Second round of Moon to Mars grants continue to target supply chains

As the federal government continues to invest in its space sector, a second round of grants from its $150 million Moon to Mars initiative have gone to two local companies, which will be used to bolster their technical capabilities.

Related: First round of Moon to Mars grants target supply chains

The Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement grants is part of the Australian Government’s efforts to get more local companies involved in NASA’s Moon to Mars program and in international supply chains as a whole.

“These grants will support the two local businesses to develop their work and tap into national and international space supply chains, helping grow skills and capabilities in the Australian space industry,” said Christian Porter, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.

“We are helping Australian companies be part of NASA’s plan to return to the Moon and prepare for missions to Mars, at the same time as strengthening our own space manufacturing base,” Minister Porter said.

He continued that the funding complements $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy which places the space sector as one of the government’s six priority areas.

The two recipients of the Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement grants are Queensland-based high-tech electronics manufacturer Crystalaid Manufacture and South Australian nanosatellite company Fleet Space Technologies.

Crystalaid Manufacture will be using its $461,118 grant funding to replace and modernise their vacuum oven technology. The upgraded oven will help enhance their ability to supply electronics components to the international space industry, paving a way to help the company meet new supply chain opportunities.

Additionally, the grant will help grow the skills and capability of their manufacturing team.

Fleet Space Technologies has received $386,770 to help the company and its partners, SA Power Networks and OZ Minerals, to improve their ability to monitor remote critical infrastructure and environmental factors. This includes collaborating to miniaturise and strengthen sensors in their network.

The partnership will enable Fleet Space to pursue commercial supply chain opportunities, and illustrate a terrestrial application of space technology and hardware that can be applied to Moon to Mars activities.

Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo congratulated the companies and said they demonstrated the high quality of work being produced in Australia.

“These grants encourage the best in our local companies, helping them develop cutting-edge technologies, create partnerships and link into national and international supply chains,” Palermo said.

“This strengthens Australian space manufacturing industry and helps build a high tech workforce that can make a significant contribution to the national economy,” he said.

He continued that support from the Moon to Mars initiative and other government programs, combined with the talent and innovation of local space manufacturers, is strengthening Australia’s national space capability and enhancing Australia’s ability to compete in the international space economy.

The $150 million Moon to Mars initiative is part of the over $700 million being invested by the government into the Australian civil space sector. By 2030, the government aims to triple the sector’s size to $12 billion and grown an additional 20,000 jobs.

The Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement program offers grants between $250,000 and $1 million. Applications are open until 30 June 2023.

Source: Minister for Industry, Science and Technology media release