File photo: Enrico Palermo, head, Australian Space Agency NEW DELHI: Australia’s partnership with India has recently expanded into human spaceflight, with India drawing on Australia’s world-class space tracking and monitoring expertise to support Isro’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, Enrico Palermo, head of Australian Space Agency, told TOI.“A temporary telemetry terminal on Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands will support mission communications. PM Albanese announced the successful commissioning of this site at the third Australia-India annual summit in July, highlighting another important milestone in our space relationship,” he told TOI during an interview.“Australia’s space sector has evolved rapidly and is ripe with investment opportunities. Our commercial ties with India are increasing and there is a growing opportunity to expand how we partner in space,” Palermo said.“At this year’s BSX (Bengaluru Space Expo, Sept 7-9), up to eight MoU’s were signed between Australian and Indian companies during that week. A sizable Australian delegation was present at BSX26, which included visits to Indian facilities and networking with a variety of Indian companies to generate new contacts and reconnect with existing collaborators. Our commercial ties with India are increasing and there is a growing opportunity to expand how we partner in space,” the Australian Space Agency head said.On Indo-Australian space cooperation, Palermo said “India is one of Australia’s enduring space partners, with cooperation covering important areas such as advanced manufacturing, space exploration, artificial intelligence and space situational awareness.”Australia is also developing leading capabilities across launch and satellite technologies, robotics and remote operations, optical and quantum communications, and niche technologies for lunar exploration, he said. “Combined with our unique geography, state-of-the-art infrastructure and globally recognised research institutions, these strengths are expanding Australia’s contribution to the global space economy and creating new opportunities for collaboration with trusted partners such as India,” he said.The Australian govt’s recently-released statement on space outlines its vision for an enduring space ecosystem, guided by five focus areas, including trust space services, spaceflight ecosystem, space platforms, microgravity ecosystem, and exploration technologies, he said. “All areas for greater collaboration between our countries,” he said.
