Australia and UK Strengthen Space Cooperation with New Agreement

Australia and the United Kingdom have enhanced their commitment to space collaboration with a renewed agreement signed on October 1, 2023, during the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. The heads of both nations’ space agencies, Enrico Palermo and Paul Bate, re-signed the Space Bridge Framework Arrangement, originally established in 2021. This partnership aims to foster investment, research, and cooperation in the space sector.

The Space Bridge initiative facilitates collaborations between companies and academic institutions in both countries. “While the desire for collaboration exists, government support can ease the process and provide essential funding for research and development,” Bate explained in an interview with SpaceNews.

Key Initiatives Under Space Bridge

One significant project emerging from this partnership is AquaWatch, which focuses on monitoring water quality using both space-based and ground-based technologies. The initiative includes participation from several organizations, such as Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., Pixalytics Ltd., Assimila Ltd., the University of Stirling, RAL Space, CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency), and Deloitte Australia. AquaWatch has been awarded £479,000 (approximately $644,142) to integrate satellite data with on-site water measurements. This funding is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing international cooperation in space-related projects.

The UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund, which supports collaborative projects with partners in countries such as Australia, Canada, France, and the United States, has allocated a total of £6.5 million to 23 selected projects. These initiatives not only strengthen ties between the UK and Australia but also expand their global influence in the space sector.

Another noteworthy initiative is the Long Baseline Multistatic Radar for Deep Space Domain Awareness project. This collaboration involves the University of Birmingham, Goonhilly Earth Station, University of Manchester, CSIRO, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. The partnership will receive £452,000 to enhance the detection and tracking of small objects in geostationary orbit.

Advancing Space Technology

In addition to AquaWatch and the radar project, the Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd., Space Machines, and the University of Sydney have been awarded £447,000 to investigate the dynamics of liquid fuel within spacecraft, with the aim of improving stability and control systems.

Space Machines is also collaborating with Lunasa Ltd. on a project to develop crucial technologies for autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). This initiative will integrate Lunasa’s autonomous StarLogic RPO kit into Space Machines’ commercial inspection satellite, named GEO-Viper. The project will receive £392,000 from the International Bilateral Fund.

As both nations continue to develop their spaceflight ecosystems, the Space Bridge Framework Arrangement serves as a vital mechanism for sharing knowledge and regulatory cooperation. “We are both developing spaceflight ecosystems,” Palermo noted, emphasizing the importance of harmonizing efforts and sharing lessons learned between Australia and the UK.

The renewed partnership marks a significant step forward in international space cooperation, paving the way for innovative projects that could have far-reaching implications for both nations and the global space community.