Liverpool Council invites first astronaut to see merits of space agency in the southwest

LIVERPOOL Council is throwing its hat in the ring to have the Australian Space Agency’s headquarters built in its backyard — and Australia’s first astronaut has been appointed to lead the campaign.

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Liverpool Council is throwing its hat in the ring to have the Australian Space Agency’s headquarters built in its backyard.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian last week announced the government would bid for the country’s first space agency to be located in Sydney.

Australia’s first astronaut, Dr Paul Scully-Power, has been appointed to lead the campaign.

“We are home to the nation’s busiest and biggest space industry sector, bringing hi-tech research and advanced manufacturing together to support the nation’s future space ventures,” Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday.

Dr Scully-Power and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian launched the NSW government's bid to build the country's inaugural space agency in Sydney. Picture: David Moir

“The Commonwealth is looking for a home for its new national space agency — there’s no question that NSW is best placed to host it and there’s no one better suited than our nation’s first astronaut to lead our bid.”

Dr Scully-Power was the first Australia-born astronaut to travel into space after being selected by NASA to be a payload specialist on the 13th Space Shuttle for eight days and 133 Earth orbits in 1984.

He has been invited to Liverpool to see how the agency would fit within the new aerotropolis, the city that will be built around the Western Sydney Airport.

Dr Paul Scully-Power Australia's first astronaut is leading the campaign. Pic: Darren England.

“We have invited Dr Paul Scully-Power to Liverpool to personally show the strength of our community’s commitment to the multi-billion dollar Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis that will grow around it,” Cr Waller said.

“It is already an unprecedented opportunity to bring together new, emerging and as yet undeveloped technologies that benefit the local community, NSW and Australia.”

Cr Waller said there was a “unique” opportunity for the headquarters to be located at the aerotropolis alongside a university, aerospace institute and a STEM high school.

“The Australian Space Agency will be operating in an intensely competitive environment as more nations see space as a new business frontier.”

The competition to host the Australian Space Agency’s headquarters is expected to be fierce with NSW the first to put its hand up.