How can Australian space companies build commercial sustainability while retaining global competitiveness and supporting research?

In this special Australian Space Summit & Exhibition 2026 edition of the Space Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Kelvin Ho, product manager for space, surface science and materials at Scitek Australia.

The pair discuss the evolution of Australia's space industry, the growing maturity of local companies and the need to balance government-supported research with commercially sustainable business.

The podcast conversation includes the following topics:

• The evolution of the Australian space industry and Australian Space Summit from its early stages to the increasingly mature commercial sector.
• How collaboration with international suppliers and customers, particularly through US supply chains, can create new opportunities for Australian SMEs and start-ups.
• Australia's participation in lunar exploration, including the potential benefits of lunar rover programs and the country's existing expertise in mining, remote sensing and remote operations.
• The importance of learning from failures in space missions and using testing to improve future technologies and systems.

Finally, the discussion wraps up by exploring how Australia can strengthen its position in the global space sector through sovereign innovation, international collaboration and continued investment in the next generation of space professionals.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Space Connect team