India and Australia have elevated their space relationship as six separate industry-to-industry memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries were signed at the seventh Bengaluru Space Expo 2022 on September 5, 2022.
Pursuant to the MoUs, while Australia-based Space Machines Company will collaborate with Bengaluru-based Ananth Technologies to develop product integration, testing, technology development and joint space programmes, Australia’s HEX20 will work with Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace to provide launch services, spacecraft avionics and components. Skyroot Aerospace will also partner with QL Space to further develop launch facilities in Australia and support joint mineral exploration missions in space. Meanwhile, QL Space will partner with Chennai-based GalaxEye to develop a hybrid optic and radar payload to reduce the adverse environmental impact of critical mineral exploration in Australia and beyond, and with Bengaluru-based SatSure to build satellite and artificial intelligence-based solutions to support agriculture, mining and defence industries. Besides, Australia-based SABRN Health, AltData and India-based DCube will work together on the development and integration of hardware, sensor, technology and software to provide health support to astronauts.
According to Enrico Palermo, head, Australian Space Agency, Australia continues to look at new ways to enhance its space collaboration with India. He added that the establishment of a consulate-general in Bengaluru from 2023 would allow the space relationship to develop further.
