NASA recognises Curtin as the formal representative of Australia’s planetary science community. In 2015, Director of the now SSTC, Professor Phil Bland, brought Australia and NASA together in a formal partnership. It allows for ground-floor access for Australian researchers in mission concept development, and enhanced opportunities for collaboration with US NASA teams. Since 2015 the partnership has flourished. It has been a vehicle for the growth of an Australian planetary community and has driven increased collaboration and grant success.