#Official Space Thread

[rev]

Surprised nobody posted this yet..

Australia's first private space rocket blasts off from Koonibba Aboriginal community
Posted 3ddays ago, updated 2ddays ago

Australia's first commercial, space-capable rocket has blasted off from the Koonibba test range on South Australia's far-west coast.

Southern Launch said Saturday's launch aimed to reach 85 kilometres, which would make it the highest any commercial rocket had reached from Australian soil.

It was the second attempt to launch the 3.4-metre long, 34-kilogram rocket after the first on Tuesday misfired.

A second rocket was successfully fired off about 11:45am.

A recovery effort is underway to locate the rockets and payloads now they have fallen back to Earth.

"We as Australians have achieved something incredible today, because today at Koonibba, Australia took its first small step towards once again being a proud space-capable nation," Southern Launch chief executive Lloyd Damp said.

"Today Southern Launch demonstrated our ability to launch our first space-capable rocket, and within two hours, launch another rocket.

"This demonstrates our ability to provide a future responsive space access to DEWC Systems and our broader customer base."

The launch occurred without the 200 Koonibba Aboriginal community members who attended Tuesday's launch.



DEWC, a company boasting a "passion" for electronic warfare, has teamed up with Southern Launch to test launching processes.

DEWC is developing satellites that will be capable of helping the Australian Defence Force detect potentially dangerous radar signals from enemy forces.

A small device was deployed to the edge of space during Saturday morning's launch.

The payload's purpose is to collect information with its built-in sensors on its journey back to Earth to assist with DEWC's development of satellite technology.

The information will be collected and incorporated into the company's software.



Federal Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said the launch forms part of the Royal Australian Air Force's Plan Jericho advanced sensing program to detect and track challenging targets.

"The rocket is unlike any rocket ever launched in Australia, and is part of what is known as New Space technologies — small rockets carrying reduced-sized satellites using commercially available technologies," she said.

On Tuesday, SA Premier Steven Marshall said the rocket launch was the first commercial one in Australia.

"All of the previous launches have been government launches, so it is a historic time and I think this is really a taste of what's to come in Australia," he said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-19/ ... a/12681258

[rev]

Leonardo joins Lot Fourteen space precinct, partnership with SmartSat CRC

Stephen Kuper
21 September 2020



Italian defence and aerospace conglomerate Leonardo has announced it is enhancing its footprint in the Australian space industry through its subsidiary e-GEOS – in partnership with SmartSat CRC – setting up at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen.

Leonardo has committed to the South Australian space ecosystem establishing a foothold for its space service business – through its subsidiary e-GEOS – in partnership with SmartSat CRC.

E-GEOS is a joint venture between Telespazio – Leonardo’s subsidiary – and the Italian Space Agency.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall welcomed the announcement, and Leonardo to Lot Fourteen, saying, "South Australia is the defence and space capital of the country and it’s fantastic to see another incredible international company choosing South Australia to do business.

"The strong interest being shown by major national and international players is a coup for South Australia and is further evidence that Lot Fourteen is a magnet for business and jobs. The addition of Leonardo to Lot Fourteen cements my governments strong commitment to create a once in a generation hub that will generate thousands of jobs for South Australians now and into the future."

Professor Andy Koronios, SmartSat CEO, added, "Leonardo Australia aims to work with SmartSat to harness local expertise and develop competitive business opportunities with their global partners, leading to job creation and industry growth."

In 2019, Leonardo Australia, through the involvement of e-GEOS, became a supporting partner of Adelaide-based space Cooperative Research Centre SmartSat CRC.

Michael Lenton, executive chairman of Leonardo Australia, added, "Lot Fourteen is the beating heart of Australia’s space activity. It is where the future of Australia’s space capability is being created. Leonardo and e-GEOS have so much space expertise to bring, technology to transfer and experience to share. We want to see the Australian space industry grow. How could we not be part of this thrilling venture?"

