Perth consortium opens Australian space course

A WA industry-backed remote operations consortium has launched an academy to train a new generation of Australian and Kiwi space mission experts.

Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth and the Australian Space Agency on Tuesday opened enrolments to the online Milo Mission Academy, developed by NASA and run by Arizona State University.

Up to 1000 places will be offered across two semesters each year to learn about mission procedures and protocols.

AROSE program director Michelle Keegan said skills learned on the course would be transferable to sectors including resources, defence, communications and advanced manufacturing.

“This course will allow students to gain training in this growing and increasingly important sector for Australia,” she said.

“Importantly, graduates will be able to take the skills they acquire in the Milo Mission Academy and apply them across multiple industries throughout their careers.”

Australian Space Agency boss Enrico Palermo said the academy would build knowledge and experience in the nation’s fledgling space sector.

“One of the biggest challenges facing the Space sector, in Australia and around the world, is attracting talented and skilled employees,” he said.

“It’s something we’re very focused on at the Australian Space Agency, and it’s why we’re supporting the Milo virtual internship program.

“It will help turn knowledge into experience, bridging a vital gap for our employers.”

Milo Institute Executive Director David Thomas said this would be the first time the program was offered at scale outside of North America.

The course will be made available to TAFE and university students, and early career professionals.

AROSE, which counts Woodside Energy, Fugro, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Nova Systems and the WA Government among its backers was formed to leverage Australia’s remote operations expertise primarily developed for the resource sector into the space industry.

The David Flanagan-chaired non-profit is developing a robot which will help NASA build a manned research base on the moon.