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Philip K. Chapman - Chapman (far left, sitting) was the first Australian astronaut, joining NASA in 1967 as an American citizen. 

(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)

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Televised moon landing - As many Australians mayalready know, Australia helped televise the moon landing on July 20, 1969.

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Parkes Radio Telescope Observatory - The moon landing was broadcast to Earth largely through the Parkes Radio Telescope Observatory.

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"The most successful scientific instrument in Australia" - Often referred to as "The Dish", or "The grand old lady of astronomy", the radio telescope has been called "The most successful scientific instrument in Australia".

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World's best telescope - The observatory was built in 1961 as part of an effort to construct the biggest and best telescope in the world.

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'The Dish' - The instrument's part in the televised moon landing is the subject the 2000 Australian film, 'The Dish'.

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Weapons Research Establishment Satellite - In 1967, Australia launched the Weapons Research Establishment Satellite, despite being a signatory to the UN convention to prevent the militarization of space.

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Space race - Australia was the seventh country to launch a satellite into space and the third country to launch a satellite from its own country.

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First and only - The Weapons Research Establishment Satellite was the first and only Australian satellite launched from Australia.

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Paul Scully-Power - Scully-Power, from Sydney, was the first Australian in space and the first astronaut to launch while sporting a beard. 

(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)

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Challenger - In 1984, Scully-Power made history by being the first Aussie outside of the atmosphere aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. 

(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)

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Career - Scully-Power (centre, back row), became a corporate strategist for defense and technology companies. 

(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)

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Andy Thomas - Andy Thomas, from Adelaide, was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1992.

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American citizen - Thomas became an American citizen expressely for the purpose of joining NASA, because there was no space program in Australia for him to join.

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Four spaceflights - Thomas embarked on four space flights, making him the Australian with the most space travel experience in history.

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Endeavour - Thomas' first spaceflight was aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on May 19, 1996, where they deployed two satellites.

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Docking on the Russian space station - Thomas' second mission, also aboard the Endeavour, docked with the Soviet-Russian space station called the Mir, that ceased operations in 2001.

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International Space Station - Flying to the International Space Station in 2001 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, Thomas completed a 6.5 hour space walk repairing components.

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Return to Flight - Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, NASA's Return to Flight mission featured Thomas aboard the Discovery.

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Testing safety proceedures - Thomas tested safety procedures on the mission. 

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Two weeks - The last spaceflight Thomas went on lasted two weeks. 

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Australian Space Agency - The government will invest $41 million in establishing an Australian Space Agency, beginning in with this year's budget. 

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Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - Megan Clark, the former head of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, will head the Australian Space Agency.

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Space economy - The government's aim is to acquire a greater share of US$345 billion space market, of which Australia has a 0.8% share according to Jobs minister Senator Michaelia Cash.

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July 1 - The Australian Space Agency officially began operations on July 1, 2018.

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Canberra - The Australian Space Agency will be located in Canberra at first, according to The Canberra Times.

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Australian Space Office - Previous attempts to open an Australian Space Agency have failed. The Australian Space Office was founded in 1987 and decommissioned in 1992 over lack of support.

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Australian Space Research Program - The Australian Space Research Program was the biggest space program in Australia up until now, and receives no government funding.

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Australian Defence Force - Previous lack of support from the Australian Defence Force appears to have shifted to full on backing, due to the opportunities in space becoming more obvious.

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