South Australia is set to become the first Australian state to launch a satellite into space, with the government and private sector investing $6.5 million into the project.
The small communications and data collection unit is expected to improve services like emergency management, environment and water quality monitoring as well as helping to reduce bushfire impact.
Premier Steven Marshall made the announcement today, saying the initiative will boost SA's space economy and establish them as Australia's "space state".
"South Australia is embarking on a bold mission with industry to design and build a satellite to deliver space-derived services to the state, a venture never undertaken before by any state government," Mr Marshall said.
"Not only will the satellite help us make better decisions for state services, it cements South Australia as the space state."
The mission will be led by SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre and Inovor Technologies, an Adelaide-based manufacturing company, will design and build it.
Planning and development is already underway and the satellite is expected to be ready for launch by around mid 2022.
