Lift off for space exhibit 

Australia's first lunar rover – the “Roo-ver” - was one of a number of space technologies showcased as part of an exhibit from Swinburne University of Technology held in Parliament this week. 

Andrew Ang, Co-Director of Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute, said the rover mission was just one example of the ‘cutting edge research and industry collaboration across astronomy, supercomputing, space technology and space materials’ on display in Queen’s Hall. 

‘This week’s event is about showcasing Swinburne’s space capabilities,’ he said.

‘It is not just a technical display, it’s a powerful reminder that space is more than stars and planets. The work that Swinburne is doing on a daily basis, contributes to future jobs and strengthens the advanced manufacturing landscape of Victoria.’ 

Dr Samuel Webster is the Deputy Director of the mission to make Roo-ver a reality. 

The ELO2 Consortium, that includes Swinburne and others, has been tasked with the $42 million Australian Space Agency project to design, construct and operate the Australian-made rover. 

It is due to be deployed to the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis program, possibly sometime in 2029. 

‘By doing so, we'll get up there and demonstrate the robotics capability that we have in Australia, but we'll also be working to examine the composition of Moon dust and rocks, or regolith. This work will help determine whether the regolith contains substances like water or carbon dioxide, which could assist in sustaining a human presence on the Moon – and from there, help us get humans to Mars,’ Dr Webster said. 

He said Australian expertise developed in the mining sector was a key to having the domestic capacity to design and build a rover that can operate on the Moon. 

‘We have one of the most automated set of mine sites in the world. It's a lot of unlike vehicles working together. That's going to be very similar to what happens on the lunar surface when humans return there in a more permanent capacity.’ 

He said technologies developed in this program could one day find applications here on earth. 

'The reason why we have high quality, high grade solar cells today in giant solar farms is because for years, and years, and years they were used in space applications and improved and improved.’ 

Many more nascent industries may develop on the back of research that, in the first instance, is designed to solve problems in space, he said. 

But in the here and now the growth in Australia’s space sector is providing incredible opportunities to young graduates. 

'We have engineers that are going straight into a lunar rover program from universities here in Victoria and around Australia. They're going straight onto a lunar mission. That was never something that I had the opportunity to do. I had to go overseas for that. But I'm so excited for that opportunity for them,’ he said.