Australia's largest independent satellite company NewSat (ASX:NWT), has joined celebrations for the 40th anniversay of the moon landing.

CEO Adrian Ballintine has used the anniversary to re-affirm NewSat's ambitions to join the world in space, by launching an Australian owned and operated satellite.

"This milestone anniversary is a reminder of one...

Australia's largest independent satellite company NewSat (ASX:NWT), has joined celebrations for the 40th anniversay of the moon landing.

CEO Adrian Ballintine has used the anniversary to re-affirm NewSat's ambitions to join the world in space, by launching an Australian owned and operated satellite.

"This milestone anniversary is a reminder of one of man's greatest achievements," he said.

"Australia's involvement in the Apollo missions should similarly be included with this achievement, particularly with the essential communications provided via satellite earth stations in Parkes.

"However, since the famed moon landing, now 40 years ago, Australia's involvement on the world space stage has been absent."

In 2008 the Federal Senate Committee for Economics determined Australia had been ‘lost in space' and Australia should play a larger role in the US$250 billion industry.1

The committee also found it unsatisfactory that Australia was forced to rely solely on international satellites.

Commercial earth stations in Australia have also been traditionally foreign owned. However in November 2005 NewSat acquired two teleports from Netherlands based company New Skies, and became the owner of Australia's most significant and internationally recognised space assets.

Since acquiring the space assets, NewSat has developed and positioned the business as one of the top service providers, and leaders within the Australian satellite industry. NewSat recently announced to the market that the 2008/2009 financial year had been its most successful to date with significant business growth from previous years.

Mr Ballintine said NewSat had announced plans to launch an Australian Satellite back in 2007 and the company would welcome any Federal Government support.

"For years NewSat has leveraged our unique assets to be positioned at the forefront of the Australian satellite industry. Our earth stations in Perth and Adelaide are critical communications centres for companies throughout the world," he said.

"NewSat has endorsed the Senate's aspirations to launch an Australian satellite. These intentions have been heard internationally, with space agencies world-wide interested in our proposal.

"Australia deserves to have a voice in space. This anniversary should serve as a reminder to the Government that working with Australian companies such as NewSat will ensure Australia does not remain lost in space," Mr Ballintine said.