AUSTRALIA’S space industry has launched a campaign calling on its Federal Government to establish a national space program and an Australian Space Agency.

Despite having a long history in the industry, including test ranges in South Australia, the country remains one of the few OECD nations without a national space program or agency.

The Australian space sector currently produces annual revenues of up to 4 billion and employs between 9,500 and 11,500 people from its 0.8 per cent share of the global space economy, which was estimated to be worth US$330 billion in 2014.

The Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) says there is an opportunity to double in size within five years – if the Australian Government is prepared to commit to the establishment of an Australian Space Agency to lead a cohesive national space strategy.

Released today, the SIAA White Paper says the agency should have an aim of capturing 4 per cent of the world market for Australian industry within 20 years, a five-fold increase in the industry’s current global market share.