Philip Smart | Adelaide

Space Industry Association of Australia Chair Michael Davis couldn’t see much of the crowd from his front row seat on day one of the 2017 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide on September 25. But he heard them, particularly when Senator Simon Birmingham announced that the Federal Government would create an Australian National Space Agency, a goal long cherished by industry.

“I’m told people were on their feet applauding and I could certainly hear the cheers,” Davis told ADM. ”The idea has been very much at the forefront of discussion in the industry for 30 years.”

There's no time for a congress hangover

As Chair of the IAC Local Organising Committee, Davis has as much reason as anyone to be happy with attendance and feedback on the congress, which mixed local Australian space industry with representatives of many of the world’s major space agencies, private enterprise and household names such as SpaceX entrepreneur Elon Musk, former NASA administrator Charles F. Bolden and Australian astronaut Andy Thomas.

“We achieved almost 4500 registrations, which was one of the biggest congresses ever held,” Davis said. “The average attendance over the last 10 years has been around 3000.”

The International Astronautical Congress is the global space industry’s annual gathering to discuss current issues, innovations and progress in fields from propulsion systems and space law to the science of human spaceflight and problems in growing plants on other planets.

While the space agency announcement was the standout event for many, local industry underlined the fact that Australia is already very much part of the international market. Adelaide space startup Fleet announced a partnership with French space agency CNES to track and support Fleet’s future nanosatellite fleet, while local company Inovor signed a letter of intent with Italy’s largest privately owned space company SITAEL to establish a joint company to develop and integrate satellites and space mission concepts.

While the national space agency has been announced, its form is yet to be shaped. The agency will coordinate international enquiries to Australian industry, present a unified face in representing Australia in international space events and organisations, and will educate Australians about the industry, potential and career opportunities in space.

David said there's no time for a congress hangover. "We now face a new challenge in ensuring that we have a national space program that is capable of achieving the economic targets and scientific and social goals set out in our SIAA White Paper."