SOARING INTO SPACE

HUMANS could be launched into space from Australia within a decade, the head of Adelaide-based Australian Space Agency says.

Enrico Palermo describes a grand future for Australia in a global space industry that was predicted to be worth

$1 trillion to $3 trillion by 2030.

“Here in Australia, there’s a real potential for us to be a regional hub in the Indo Pacific for human spaceflight activity,” Mr Palermo said.

“We’ve got work to do on the regulations to support that but once you can safely and reliably launch payloads or satellites and other things into space … the short answer is yes.”

Next year, NASA will launch a rocket from a site near the Northern Territory town of Nhulunbuy, the first of what is expected to be three launches.

Mr Palermo was also passionate about Australian companies being involved in the broader industry and said our companies should supply components, launch satellites, operate spaceports and examine space medicine.

Picture: Matt Turner Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo says Australians will launch into space within a decade.