Andy Thomas urges for Aust space agency

Australia's only NASA astronaut says the time is right for the nation to establish its own space agency.

Dr Andy Thomas says a national space agency is needed to allow all the players in the space industry to speak with a unified voice.

"It is time to make a space agency here in Australia which can decide national policy, strategies and help develop the infrastructure for space," Dr Thomas said at the South Australian Press Club on Friday.

He said Australia was one of only a two OECD countries without a space agency and was missing out on the high-tech industry and developments that come with a strong space industry.

"We could have a multi-billion dollar industry in satellite technology and capability," Dr Thomas said.

Last month, SA joined with the ACT to push for a national space agency and Dr Thomas applauded the efforts to ensure the industry's voices were heard.

Federal Science Minister Arthur Sinodinos announced in July a review of Australia's space industry capabilities and said a national agency would be under consideration.

Dr Thomas is in Adelaide ahead of next week's 68th International Astronautical Congress, where tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is expected to update his plans for a mission to Mars.