Areas where Australia has a competitive edge or strategic interest are many, including positioning, navigation and timing; earth observation; communications technologies and services; and much more.

Australia was one of the earliest nations to launch its own satellite, just 10 years after the Space Age began. The Australian designed and built WRESAT-1 launched from the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia on 29 November 1967, using a rocket donated by the United States. Students from the University of Melbourne developed an early amateur radio satellite, Australis-OSCAR 5, that was launched by NASA on 23 January 1970.

Coin Highlights:

• Coin’s reverse design depicts a stylised scene featuring an Australian astronaut exploring space and with an insert paying homage to WRESAT-1, Australia’s first satellite and a ‘C’ Mintmark
• Displayed in a presentation case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity
• Worldwide mintage of 2,024 coins
• Australian legal tender