NEWS & MEDIA RELEASES
October 2025 Joint Media Statement Umass Lowell and SCA – AeroLabs Collaboration Agreement
August 2025 SCA Media Statement – Leasing Atakani Space Centre
Radio 2GB Interview – SCA Advisory Chairman Hon. Scott Morrison Australian Space Summit and Exhibition 2025 AUKUS Pillar 3
July 2025 SCA Media Release Atakani Space Centre
May 2025 Media Statement – Western Cape Futures Symposium
April 2025 Press Release, Western Cape Futures Symposium
April 205 Media Statement – Project Karman Line
Jan 2025 Media Release – Washington Compact
AeroLabs Science Consortium.
UMass Lowell and Space Centre Australia LLC are proud to announce the establishment of the AeroLabs Science Consortium, a pioneering partnership in airborne science, low earth orbit research and horizontal launch innovation. This landmark agreement formalises a five-year collaboration, centred on a dedicated C-130J-30 Super Hercules research aircraft (designated SCA01) operated by Space Centre Australia from Wallops Flight Facility (Virginia). Together, the partners will build an open, global framework that connects academia, government and industry for joint missions in atmospheric monitoring, space relevant payload testing and sub orbital flight experimentation forging new pathways in aerospace, education and international research.
Franco-American space transportation company Hstar Space is building a heavy-class rocket to blast off global infrastructure into orbit. Its upcoming launch vehicle is designed to carry up to 60 tonnes of payload.
Once complete, they hope to blast it off from spaceports around the world, including locally at the upcoming Space Centre Australia in far north Queensland. In this special episode, the CEO of Hstar, Nick Orenstein, and the founder of Space Centre Australia, James Palmer, discuss their upcoming plans.
Podcast: Space Centre Australia talks its planned spaceport
Space Centre Australia plans to build a spaceport in far north Queensland that it hopes will become like an international airport for launch vehicles.
However, unlike its local rivals, it believes it can one day host larger rockets manufactured by companies such as SpaceX.
In this episode, SCA’s founder and CEO, James Palmer, joins host Adam Thorn to talk about the latest developments as well as the appointment of its new chairman, Scott Morrison.
The pair also discuss the latest industry topics, including the high-profile cancelling of the JP 9102 tender with Lockheed Martin.
Podcast: Space Centre Australia talks its planned spaceport
Podcast: Scott Morrison on Australia’s big opportunity in space
In October, Scott Morrison was surprisingly unveiled as the new chairman of Space Centre Australia, the planned spaceport in far north Queensland.
The move has the potential to hugely disrupt Australia’s launch sector, which already has four spaceports scattered around the country.
Now, a few weeks later, the former prime minister joins Robert Dougherty in our studio in North Sydney.
The pair discuss the new government’s cuts to the space sector, whether the industry will recover, and how Australia can take advantage of its geographical advantages to become a leader in launch.
Podcast: Scott Morrison on Australia's big opportunity in space
PODCAST CONTESTED GROUND: Into the space frontier with former prime minister Scott Morrison
In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, interviewer Defence Connect senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison.
Morrison, non-executive vice chairman of American Global Strategies, has recently announced a new role as chairman of Space Centre Australia, a planned spaceport in far north Queensland. He has also recently concluded a lecture at the Yomiuri International Economic Society in Tokyo in September.
The pair discuss:
- The Australian government’s priorities for space and support of domestic space industry.
- The sudden blooming of interest in space innovation and its increasingly contested environment between international players.
- The AUKUS and QUAD alliances in regard to the Indo-Pacific.
- The upcoming US presidential election on 5 November and forecasts for Australian policy under a Republican or Democratic victory.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team
Contested GroundInto the space frontier with former prime minister Scott Morrison
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