Virgin Galactic COO Enrico Palmero to lead Australian Space Agency

Australia has headhunted one of Virgin billionaire Richard Branson’s cosmic travel chiefs Enrico Palmero to lead the nation’s commercial, scientific and strategic efforts in outer space.

Australia has headhunted one of Virgin billionaire Richard Branson’s space engineering chiefs, Enrico Palmero, to lead the ­nation’s commercial, scientific and strategic efforts in outer space.

Scott Morrison wants to create 20,000 jobs over the next 10 years and expand the economy by $12bn in his quest to expand Australia’s space interests, as China and the US speed up the race to control outer-atmosphere satellites and space travel paths.

Mr Palmero, an Australian, will leave Virgin Galactic — Mr Branson’s agency set up to take high-paying customers beyond the atmosphere into space in small shuttles — in December to replace the Australian Space Agency’s inaugural chairwoman, Megan Clark.

The Prime Minister said on Thursday that Mr Palmero’s hire would make Australia a bigger player in the outer space industry.

“Mr Palmero’s leadership will rocket Australia towards our goal of becoming a major player in the international space industry, while providing benefits across our economy,” he said.

“By 2030, we want to triple the size of our space sector – adding $12bn to our economy and creating up to 20,000 new, high-skilled jobs.”

Mr Palmero has spent the past 14 years at Mr Branson’s space travel outfit and is in charge of its space-travel manufacturing division, which has expanded its fleet of space-travelling planes over the past decade including a new space vehicle unveiled in New Mexico this year.

Mr Branson appointed him as chief operating officer in January and Mr Palmero currently oversees more than 700 space pilots, engineers and other staff.

Mr Palmero, who studied at the University of Western Australia, said on Thursday he was excited to come home and work to grow Australia’s space industry. “In its first two years, the agency has made significant progress and achieved many firsts. I look forward to working with the agency team to continue the mission of growing and transforming Australia’s space industry,” he said in a statement.

The Australian Space Agency was set up in 2018 to expand the nation’s space interests and commercialise any developments in travel, satellites and other means of interspace technology.

Science Minister Karen Andrews said Mr Palmero’s long experience in the space industry would set up the ASA for success.

“Mr Palmero’s background in engineering, commercialisation and innovation will provide strong leadership and direction for the agency,” she said.