Australia-India space collaboration projects receive $18 million funding

The Australian government has announced $18 million investment in collaborative space projects with India.

The Australian companies which would be involved in the project are LatConnect60, Space Machines Company and Skykraft.

“The Australian Government is investing in collaborative space projects between Australia and India, strengthening the partnership of our nations and addressing combined challenges like climate change,” the Australian government said in a statement.

Each project includes a number of Australian and Indian partners, building valuable commercial links with the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Indian space sector.

The projects align with agreed priority areas of strategic importance to both nations, developed from more than a dozen consultation sessions led by the Australian Space Agency and involving more than 500 stakeholders.

“Australia and India have a long history of collaboration in space, including Australia helping track India’s historic landing on the South Pole of the Moon in 2023 and supporting its upcoming Gaganyaan human space flight mission,” read the statement.

The first round of the International Space Investment India Projects program was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, and is part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our two nations.

Australian Minister Ed Husic said: “Australia and India are enduring strategic partners, and by working together in space we can strengthen our relationship while also delivering outcomes that will benefit our nations and region more broadly.”

“These projects emphasise the role space science can play in enhancing cooperation in our region for mutual benefit,” he said.