“Australia sees great synergies and opportunities for collaboration between the two nations,” said Murfett at a virtual meeting on building Australia-India collaboration in space on Wednesday.
He also congratulated the Indian Government on the Gaganyaan human space flight programme said “it is an inspiration to all people, and Australia is looking into how we can support this important mission.”
During the webinar, Australian and Indian panelists emphasised the strong possibilities for collaboration between the two nations.
Australia and India have been partnering since 1987 to support data calibration and laser raging for Indian satellites, launching Australian satellites, and conducting joint research.
Australia signed a pact with India in 2012 to expand cooperation in civil space science, technology and education. The Australian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are now looking to update this pact to allow more agencies, and encourage the private sector, to work together for both countries.
The webinar emphasised the importance of Australia and India partnering to promote the ‘peaceful use of outer space, to achieve a safe, prosperous and secure future for both nations’.
“Australia has many unique advantages, from our geographical position in the southern hemisphere, to our wide-open spaces and relatively low light pollution, to our expertise in satellite data applications,” said Barry O’Farrell, Australian High Commissioner to India.