Thomas was born in Adelaide but now lives in Houston.

In 1993 NASA appointed Dr Thomas to the astronaut corps, and his first flight was on the Endeavour in 1996. He ultimately logged more than 177 days over four space flights.

He has been advising Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on establishing a space industry.

Federal Industry Minister Michaelia Cash, who has the federal space portfolio, said she was “extremely encouraged” by the interest shown by all the states.

“As you know, the agency has an interim home in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science for its first 12 months of operation,” she told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute space conference.

“I look forward to (Chief of the Australian Space Agency, Dr Megan Clark) beginning her consultations shortly with each of the states and territories, one on one, to properly ascertain what they can bring to the table; and to her further consultations with industry and academia.

“This will be an open and collaborative process that will ensure the best outcome for our nation. At the conclusion of this process — before the end of this year — Dr Clark will advise of the most strategic arrangements for the Agency’s long-term location.”