Western Australia hoping to explore space using mining expertise

Western Australia's mining expertise could soon help send Australia's first rover to the moon and unlock fuel sources trapped in space after the state government released its first space strategy.

Central to the strategy is WA's experience in remote mining operations. 

"Because of our remote operations of our mine sites, the technology used to remotely operate those sites is transferrable to the space sector," Science Minister Stephen Dawson said.

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Space Systems Director Dawn McIntosh also highlighted the links between the two industries.

"They're dealing with the same harsh environments that I'm dealing with in space," she said. 

"Most of the things we're doing in space, specifically those that don't have astronauts, those are all robotic systems and they're all remotely operated," she added.

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The government's strategy aims to insulate the state's economy from the boom-bust cycles of the mining sector by diversifying into other areas like space. 

"Growing our space industry in WA really is an opportunity for us to give our young people, our kids in particular, access to the jobs of tomorrow," Dawson said.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.