Leonardo Australia’s partnership with SmartSat is a key driver in the company’s strategy to grow its presence in the space industry within the Oceania region and to develop joint research and commercialisation opportunities.

Richard Price, chief executive of Defence SA, said, "Leonardo can leverage decades of expertise and experience in space programs and plays a crucial role in several important space missions, such as the Galileo global navigation system, Copernicus, COSMO-SkyMed, Prisma (Hyperspectral Precursor), ExoMars and Rosetta missions, as well as the International Space Station. The company’s presence in Adelaide is a major step for the South Australian ecosystem."

As a prominent provider of the European Copernicus program, e-GEOS supports rapid security and disaster response operations all over the world, including providing Australian fire authorities with rapid mapping during recent bushfires.

Leonardo Australia is the regional subsidiary of Leonardo, a global top 10 high technology defence and space company with annual revenues of $23 billion.

George Coulloupas, business development manager – space at Leonardo Australia, is leading Leonardo Australia’s space line of business based at Lot Fourteen.

Coulloupas has extensive Australian experience in start-up innovation, space-derived service commercialisation and primary research in next-generation satellite systems.

The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre brings together over 100 national and international partners who have invested over $190 million, along with $55 million in federal government funding under its Cooperative Research Centres Program, in a $245 million research effort over seven years.

Working closely with the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat will make a strong contribution to the Australian government’s goal of tripling the size of the space sector to $12 billion and creating up to 20,000 jobs by 2030.

Alongside developing projects with SmartSat CRC, Leonardo Australia is preparing to deliver world leading geo-information expertise and unique access to dual military and civil satellites provided by e-GEOS.

https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/o ... artsat-crc

[rev]

NASA Search and Rescue announces partnership with Aussie SmartSat CRC

Stephen Kuper
10 September 2020

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre (GSFC) has announced a collaborative partnership with the Australia-based SmartSat CRC to advance distress-related communications and navigation technology benefiting the US and Australia.

The co-operation with NASA, announced by GSFC deputy director for research and technology investments Christyl Johnson, will help to build Australia’s space industry by developing leading-edge technology and expertise with the partners involved in the SmartSat project.

These include University of South Australia, Safety from Space, Myriota, Black Art Technologies, Flinders University, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Johnson welcomed the collaborative agreement, saying, "We’re proud to lend the engineering expertise of our Search and Rescue office as SmartSat CRC works on next-generation rescue technologies."

NASA’s Search and Rescue office is led by mission manager Lisa Mazzuca, who attended the Australian Space Forum in Adelaide with Johnson in February this year, when initial concepts of the projects were discussed.

"This collaboration is part of a more systematic and broader activity between NASA GSFC and SmartSat CRC and opens the door to a lot of possibilities for the Australian space community. We are delighted to be partnering with Goddard’s Search and Rescue office, joining their push towards the moon and beyond," explained SmartSat CEO and managing director Professor Andy Koronios.

Specifically, the SmartSat research team, led by Safety from Space’s co-founder Dr Mark Rice, will propose new designs for the waveform of the 406 MHz signal sent by beacons through the Cospas-Sarsat network.

Dr Rice added, "These new designs will further modernise second-generation beacons, taking advantage of encoding techniques not available when the Cospas-Sarsat network was developed in the 1970s. This will enable possibilities for new initiatives for users, emergency management professionals and first responders."

Future phases of the SmartSat collaboration could support exploration initiatives like the Artemis missions, which will return humans to the moon for the first time since Apollo.

NASA embraces partnerships to empower the agency’s missions while passing the benefits of space science and technology to everyone on Earth. This collaboration with SmartSat CRC is one example of the innovations that result from exploring together.

NASA will equip Artemis astronauts with second-generation beacons for use in the event of egress from capsule after splashdown or a launch abort scenario. The Search and Rescue team is working to extend beacon services to the lunar surface with the LunaNet communications and navigation architecture.

The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre brings together over 100 national and international partners who have invested over $190 million, along with $55 million in federal government funding under its Cooperative Research Centres Program, in a $245 million research effort over seven years.

