Archive · 9 Sep 2026
Australia and India Sign Five New Space Partnerships
Australia and India are working more closely in space.
They recently signed five new business agreements.
The agreements cover satellites, space research, education, launches and returning spacecraft to Earth.
Australian company LatConnect 60 will work with NewSpace India Ltd.
The University of Western Australia will work with the Space Industry Association of India.
Space Machines will cooperate with three Indian companies.
The deals build on an existing space cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Australia is also providing grants to support businesses working with Indian organisations.
Australia and India signed five space-industry partnerships covering satellite communications, research, education, launch and re-entry technologies.
LatConnect 60 partnered with NewSpace India Ltd, while the University of Western Australia partnered with the Space Industry Association of India.
Space Machines signed agreements with Angel Technologies, Red Balloon Aerospace and Inbound Aerospace.
The agreements build on cooperation between the Australian Space Agency and ISRO under a broader strategic partnership.
Australia has allocated about AUD 20 million in grants for companies collaborating with Indian organisations, while bilateral trade has exceeded AUD 50 billion.
- Who
- Australian and Indian space companies, research institutions and industry groups, supported by the Australian Space Agency and ISRO.
- What
- Five new partnerships were signed covering satellite communications, research and development, education, launch and re-entry technologies.
- When
- The agreements were signed over the two days before the article was published on September 8, 2026.
- Where
- The partnerships were announced during an Australian business delegation’s engagement with India’s space sector at the Bengaluru Space Expo.
- Why
- The agreements aim to deepen Australia-India cooperation as India’s private space industry and investor interest continue to grow.
- New partnerships
- Five agreements between Australian and Indian organisations
- Main sectors
- Satellite communications, research and development, education, launch and re-entry technologies
- Australian grant support
- About AUD 20 million allocated for companies collaborating with Indian organisations
- Bilateral trade
- More than AUD 50 billion
- Existing framework
- A memorandum of understanding between the Australian Space Agency and ISRO on space cooperation
- Business engagement
- Austrade supported more than 1,400 businesses engaging with India and the broader South Asian market over the past year
- Additional cooperation area
- Critical minerals and rare earths, including possible processing, refining and offtake cooperation