Australia’s growing space industry: Key developments

In this ongoing series, DLA Piper examines how space regulation and commercial activity are developing across jurisdictions worldwide. Read about related developments in other countries – including perspectives on the European Union’s Space Act – on the firm’s landing page.

Amid the expansion of the global space industry (projected by Novaspace to reach USD944 billion by 2033), Australia has recently welcomed several key developments aimed at strengthening its space capabilities and operations.

In this alert, we provide a short overview of Australia’s regulatory landscape for space activity and discuss its strides in domestic capability and international partnerships.

The Australian regulatory landscape

Australia’s history in the space industry is shaped by several milestones, including launching the Weapons Research Establishment Satellite designed and constructed on its own territory in 1967; assisting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Apollo moon missions through use of the Parkes telescope and Honeysuckle Creek tracking station; and supporting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2020 in returning samples from asteroid Ryugu to Woomera in South Australia.

In addition to being a signatory to the five United Nations treaties that form the core of international space law, Australia has legislation that regulates and relates to space activities, including:

• The Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018 (Cth), which defines the framework and requirements for space launch and return activities in Australia
  
  
• The supporting Space (Launches and Returns) (General) Rules 2019 (Cth), Space (Launches and Returns) (High Power Rocket) Rules 2019 (Cth), and Space (Launches and Returns) (Insurance) Rules 2019 (Cth)

The Australian Space Agency (ASA), which includes the Australian Office of the Space Regulator, supports the transformation and growth of the country’s space industry. For example, the ASA's Australian Flight Safety Code covers launch and return safety standards and provides the methodology to assess whether certain space launch and return activities are safe under the Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018 and relevant rules.

The most recent regulatory reforms came into effect in early 2025. They included streamlining the application process for launch facility licenses, which aimed to provide the ASA and license applicants with greater flexibility in the process.

Key developments

In addition to regulatory reforms, recent developments bolstering Australia’s space industry include:

Boost in domestic capability

• In July 2025, Australia's Gilmour Space Technologies attempted the first launch of an Australian-made rocket (the Eris Test Flight 1) into orbit from Australian soil – at Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland. This followed the Australian government granting Gilmour the first-ever orbital launch facility license in March 2024 and the first-ever launch permit for the Eris Test Flight 1 in November 2024. In January 2026, Gilmour Space announced that it had secured USD145 million in investment to support the next phase of growth in Australia’s domestic space capability.
  
  
• In September 2025, Australia's Fleet Space Technologies launched its new global headquarters and SpaceTech Hyperfactory in Adelaide, South Australia. According to Fleet Space, the new facility enables the production of thousands of next-generation geophysical sensors and hundreds of satellites annually. Firefly Aerospace’s international Blue Ghost Mission 2, currently set to launch in late 2026, will also deploy Fleet Space Technologies' Seismic Payload for Interplanetary Discovery, Exploration, and Research (SPIDER). The SPIDER payload is part of the ASA’s Moon to Mars initiative to support future habitation on the Moon. The Moon to Mars initiative also includes the design and development of an Australian-made rover (the Roo-ver) that will go to the Moon with NASA later this decade.
  
  
• In December 2025, an overseas payload permit was granted for the Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (ALEPH-1) mission, led by Australian start-up Lunaria One. The permit was the first authorization by the Australian government for a lunar payload under the Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018. The payload, which will test how plants can survive the journey to the Moon and endure lunar surface conditions, is expected to launch to the Moon later in 2026.

Strengthened international partnerships

• In September 2025, the ASA and NASA reached a framework agreement that will strengthen future collaboration in aeronautics and space exploration between Australia and the United States. This follows the Technology Safeguards Agreement between Australia and the US that entered into force in July 2024, enabling US entities to undertake space launch activities in Australia.
  
  
• The ASA and Korean Aerospace Administration (KAA) entered a memorandum of understanding in September 2025 that allows the ASA and the KAA to collaborate in a range of areas, including Earth observation, robotics and automation, space manufacturing, and launch activities.
  
  
• The ASA and European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed in October 2025 that they would begin negotiations on a new cooperation agreement, which the Australian Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science has publicly stated would "establish a formal mechanism for Australian businesses and researchers to access ESA's space science program and missions, as well as for further European activity here in Australia."
  
  
• In October 2025, the ASA and the United Kingdom Space Agency renewed their partnership known as the UK–Australia Space Bridge, which is a framework designed to strengthen collaboration, exchange expertise, and create new opportunities across the Australian and UK space sectors.

Domestic and international alignment

• In October 2025, Standards Australia endorsed the European Cooperation for Space Standardization’s handbooks, standards, and technical memoranda for space systems. It covers, among other things, the design, development, operation, and disposal of space systems and equipment.
  
  
• In December 2025, the ASA and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority signed a memorandum of understanding designed to improve their regulatory cooperation and information sharing.
  
  
• The ASA's Office of the Space Regulator consulted on Australian Flight Safety Code updates. Proposed to be made over the next 12 months (for the first time since 2019), the updates are expected to include the addition of launch and return collision avoidance requirements and flight safety system standards that better align with international best practices.

Going forward

Australia’s geographical location, technology and aerospace endeavors, and strong international partnerships make it an appealing option for domestic and international space activities.

As is evident from the regulatory reforms and developments summarized above, the Australian space industry continues to grow in line with the trend seen globally. Over the coming year, Australia is expected to further its pursuit of commercial launches and international collaboration.

For more information, please contact the authors.