The funding will be backed by a feasibility study to identify the most suitable locations for spaceports across the state. The study is intended to help prospective operators make informed commercial decisions about site selection and investment needs.
WA Minister for Science and Innovation Stephen Dawson said the initiative would help position the state to capitalise on rapid growth in the global space sector and attract private investment.
“These measures put Western Australia in a strong position to tap into the expanding international space industry and draw commercial spaceport investment to our State,” he said.
The Spaceport Establishment Support (SES) grant forms part of the Cook government’s $2 million Made in WA 2025 election commitment, which is designed to accelerate the development of local space industry capability, support job creation and diversify the economy.
The program is designed to support the scale-up and expansion of spaceport businesses in WA, attract new investment, and lift the state’s overall space industry capability.
A spaceport is a facility used for launching, receiving, testing or maintaining spacecraft and rockets. With the global space launch services market already valued at more than US$15 billion and forecast to grow by around 15 per cent each year, the government said Western Australia is well placed to become a key player in the sector.
Dawson said early stage support was critical to turning proposals into viable projects.
“By backing planning work and business case development, we’re helping companies take the next step towards establishing space launch facilities here in Western Australia,” he said.
The SES grant is a competitive co-investment fund managed by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification. Applications opened on 16 February 2026 and close on 15 May 2026. Funding may be awarded to a single applicant or shared across multiple projects.
Successful applicants must provide a minimum 1:1 cash co-contribution to match WA government funding, with a minimum grant request of $200,000.
Government co-investment can be used to support site assessments needed for planning and regulatory approvals, including securing land tenure and/or the development of a detailed business case for a proposed spaceport site in Western Australia.
Further information, including how to apply is available here: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-energy-and-economic-diversification/spaceport-establishment-support-grant.