ECU's cyber-security expertise goes beyond stratospheric

Edith Cowan University's (ECU) cyber security expertise is reaching new heights with its participation in the ELO₂ Consortium, which will deliver Australia's first lunar rover.

ECU is the only Western Australian university to form part of the ELO₂ Consortium, which in December of last year was awarded a $42 million grant from the Australian Space Agency to build and operate ‘Roo-ver', Australia's first lunar rover.

The semi-autonomous rover will collect lunar soil and deliver key capabilities that could lead to a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

ELO₂ and the Australian Space Agency are working together to finalise plans, with the lunar rover on track to be flown on a NASA mission by the end of this decade.

As a project participant in the ELO₂ Consortium, ECU will provide cyber security advice to the project. Our role will involve advising the consortium on good cyber security practices in both its development processes and the development of the technology.

"Being part of the ELO₂ Consortium is putting ECU's cyber-security expertise at a national level. Contributing to Australia's lunar rover mission to the moon, is recognising the expertise we have," Helge Janicke, Professor of Cyber Security at ECU said.

"The ELO₂ Consortium brings together industry partners and academics, and while it is research focused, it has a very concrete outcome in the form of the Roo-ver. It is very exciting being part of this cutting-edge innovation to push Australia's space ambitions."

Executive Dean, School of Engineering, Professor Paulo de Souza said the ELO₂ Consortium marked a bold step in Australia's space journey, adding that ECU is proud to help drive that momentum.

"Roo-ver is more than a technological milestone; it's a statement of international capability and ambition. As we look to the Moon and beyond, this mission showcases how Australian innovation, industry and research can come together to shape the future of space exploration."