Australia to help Trump reach the moon

MELBOURNE: Australia will invest A$150 million (US$101 million) in its companies and technology to help US President Donald Trump’s bid for a moon landing by 2024 and subsequent US missions to Mars, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said over the weekend.

Morrison, visiting Nasa headquarters in Washington, said the five-year investment plan would help businesses support US automation systems, build equipment for space craft and play a role in mineral exploration.

“We’re backing Australian businesses to the moon, and even Mars, and back,” Morrison said.

The announcement came after Morrison made a state visit to the White House on Friday, with the red carpet rolled out, signalling Australia’s strong ties with the United States after a period of tense relations with China.

The investment is part of a broader Australian plan to beef up its space sector, with Morrison saying the government wants to triple the size of the sector to A$12 billion and create some 20,000 extra jobs by 2030. — Reuters