The University of Western Australia will play an integral part in sending the first woman to the moon, as well as the upcoming plans to send humans to Mars.

UWA will host a series of groundbreaking laser-based communication nodes in the TeraNet system, equipment which will help track the location of lunar and possibly Mars space missions.

UWA International Centres for Radio Astronomy Research Associate Ben Dix-Matthews told Simon Beaumont on 6PR Mornings the tech establishes a new level of interplanetary data transfer.

“It’s enabling us to get higher-quality and scientific data back to Earth,” Dr Dix-Matthews said.

Press PLAY to hear more about WA’s involvement in the future of space exploration