Auspace Pty Ltd was an Australian aerospace company formed on 7 June 1982 as a joint-venture between Hawker de Havilland Australia and SA Matra Espace.[2][3] It was primarily known for its work as a major contractor for the Keating National Space Program that took place between 1986 and 1996.

Auspace Pty Ltd
Company typePrivate
IndustryAerospace
Founded7 June 1982; 42 years ago (1982-06-07) in Canberra, Australia
Defunct2019 (2019)
FateAcquired by Nova Group
SuccessorNova Group
Headquarters27-31 London Road, ,
Australia
Area served
Australia
ProductsMachine to Machine communication products, space industry products
Number of employees
35 (2001[1])
ParentNova Group (2007 - 2019)
Websiteauspace.com.au at the Wayback Machine (archived 2018-03-10)

In 2007 Auspace was acquired by the Nova Group, and was absorbed completely into the two10degrees Ltd. subsidiary in 2019.[4][5]

History

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Even before the National Space Program, Auspace was a large player in the Australian space industry, managing parts of the multi-million dollar UV-optical space telescope Starlab project.[3][6] The working relationship formed with the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce under the project[7] would be beneficial when the National Space Program commenced a few years later in 1986.[8]

Under the National Space Program, Auspace received 28% of all funds distributed, the most of any company besides British Aerospace Australia.[9] Under the program, Auspace developed instruments for CSIRO,[10] Hispasat, Locstar,[11] and multiple other major projects.

In December 1988 Auspace was sold to Plessey Australia.[12] After the bankruptcy of Plessy later that year, Auspace was bought by Matra Marconi Space.[13]

In 1992 the Auspace built Endeavour satellite made its inaugural launch, but failed to fulfill the mission requirements.[14][15] In 1995 the satellite was successfully relaunched.[7]

In 2007 Auspace was purchased by the Nova Group.[16]

In 2019 it was merged with two10degrees.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "EADS ET LA PERCÉE TECHNOLOGIQUE EUROPÉENNE EN AUSTRALIE". Le Courrier Australien (Sydney, NSW : 1892 - 2011). 1 October 2001. p. 17. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Auspace Pty Ltd Business Names". connectonline.asic.gov.au. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Canberra company 'base' for local space industry". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 14 January 1983. p. 7. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. ^ "two10degrees - Home". two10degrees. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Auspace Pty Ltd - LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  6. ^ STARLAB Design Study Group (1980). STARLAB: an Australian-Canadian-USA free flying UV-optical space telescope. Canberra, Australia: Astronomy Advisory Committee.
  7. ^ a b "Space telescope to collect images in ultraviolet light". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2 July 1987. p. 8. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  8. ^ "National Space Program Underway" (PDF) (Press release). Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publishing Service. 16 October 1985.
  9. ^ "Research Report 43; An Economic Evaluation of the National Space Program". Bureau of Industry Economics RPTS. 41–46. Australian Government Publishing Service. 1992.
  10. ^ "Australian firms win space jobs". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 16 June 1988. p. 7. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Canberra firm wins $1m space contract". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 14 September 1990. p. 4. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  12. ^ "COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 19 December 1988. p. 15. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Auspace Limited - Who We Are". 24 February 1999. Archived from the original on 24 February 1999. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Aust telescope set to leave earth today". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 23 January 1992. p. 12. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  15. ^ "'No blunder' in space project". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 3 February 1992. p. 1. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Auspace". www.sasic.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 12 August 2019.