Australian Space Agency consults on ‘Moon to Mars’ program
The Australian Space Agency will conduct a series of consultations seeking feedback and input on the design of its $150 million Moon to Mars program and grant opportunities. Public meetings will be held across Australia in late-February and early March, with the deadline for written submissions on 6 March.
‘Moon to Mars’ is the Agency’s shorthand for the totality of measures announced in its Growing Australia’s Space Industry strategy released in September 2019. It consists of three integrated elements: Supply Chain Program; Demonstrator Program; and Trailblazer Program.
It will provide an opportunity to showcase to the world Australia’s best ideas and technologies that can support space missions to the Moon and on to Mars; fuel the growth of Australian businesses so they can thrive in international space supply chains that support Moon to Mars activities; and create jobs and support the transformation of industries across Australia, the Agency says. The outline financial plan looks like this:
| M2M administered elements |
2020-21 ($m) | 2021-22 ($m) | 2022-23 ($m) | 2023-24 ($m) | 2024-25 ($m) | Total ($m) |
| Supply Chain program | 1.7 | 6.5 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 47.2 |
| Demonstrator program | 1.7 | 2.0 | 8.5 | 18.0 | 15.0 | 45.2 |
| Trailblazer program | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.0 | 18.0 | 20.0 | 50.0 |
The consultation focuses on the Supply Chain and Demonstrator programs as these will be implemented in 2020-21. More detailed consultation will occur on the Trailblazer program at a later date, the Agency says.
Meanwhile the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) is seeking input from its members to develop a submission written by its Legislation Working Group, led by Mr Bill Barrett. The deadline for this is 28 February.