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The Australian Space Agency is Australia's national agency responsible for developing, coordinating, and facilitating space advancements in the civil and private sectors. The agency, formed on July 1, 2018, is headquartered in Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, and is led by Dr. Megan Clark, former director of the CSIRO.
Within the Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science, the agency is tasked with growing and maintaining the Australian space industry to lift the broader economy. The agency is different from other state-run space programs in that it exists to promote private development instead of state operations.
The International Astronautical Congress announced the Australian government would be launching a national space agency on September 25, 2017, following an expert reference group investigation led by Megan Clark. The Commonwealth of Australia founded the agency following the preceding National Space Program and Australian Space Office's (ASO) disbandment, which left Australia as the only OECD country other than Iceland without a space agency.
According to the Australian Space Agency's charter, the agency has six primary responsibilities, including:
- Providing national policy and strategic advice on the civil space sector.
- Coordinating Australia's domestic civil space sector activities.
- Supporting the growth of Australia's space industry and the use of space across the broader economy.
- Leading international civil space engagement.
- Administering space activities legislation and delivering on Australia's international obligations.
- Inspiring the Australian community and the next generation of space entrepreneurs.
