Trailblazer to iLAuNCH Australia into space

Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm will officially launch a new research partnership today which will further develop Australia’s space capabilities.

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Toowoomba Campus will host the Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Trailblazer, one of six projects to receive funding through the Australian Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program.                                             

Senator Chisholm said that iLAuNCH is bringing together world-class researchers from UniSQ, the Australian National University and the University of South Australia with industry partners to help build Australia’s sovereign space capabilities.

“Building our ability to launch subsystems, such a satellites, rockets and sensors into space and create a research and development ecosystem for technology in Australia is important for the country’s space manufacturers,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“Currently our manufacturers are reliant on international space industries and launch facilities to send these systems to space – but we’re changing that. This project supports Australian companies to compete on a global scale and capitalise on commercial opportunities by using Australian resources and technology from start to finish.

“Some of the exciting projects under development include designs for a rocket launch site, rocket manufacturing, high-temperature materials manufacturing, hypersonic flight diagnostics and satellite communication.”

The $50 million in Australian Government support for iLAuNCH will be supplemented by a further $130 million from industry partners such as New Frontier Technology, RTI and Saber Astronautics, contributing to a potential $3.6 billion in net economic benefit by 2040.

“Regional Australia will also benefit from the Trailblazer program, with three of the Trailblazer projects led or partnered with regionally headquartered universities, with additional staff being employed to support core commercialisation projects in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley.” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“iLAuNCH will also support future skills development in space technology, with the three universities to design a comprehensive education and training program spanning schools through to higher education and vocational courses.”

More information about the iLAuNCH Trailblazer University project can be found here.