Next stop, Mars? Australia urged to aim high in commercial space race

Monday February 08, 2021

Virgin Orbit, one of the latest ventures by billionaire Richard Branson, has high hopes for Australia’s space industry. Other companies urge caution.

Last month, Virgin Orbit launched a rocket from a plane. It wants to partner with Australia to aim for Mars.

A parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s latest bid to foster a space industry has attracted keen interest from global giants.

Northrup Grumman told the inquiry Australia had made progress in recent years but its industry was “still comparatively embryonic when viewed through a global lens”. It…

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