Is there space for Australia in outer space?

Is there space for Australia in outer space?

From USSC Briefing Room by United States Studies Centre

April 21, 2026 · 30 min · Episode 98

About this episode

The episode discusses Australia's potential role in the 21st-century space race and the implications of space exploration.

Space exploration has recaptured the public imagination. The successful Artemis II mission to the Moon heralds a new era of human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since the 1970s. The United States, China and other global space powers are now racing to return to the Moon and beyond. But what role could Australia play in this 21 st century space race? What are the opportunities and challenges in outer space? And why does anything that happens up there even matter down here on Earth? Space expert Dr Kathryn Robison , Lecturer in American Studies at the United States Studies Centre and Senior Research Fellow at the Australasian Centre for Space Governance, joined USSC Senior Research Associate Samuel Garrett on the USSC Briefing Room to answer these questions. Recommended reading: Harnessing Australia’s space strengths for the Alliance by Dr Kathryn Robison and Isobel Haddow

People in this episode

Host: Samuel Garrett

Guest: Dr Kathryn Robison

Topics covered

  • space exploration
  • Australia in space
  • Artemis II mission
  • global space race
  • opportunities in outer space
  • challenges in outer space

Keywords

  • space exploration
  • Australia
  • Artemis II
  • global space powers
  • space governance
  • opportunities
  • challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United States Studies Centre, Australasian Centre for Space Governance

Places: Australia, United States, China

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