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Gold Coast space-tech company Gilmour Space Technologies has penned an R&D agreement with the Federal Government today.
The new partnership between Defence Science and Technology and Gilmour Space will see the two research defence-related technologies including propulsion, materials and avionics technologies.
The research will then be utilised in the development of a three-stage hybrid rocket that will launch small payloads and satellites into space.
Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds, says the collaboration will be beneficial not only for the nation's defence capabilities but the commercial sector too.
"Technology advances have allowed rocket systems and launch service providers to offer access to space at a greatly reduced cost and infrastructure footprint," Reynolds said.
According to MP Stuart Robert, the Federal Member for where Gilmour Space Technologies is based, the partnership will mean more jobs for the Gold Coast.
"Gilmour Space Technologies hopes to leverage their work with Defence to undertake more onshore manufacturing of rocket systems and components which, with further investment, could create up to 50 additional jobs by the end of the year," Robert said.
This latest partnership follows another major deal struck by Gilmour Space Technologies, co-founded by Adam and James Gilmour, with the Australian Space Agency.
Gilmour, which has developed its own 'One Vision' suborbital rocket to deliver satellite payloads into space, signed a Statement of Strategic Intent and Cooperation with the agency in December 2019.
The Gold Coast-based company has been actively involved in Australia's growing space sector in recent years.
The company was "over the moon" when the Federal Government announced a $150 million investment into the country's space sector, which the company said it was well placed to take full advantage of.
The company aims to launch its small satellites into low earth orbits by 2022, and over the last three years it successfully developed and test-fired its proprietary hybrid rocket engine to a record 80 kilonewtons of thrust.
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