A multi-million dollar Mission Control Centre for the Australian Space Agency will be built at Adelaide’s new innovation hub Lot Fourteen.

The Mission Control Centre will enable companies and researchers to control small satellite missions, and is part of a $12 million Federal Government funding commitment.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Mission Control Centre will complement the work of the Agency and foster the growth of a globally competitive space industry, worth about US$345 billion.

“The Mission Control Centre will be a focal point for space missions in Australia, providing facilities to control small satellite missions, enabling real-time control and testing and the accelerated development of Australian satellite technology,” Minister Andrews said.

“It will be available for use by space start-ups and small-to-medium enterprise space businesses, as well as research and educational institutions from across Australia.

South Australian Space Industry Centre Chief Executive Richard Price said the mission control facility will support Australia’s emerging start-up space industry and accelerate the growth of the space sector.

“Co-locating the mission control in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen with the Australian Space Agency headquarters will act as a catalyst for growth by providing enabling infrastructure to attract industry to South Australia,” he said.

Around $6 million of the funding will also go towards establishing a Space Discovery Centre, which will provide STEM education, engagement and inspiration for young Australians, as well as activities such as mission simulation and training for tertiary education.

The Australian Space Agency was established in July 2018 and will support the Federal Government’s objective of tripling the size of Australia’s space sector to $12 billion and create up to 20,000 new jobs by 2030.