Vast amounts of data captured in space previously locked away from scientists and researchers will now be able to be harnessed, all thanks to a new centre in Canberra.
Mount Stromlo will be home to Australia's first quantum optical ground station, which will allow the observatory to have high-speed communication with spacecraft and satellites.
Project lead and researcher at the Australian National University Francis Bennet said the ground station would provide a treasure trove of new information for researchers.
"A lot of the instruments in space at the moment don't have the ability to transmit all of the data, so before the satellites can go up it has to know what to look for," Dr Bennet said.
"A lot of scientific discoveries are made by surprise and if you're deleting most of the data that you're capturing onboard, you're missing out."
The new station will be able to develop new technologies that will allow higher-frequency data transmission between satellites as well as the space telescopes and scientific stations near Mars and the moon.
It would eventually lead to potentially replacing undersea fibre-optic cable networks that are relied on for global communication.
"This new ground station...will give us the ability to tap into the massive volumes of data we gather each day in space, as well as improve monitoring of our Earth's water, weather and other vital signs," Dr Bennet said.
The $2.4 million project is expected to be completed within the next two years, with the ACT government funding $800,000 towards the new station.
Space Industries Minister Mick Gentleman said the station would provide a boost to Canberra's growing involvement in space research.
"It will assist space science and exploration, including linking with the OSIRIS payload that will soon launch to the International Space Station and communicating with astronauts on future moon missions," Mr Gentleman said.
The station up on Mount Stromlo will be the first of a network of optical ground stations across the country.
Similar stations are being planned in Western Australia and South Australia, with plans to link up to another one in New Zealand.
Dr Bennet said Canberra's station would mean new research could be carried out.
"It allows us to take a leading role in developing a network in Australia and be at the forefront of technology," he said.
