Could Australia become a key player in the space race to the Moon?
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NASA thinks so - that's why it just awarded Aussie space companies $8 million to design and build a lunar rover for its 2026 Moon mission. 🚀
This is a huge opportunity for Australia's space industry.
Australia has been awarded $8 million by NASA to design and build a lunar rover for NASA's 2026 Moon mission. This highlights Australia's expertise in remote operations and automation technology. It's significant because it provides opportunities for Australia's space industry and STEM skills development.
Two consortia (AROSE and EPE & Lunar Outpost Oceania) are competing to design and build the rover prototype by 2024. This spurs innovation and technology development in Australia's space sector.
The rover will collect lunar soil and deliver it to a NASA payload that will attempt to extract oxygen. This aligns with NASA's goals of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and future Mars missions.
The consortia bring together a diverse mix of space companies, universities, research institutions and resource companies. This cross-industry collaboration will lead to knowledge transfer and retention of key skills in Australia.
Developing the rover locally fosters Australia's space industry capabilities and has the potential to create high-tech jobs. It positions Australia as an innovative space nation.
In summary, Australia leading the design of a key component for NASA's lunar mission is a huge opportunity. It will boost local space tech innovation, skills and jobs. The blog highlights how strategic government investment in space aligns with broader national priorities like automation and advanced manufacturing. There is significant potential for Australia to become a dynamic space industry player through programs like this.
Original article: https://www.crn.com.au/news/two-consortia-to-build-aussie-designed-lunar-rover-592334
