A Gold Coast company has reached an agreement with the Department of Defence to develop cheaper rocket launchers for satellites.
Helensvale-based company Gilmour Space Technologies has won the agreement after two years of negotiations.
The new partnership will see the company and defence develop technologies including propulsion and materials for a hybrid rocket that will launch small payloads and satellites into space.
"They have come to some of our test fires, they have been to our factory they have seen what our tech is," CEO Adam Gilmour said.
"Hopefully they like what they see and they think we have got what it takes to get to space."
Local company on the edge of new technology
The deal means the department and Gilmour Space Technologies will share and further develop rocket launchers.
"We are going to be working to fine tune a lot of the technology to get our rockets into space," Mr Gilmour said.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the agreement will open the door for other Australian space companies.
"Technology advances have allowed rocket systems and launch service providers to offer access to space at a greatly reduced cost and infrastructure footprint," she said.
"Recent advancements in the capabilities of micro and nanosatellites, small satellite constellations and additive manufacturing present a unique opportunity for defence and Australian industry."
Up to 500 new jobs could be created
The agreement means the five-year-old company will need to expand over time.
"We are in a factory now, it is good for about 50 to 60 people, but if it all goes well we are going to need 500, so we are going to have to move into a significantly bigger factory," Mr Gilmour said.
"You can't build a rocket with a few people, you need a whole lot of people — it is a big vehicle, it is complicated and you need a lot of highly skilled and specialist people and that is what we are going to attract."
However, Mr Gilmour said his company has no plans to leave the Gold Coast.
"We like where we are, there is a lot of industry around us that help us, we have got a lot of suppliers that are local," he said.
"We are all living here and loving it, the kids go to school here so we don't really want to move."
