WA strengthens ties with US-based company working with NASA on returning to the moon

It’s one small step for WA and one giant leap for robot-kind, with Roger Cook announcing millions to make the State the go-to place south of the equator for international efforts to return to the moon. The Premier on Monday announced $5M for Fugro Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex to improve the Perth-based facility’s capability for space missions. The company trains and tests remote controlled robots in space and other harsh environments. Mr Cook said the Government hoped the investment would attract space experts from around the world and make Fugro SpAARC the southern hemisphere hub for space missions. NASA administrator James Free -- who leads human deep space exploration at the US agency -- was in Perth for the Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference where he declared to hundreds of delegates from 12 countries “We’re going back to the moon”. “We were last on the lunar surface 50 years ago -- we’re going back to the moon differently. This time we’re going back to the moon as an international collaboration,” Mr Free said. “We look forward to talking with Western Australia about the expertise of remote operations and robotics, which are essential to how we work in space today.” Mr Free said the partnership would be even more essential as mankind got further away from “our home planet,” including on missions to Mars. Fugro director Samuel Forbes said WA’s resources sector meant it had “real opportunity” in the space sector, with robots that survey gas pipes deep underwater showing their potential in space. “This funding isn’t about a local commitment. It’s really a message to the international community that Western Australia is seeking to become a space hub and make a real contribution,” Mr Forbes said. “It’s going to allow us to start cultivating local expertise on the back of the experienced professionals that we’ve brought into the country.” The funding announcement is hoped to improve ties with US company Intuitive Machines, which is supporting NASA in upcoming missions to the moon. Mr Cook said the space industry was one of eight key industries identified to diversify the economy and that almost 100 space-related companies were already based in WA. “It’s an exciting time for the WA space industry and this is a major step towards establishing WA as the place for space in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said. “The funding will allow local operators to support international space missions, setting us on a path to become the go-to hub for space operations and exploration.”