Gold Coast perfectly placed for leading role in growth of Australian space industry

WHEN it comes to setting off to space, the Gold Coast is in the fast lane in the Australian industry. And it could even be the next frontier when it comes to replacing mining and manufacturing.

ARE space and the Gold Coast the next frontier when it comes to how to replace mining and manufacturing in Australia?

The newly appointed Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Federal McPherson MP Karen Andrews, certainly thinks so.

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The planets aligned on the Coast this week as industry, universities, research agencies, governments and space aficionados gathered to chart a new course in the country’s space history at the 18th Australian Space Research Conference in Surfers Paradise.

The conference, which opened on Monday, is organised by the National Space Society of Australia and the National Committee for Space and Radio Science.

CSIRO chief Dr Larry Marshall, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews and Dr Meghan Clark, head of the new Australian Space Agency, at the 18th Australian Space Research Conference at the Mantra on View Hotel in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Suzanne Simonot.

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Ms Andrews joined more than 130 of the best scientific and technological minds from Australia and overseas at the event to launch A roadmap for unlocking future growth opportunities for Australia.

She said global space activity was gathering momentum, marked by a growing stream of new industry players.

“It is a seismic shift in an industry that used to be dominated by billion-dollar government programs,” she said.

Dr Meghan Clark, head of the new Australian Space Agency.

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“And in that new industry landscape, we’re seeing a healthy mix of small and medium businesses, and larger firms, providing a vast array of technology and services.”

When it comes to launching craft into space, Queensland and the Gold Coast are in the box seat. Thanks to our close proximity to the equator, rockets can maximise the planet’s rotational velocity and save on fuel to reach orbit.

It is one of the reasons brothers James and Adam Gilmour chose the Coast as the location for their Pimpama start-up, Gilmour Space Technologies, in 2012.

The company, which employs 28 people, is at the frontier of the Australian industry thanks to its focus on satellites and rockets.

Gilmour Space Technologies’ James Gilmour and Adam Gilmour

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CEO Adam Gilmour said advances in technology in general and space technology in particular meant the sector was no longer dominated by governments and multinationals.

“We’re in the middle of a worldwide space renaissance and Australia – Queensland in particular – is primed to take flight,” he said.

Gilmour is one of the 40-60 companies attempting to launch up to 8000 small satellites into orbit in the next five years.

“By 2022, these satellites will provide super-fast internet speeds beyond anything possible through fibre-optic cables or copper, anywhere on the planet. You won’t need cell towers,” he said.

“They’re a true game-changer.”