It may still be many years off until Australia is able to launch its own rockets into orbit and send people into space.
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But the nation's growing space industry is set to play a key role in helping American space giant NASA return to the surface of the moon after a more than 50-year absence, before going onwards to land on Mars.
Work has been launched by the federal government on a $150 million initiative over the next five years for Australian businesses and researchers to be part of the moon-to-Mars mission.
Tender requests have already been sent out to eligible companies and start-ups in recent weeks looking to be a part of the initiative, which will aim to provide aspects such as faster communication with people in space, or even helping to improve the health of astronauts while they are in orbit.
A decision on which companies will be selected as part of the program will be made by the end of August.
We want to look at what companies are out there in the Australian tech space and fit into the gaps in the supply chain.
- Anthony Murfett
Contracts to successful Australian space businesses will last over a two-year period, with options to extend the work for an extra year.
Deputy head of the Australian Space Agency Anthony Murfett said the program was an opportunity to dramatically grow the space industry in the country.
"There is work we can do to make sure we have a competitive strength and Australia could play a role like leveraging our robotic and automation capabilities from sectors like mining and use them in space," Mr Murfett said.
"The moon-to-Mars initiative is designed to work with Australian businesses and showcase the technology to take to the Moon and beyond.
"We want to look at what companies are out there in the Australian tech space and fit into the gaps in the supply chain."
Part of the program will work with existing space industry businesses to get products currently in development into space alongside international crews.
A third component of the $150 million initiative will focus on how technology in Australia can be used on the surface of the moon.
Mr Murfett said in many instances, the country's reliance on mining would prove useful when working on the lunar surface.
"With mining, for example, there are companies that use large trucks that are automated and can be controlled at a distance in harsh conditions," he said.
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"That could then help us on the moon, and there are areas such as data analysis and knowing how to understanding the moon's surface so crews can know where to look for water."
The Australian role as part of future missions to the Moon and to Mars comes following a surge in space exploration during the past year.
NASA landed its Perseverance rover on the surface of Mars in February this year after many months of travelling through space.
The rover and accompanying helicopter Ingenuity have been carrying out observation missions and testing on the Red Planet, and is getting ready to take its first rock sample.
Samples collected from the rover during its time on Mars will be taken back to Earth for testing an analysis in coming years.
Meanwhile, private companies have made ventures into orbit in recent weeks, which experts have said could help pave the way for a future space tourism industry.
Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic made a trip briefly into space at the beginning of July, with crew members onboard able to float in zero gravity for a few minutes before returning safely to Earth.
Just days later, Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos made a similar flight aboard a rocket, the first space passenger flight for his company Blue Origin.
Mr Murfett said there were many possibilities for Australia's future space industry.
"We want to be able to support the growth of Australian technologies and support activities in space."
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