17.02.2020
2 min read

Perth joins forces with NASA to launch world-class robotics space centre

WA will play a key role in NASA’s Moon to Mars missions after securing the headquarters for a remote operations group.
A space research entity has chosen Perth for its operations helping the Australia-NASA partnership.

Perth may be one of the most isolated cities in the world but it is about to become a key player in the international space race, thanks to a new robotics centre developed in partnership with NASA.

World-class technology will be adapted for remote operations on the moon and Mars at the national space robotics centre based in Perth.

Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) is a key figure in the Australian-NASA partnership, developing technologies to assist in the international space race.

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Boost to economy

The new centre will create an estimated 1500 jobs and boost the economy by $196 million within the next five years.

Science, Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly believes the partnership will help establish WA on the international space stage.

“Our investment to make Western Australia the home of AROSE is set to turn us into a global centre for remote operations in space,” he said.

“What AROSE will do, is take the world-class technology already utilised in Western Australia and adapt it for remote operations on the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

AROSE is an industry-led, non-profit consortium to enable WA businesses and universities to bid for space projects including NASA’s Lunar Gateway project for a space station orbiting the moon.

Government investment

The state government has invested $1.5 million into AROSE, assisted by research from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia.

Founding partners also include resources companies Woodside and Rio Tinto, geodata specialists Fugro and professional service provider Nova Systems.

“Almost everything in the new missions to the moon and Mars will be operated remotely, so launching things into space is just one part of it,” Mr Kelly said.

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“You want to build a new space station orbiting the moon, that’s going to be done remotely, you’re not going to have 100 electricians going up in a spacecraft to the moon and putting all the nuts and bolts together.

“All that will be done remotely from Earth. That’s what WA is a world leader in.”

AROSE director Colonel Pamela Melroy, a former NASA astronaut, said she was impressed by the work being done in Australia on remote operations technology.

“It was immediately apparent to me those technologies were exactly what we needed for global space exploration,” she said.

- with AAP

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