AROSE - Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth

Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) was established to leverage the Australian resource sector’s extensive remote operations expertise and bring about knowledge transfer both on and off-Earth. AROSE is an industry-led collaboration that brings together the space sector and Australia’s traditional industry sectors to support cross-sector collaboration, innovations and technologies. This consortium was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Perth, with personnel both on the East and West Coasts of Australia. Members and partners are located across Australia and internationally.

Members include research organisations and industry, with the five founding members: University of West Australia and Curtin University, Fugro, Woodside Energy and Nova Systems. The Western Australian Government has been a funding partner since the outset.

Beyond the remit to catalyse knowledge transfer from the resources sector to the space sector, AROSE is also focused on and advocates for the growth of the Australian space ecosystem and the next generation via their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program.

Figure 29 - Cross-sector collaboration, innovation and technology both on-and off-Earth

Moon-to-Mars Trailblazer

AROSE is leading the development of Australia’s first Lunar Rover, a technology demonstration that will go to the Moon before the end of the decade. Answering the call by NASA under the Artemis Accord, and working with the Australian Space Agency, the Lunar Rover will be an important first step in creating a sustainable presence on the Moon. Building on existing remote operations capabilities in the nation, the ROO-ver will be controlled from Earth at Fugro’s Space Automation AI and Robotics Complex (SpAARC) in Perth.

Figure 30 - An artists impression of the ROO-ver on the moon

Promoting STEM Across Sectors

The AROSE collaboration works to bring STEM knowledge to Australian students to foster interest, innovation and awareness of future career pathways.

As an example, AROSE has partnered with the Milo Space Science Institute to deliver space mission experience to tertiary students in a 12-week virtual format, creating a bridge from university to the workforce. They deep-dive into the space sector and gain exposure to space mission procedures and protocols. This knowledge and experience are designed to be transferable to other on-Earth sectors including energy, resources, defence and advanced manufacturing.

AROSE has also partnered with the Australian Virtual Astronaut to give school students the opportunity to solve a real-life space challenge, with applications also on-Earth. The challenge includes insight to the ongoing development of the ROO-ver.

Industry Applications of Space Technologies

AROSE promotes real-world applications of emerging space technologies and cross-sector collaboration of on- and off-Earth innovation to foster commercialisation of technology, improvements in knowledge and capability and future sustainability in relevant sectors.

Recently, Michelle Keegan of AROSE led a delegation of mining and METS companies to NASA Ames, with a focus on sharing knowledge and technology across the space and resources sectors. With over 150 people in attendance over the course of 4 days, the sectors shared information on where gaps remain in technology, acknowledged commonalities and agreed to continue to develop new technology to progress more efficient and lower footprint exploration. With an urgency to learn more about the subsurface of the moon and Earth, the upfront desire is common. The knowledge gained from this initiative can be utilised on Earth to accelerate critical mineral discovery.

AROSE in partnership with Fugro provides companies with the opportunity to test, train and control remote and autonomous technologies at SpAARC in Western Australia. SpAARC provides infrastructure and expertise for remote operations as well as data interface for human-robot, software, simulator and visualisation equipment integration.

AROSE has established a Resources Advisory Board to bring the remote operations knowledge from the sector. This also helps to bring awareness and connection of space technologies to resources companies through the acceleration of knowledge transfer against critical problems to solve. Members of the Board have expertise and experience across a wide range of sectors including mining, technology development, research, technology commercialisation, ESG factors, supply chain optimisation and METS.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

Through the broader AROSE ecosystem, the consortium shares information, innovation and creates networks through hosting and presenting at conferences, webinars and other events. For example, the Element Summit held for the first time in Sydney in 2024, was able to bring both space and resource sector speakers to the table to present their view on solving the challenges of an autonomous electric mine. The Industry Challenge at the International Mining Geology Conference in 2024 involved a collaborative competition between diverse groups of geoscientists, mining, and technology professionals to respond to a future mining scenario and was supported by AROSE.