The Commonwealth is kicking in $52n to a space industry consortium led by Gold Coast company Gilmore Space Technologies

The Industry Department funding is to “grow sovereign space manufacturing,” specifically launch vehicles and satellites.

Education partners include CQU, Griffith U and James Cook U.

But apparently not Gold Coast neighbouring Uni Southern Queensland, which is keen on creating a space manufacturing hub.

USQ is shortlisted for a $50m “trailblazer” grant from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

Presumably the two government departments know about each other’s programmes – unless the memos were lost in space.