S Australia to develop AU$20M space manufacturing hub; Q-CTRL to build space-qualified quantum sensing hardware into payloads

(ZDNet) The South Australia government is developing a dedicated space manufacturing hub called the Australian Space Park. The government will invest AU$20 million into the park, in partnership with a consortium of space manufacturing companies — Fleet Space Technologies, Q-CTRL, ATSpace, and Alauda Aeronautics.
All four companies will collocate in the facility to collaborate and produce small satellites, rockets, electrical vertical take-off and land vehicles, and support componentry and technical systems.
Q-CTRL hopes to use the hub as an opportunity to develop new forms of satellite using the company’s quantum technology.
“In the Space Park, our team will be building satellite payloads that take the core quantum sensing hardware we’ve developed and ensure it’s space-qualified for launch to orbit,” Q-CTRL CEO Michael Biercuk said.
“What excites us the most about the space sector right now is the way that companies like mine that have never had access to space all of a sudden have the ability to take our core technology to orbit to the Moon and Mars.”
Adelaide Airport has been identified by the industry consortium as an ideal location for the Australian Space Park due to its proximity to traditional aerospace companies, the central business district, and the state’s innovation precinct, Lot Fourteen. Discussions with Adelaide Airport to confirm the site remains ongoing, the state government said.