Space industry in Australia

Australian Space Agency

Adelaide, Australia government

The Australian Space Agency (ASA) is Australia's national civil space coordination body, established in July 2018 and headquartered at Lot Fourteen innovation precinct in Adelaide, South Australia — Australia's first dedicated space hub. The Agency was created to coordinate civil space activities across Australian government departments, support growth of the domestic space industry, and position Australia as a significant contributor to global space partnerships. The ASA operates under the Civil Space Strategy 2019-2028, backed by an initial AUD $150 million investment commitment to expand the nation's space sector from approximately AUD $3.9 billion to AUD $12 billion by 2030, creating an estimated 20,000 additional jobs. Key programs include Moon to Mars — Australia's participation in NASA's Artemis program — and the Australian Rover Program (Trailblazer), which contributed Australian-developed lunar rover payload technology to Artemis missions with a goal of collecting lunar regolith to demonstrate oxygen extraction capability. The Agency focuses on six strategic priorities: communications, Earth observation, positioning/navigation/timing (PNT), space situational awareness, space transport, and STEM education. Australia operates the Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Complex (co-operated with NASA's JPL) supporting interplanetary missions including Mars rovers and the Voyager probes. The ASA coordinates with the Australian Space Council, co-chairs bilateral space agreements with the US, UK, and Japan, and administers the International Space Investment initiative targeting foreign investment in Australian space technology companies.

CSIRO Space Technology

Canberra, Australia government

CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Space Technology is Australia's national science agency's space division, operating critical space infrastructure and conducting space-related research. CSIRO operates the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) at Tidbinbilla under NASA's Deep Space Network — one of only three DSN complexes worldwide (alongside Madrid and Goldstone) — providing essential communications for NASA deep space missions including Mars rovers, Voyager, and the Artemis/Orion tracking. CSIRO also operates the Australia Telescope National Facility including the Parkes Radio Telescope (Murriyang) and ASKAP for radio astronomy. The organization supports Australian space industry through research partnerships and technology transfer, and runs space weather monitoring stations critical for HF communications and satellite operations.

Advanced Navigation

Sydney, Australia commercial

Advanced Navigation, founded in 2012 and based in Sydney, Australia, is a provider of AI-based inertial navigation systems and robotics technologies for a diverse range of applications. The company specializes in solutions for sea, land, air, and increasingly, space environments, offering products designed to operate reliably even when GNSS signals are denied, degraded, or disrupted. Their core offerings include the Boreas series utilizing Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) technology, and the Certus line, which combines MEMS technology with dual-antenna RTK GNSS for high-accuracy positioning and heading. Advanced Navigation distinguishes itself through a focus on robust, ITAR-free navigation solutions, serving industries such as defense, mining, and subsea operations. Notably, the company’s LUNA sensor is being utilized by Intuitive Machines for the upcoming IM-4 lunar mission, carrying NASA payloads, demonstrating its capabilities in challenging space environments. Recent news highlights a multi-million dollar deal with Kongsberg to integrate Advanced Navigation’s strategic-grade FOG INS technology into their defense systems, and the development of new defense-ready inertial navigation systems with integrated electronic protection capabilities. With a growing global presence and over systems deployed worldwide, Advanced Navigation positions itself as a leader in providing performance-driven, reliable navigation solutions for critical applications.

Akula Tech develops software-defined, AI-powered satellite systems that perform onboard data processing at the edge in orbit. Its technology runs an onboard AI engine that processes complex hyperspectral and imaging data on the spacecraft itself, converting raw imagery into real-time actionable insights rather than downlinking everything to ground stations. Applications span defense, emergency response, agriculture and climate monitoring. In 2025 the Melbourne-based startup launched Nexus-01, described as Australia's first AI-powered smart satellite, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare.

Beam Communications (ASX: BCC) is a Melbourne-based Australian company founded in 1999 that designs and manufactures satellite communication terminals and devices for Iridium and Inmarsat networks. Products include satellite phone docking stations (converting Iridium handsets into fixed terminals), IoT satellite data modems, tracking devices, personal locator beacons (PLBs), and specialized terminals for maritime, mining, agriculture, and emergency services applications. Beam holds preferred/authorized status with both Iridium and Inmarsat, enabling distribution of hardware across those networks. The company serves the professional satcom equipment market in Australia and internationally, targeting users who need satellite connectivity in areas without cellular coverage. Beam is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: BCC) and benefits from Australia's vast geography and the professional field services market.

Electro Optic Systems

Canberra, Australia commercial

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is an Australian defense and space technology company founded in 1983 and based in the Canberra area, with over four decades of experience developing optical surveillance systems for space domain awareness and laser-based space communications. EOS Space Systems — the company's space business unit — operates ground-based electro-optical telescopes equipped with adaptive optics and laser ranging systems that precisely track satellites, rocket bodies, and debris objects through the atmosphere, contributing to the global orbital catalog and providing commercial space situational awareness (SSA) data services. EOS's optical systems can image individual satellites to characterize their shape, orientation, and health status — capability increasingly important as both national security agencies and commercial operators need to know whether neighboring satellites are maneuvering or threatening their assets. The company also develops ground-to-space laser communication terminals for high-bandwidth optical downlinks from satellites, offering an alternative to RF communications with much higher data rates but requiring clear-sky optical paths. EOS has contracts with the Australian Department of Defence for national SSA capability and sells commercial SDA data internationally. Its position in Canberra — the Australian capital and hub for defense agencies — provides direct access to government customers, while its 40+ year legacy gives it institutional knowledge exceeding most commercial space startups.