The Morrison Government is supporting a local company in Logan to tap into international space supply chains and create new Australian jobs as part of the $150 million Moon to Mars initiative.
Black Sky Aerospace from Jimboomba will receive $678,487 under the Supply Chain Capability Improvement grants program to produce a commercial ready Responsive Common Use Booster (RCUB), using Solid Rocket Fuel in the space industry.
Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz said Black Sky Aerospace was driving innovating in the small rocket and space capability industry.
“Black Sky Aerospace are at the forefront of building Australia’s capability in developing space technologies by working alongside industry and research partners.
“It is great to see local Logan businesses take advantage of the Morrison Governments investments, to grow their business and expand Australias industrial footprint into the exiting space sector.
“Black Sky Aerospace also partner with education proviers in the region, bringing on University and High School students for placements and work experience, providing them with the opportunity to have a real world, hands on experience working with rocketry and space science.
“This project is a great example of the innovation and ingenuity that exists here in our community and I congratulate Blake and his entire team at Black Sky Aerospace for their work on such an outstanding project,” Mr Buchholz said.
“This project will contribute significantly to our economic recovery, creating opportunity and growing jobs, with three high-skilled jobs during the project and up to 124 direct and 162 indirect over the next decade,” Mr Buchholz said,
Acting Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Angus Taylor said the grants will strengthen Australia’s space manufacturing base, while also boosting the economy and creating new high-skilled jobs.
“The space sector is one of our six National Manufacturing Priorities and these grants directly contribute to building the skills and capabilities of Australian space businesses so they can scale up their operations and become competitive in global markets,” Minister Taylor said.
“The grants also provide a tangible opportunity for the Australian businesses to support the transformation of our space industry and contribute to projects that will support NASA’s Moon to Mars program.”
Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said these projects again demonstrate the incredible opportunities that are present at the intersection of space and manufacturing.
“Space and manufacturing go hand-in-hand and these projects are leveraging that relationship to drive economic growth and create jobs here in Australia,” Mr Palermo said.
“With this support, these Australian companies will be able to expand their capability and tap into new supply chains around the world – which adds up to opportunities here at home.”
The $150 million Moon to Mars initiative is part of over $700 million being invested by the government into the Australian civil space sector towards the goal of tripling the sector’s size to $12 billion and creating up to an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.
The Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement program offers grants between $250,000 and $1 million, with applications open until 1 May 2023.
To apply for a grant and for more information, visit: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/moon-to-mars-supply-chain-capability-improvement-grants/grant-recipients
