The Government of Western Australia has selected Space Angel to receive a Spaceport Establishment Support Grant worth A$1.75 million, in a move aimed at advancing the detailed work required to assess the establishment of a commercial spaceport in the state.
The grant was announced by Western Australia’s Minister for Science and Innovation, Stephen Dawson, while Ram Kuppusamy, Space Angel’s founder and chief executive officer, described the decision as an important milestone for the company. He said the funding would enable critical site assessments and the preparation of a business case with the rigor required for an infrastructure project of this scale.
Funding for a study, not a construction decision
The grant covers the next phase of Space Angel’s proposal and does not mean that the state government has approved construction of the spaceport or selected its final location. The company will carry out the funded work in consultation with the Government of Western Australia and in accordance with relevant planning requirements and regulations.
At the same time, the state government is conducting a separate feasibility study to identify additional potential locations for spaceports across Western Australia. Space Angel also secured the funding through an open and competitive process, according to the statement.
Part of a broader plan for the space sector
The grant forms part of a A$2 million government commitment under the Made in WA program, which aims to accelerate the development of local space-sector capabilities. Dawson said a potential spaceport could help attract investment, support highly skilled jobs and create opportunities for Western Australian companies to participate in the global space economy.
The Government of Western Australia estimates that the global space-launch services market currently exceeds US$15 billion, with expected annual growth of approximately 15%. Space Angel bases its proposal on the state’s expertise in resources, engineering, logistics and technology, as well as its experience delivering major infrastructure projects in remote and challenging environments.
What changes in practical terms?
The actual development here is the transition of Space Angel’s proposal to a more detailed phase of site and commercial feasibility assessment, rather than the announcement of a ready facility or a date for the start of launch operations. The results of the assessment and business case will determine whether the project is commercially viable, safe and compliant with regulatory requirements—questions that the grant itself does not answer.
Space Angel, a Perth-based space infrastructure company, is working on the Australis Spaceports program to develop Australian launch, re-entry, range and testing capabilities, targeting commercial, civil, defence and government missions. However, the source does not specify the proposed location, the type of launch vehicles, the implementation timeline or the level of investment required after the study is completed.
certi.news analysis: The move gives the project an official basis for the assessment phase and shows that Western Australia views its engineering and logistics infrastructure as an entry point into the space economy. However, the practical value will depend on the outcomes of the feasibility study and the safety and planning assessments, so it is too early to regard the announcement as the start of spaceport operations.