Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham

In an out of this world announcement for the nation’s Space State, the Bureau of Meteorology is set to open a new Space Weather Hub at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen.

The Hub, earmarked to open in 2022, is backed by the Australian and South Australian governments and will see the Bureau’s space weather scientists, researchers and customer engagement specialists located alongside the Australian Space Agency, Microsoft Azure Space and other space, defence and commercial customers.

The Bureau will be adding four new positions to its Space Weather Service, bringing a total of 18 positions to the new hub in Adelaide.

Premier Steven Marshall applauded the move which will add another important piece to the space industry puzzle at Lot Fourteen, an industry which is already employing 1400 South Australians.

“South Australia is home to more than 90 space-related organisations, making the state the undisputed national centre of Australia’s space industry,” Premier Marshall said.

“With the Bureau’s space weather team joining the ranks at Lot Fourteen, this vital precinct for our State is going from strength to strength.

“There is something special about the space sector – the enthusiasm and passion the industry seems impossible to dampen, and the addition of the Bureau to the mix here in SA is going to be huge for the sector.

“Australia has well and truly rocketed into the global space economy over the past few years, and South Australia is at the forefront of these endeavours.

Minister for Finance and Senator for South Australia Simon Birmingham welcomed the announcement and said the move will bring jobs to South Australia and expertise to the rapidly growing space sector.

“South Australia is the centre of space research and technology in Australia, already employing around 1400 people, and with the Morrison Government’s commitment to investing in space, it is only fitting that the Bureau’s space weather team joins the ranks in Adelaide.

“The Bureau will be adding four new positions to its Space Weather Service, bringing a total of 18 positions to the new hub in Adelaide.”

“The Bureau’s Space Weather Service will open at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen precinct in 2022 and will include a dedicated Space Weather Forecasting Centre, a customer engagement team and Space Weather Research team.”

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the new hub, announced during World Space Week, would ensure better preparedness for a space weather event.

“Australians are familiar with the Bureau’s weather forecasts, but many would not be aware that it also plays a role in ensuring we are prepared for the effects of events that come from beyond the Earth’s atmosphere,” Minister Ley said.

“Events such as solar flares can disrupt services we’ve come to rely on in everyday life, including GPS for navigation and radio communications. They can also damage satellites and the electricity transmission network.

“The Bureau monitors and forecasts space weather in much the same way it does weather here on Earth, and they provide important advice to industry, enabling them to reduce the risks of these impacts.”

“Having the Bureau’s space weather team located in this precinct will enable industry and other stakeholders such as Defence to be even more prepared to respond to space weather events, protect infrastructure, the community and participate and support the development of industry-specific plans.

“I thank Premier Marshall for his support and look forward to continuing to work closely with the South Australian Government to develop and support the nation’s space industry for the benefit of the Australian community.”

The Space Weather Hub will join other major space companies, departments and institutions already calling Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen home such as the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat CRC, the Space Discovery Centre, Microsoft Azure Space, the South Australian Space Industry Centre, Inovor Technologies and Myriota.