Working closely with the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat will make a strong contribution to the Australian government’s goal of tripling the size of the space sector to $12 billion and creating up to 20,000 jobs by 2030.

Priority industry sectors for SmartSat include telecommunications, agriculture and natural resources, transport and logistics, mining, and defence and national security.

https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/o ... martsatcrc

[rev]

New space discovery facility one step closer to launch
Charbel Kadib
14 September 2020

The Australian Space Discovery Centre has entered the next phase of development, with construction of the Mission Control Centre officially commencing.

The new facility, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, is designed to inspire the next generation of workers in the space industry by fostering STEM education.

Once launched, the facility, located in Lot Fourteen, Adelaide, will:

showcase an exhibition area, which includes an interactive exhibition dedicated to activities that can support exploration of the moon and Mars;
facilitate networking opportunities between businesses, start-ups and researchers through workshops, discussions and displays;
showcase a careers and information hub; and
showcase a Mission Control Centre, which includes facilities for space businesses and researchers to control satellite and space missions.

According to head of the Australian Space Agency Dr Megan Clark, AC, programs and activities in the Australian Space Discovery Centre will draw from the following seven National Civil Space Priorities in the federal government’s Australian Civil Space Strategy:

Position, navigation and timing;
Earth observation;
Communications technologies and services;
Space situational awareness and debris monitoring;
Leapfrog R&D;
Robotics and automation on earth and in space; and
Access to space.

“We would love the Australian Space Discovery Centre to become a place where the community can come together to explore the latest innovations in space technologies and learn about Australia’s role in expanding national and international space activities,” Dr Clark said.

The Australian Space Discovery Centre is being delivered in partnership between the Australian Space Agency and Questacon.

https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/r ... -to-launch

[Philip_Green]

That is our fortunate, and great new , we are proud of Australia
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia. Charles M. Schulz

[mattblack]

New funding boost for space traffic radar project

DEFENCE

The Silentium Defence MAVERICK S-series passive radar system for surveillance of space.
The funding comes in the $28 million latest round of industry grants from the Defence Innovation Hub.

Designed and developed in Adelaide, South Australia, Silentium’s MAVERICK S-series is the first commercial-scale passive radar system for surveillance of space and will provide persistent detection and tracking of objects in low-earth-orbit to support space traffic management.

The system requires no spectrum allocation to operate and it can detect and track objects and measure rate of movement in low earth orbit regardless of weather, visibility, or time-of-day.

The Wingfield-based company also announced in June it would lead a project to build a multi-sensor space observatory in remote South Australia.

That project, in collaboration with Western Sydney University, was also awarded $1.46 million through the Australian Space Agency in June.

Silentium Defence CEO Dr James Palmer said the latest contract win showed that “Defence recognises the risk posed by the increasingly congested and contested space domain”.

He said the passive radar would be powerful but low-power, accurate and agile enough to deliver a transformative capability for the Australian Defence Force and its allies.

“Satellite systems are vulnerable to space debris and advanced counter-space capabilities which can deny, disrupt and destroy our space-based systems,” Palmer said.

“Safe and assured access to this critical domain is predicated on availability of high-quality, real-time data to inform decision making.

“That is what the MAVERICK S-series will deliver, and we’re delighted to further advance the system using local skills and local technology with support and input from Defence.”

The contract will see Silentium Defence move from its successful completion of Phase one to the start of Phase two deployment under the Defence Innovation Hub program.

The observatory is expected to be completed next year and is being built near the River Murray town of Swan Reach, 160km northeast of Adelaide and on the edge of South Australia’s only officially sanctioned International Dark Sky Place.

Another South Australian company, Prism Systems, also received a $925,000 grant in the funding round towards developing and demonstrating an integrated capability solution for the Royal Australian Navy.

The innovation seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ship and aviation system integration flight trials through automating processes, analysis, recording, and reporting of data.

South Australia is also home to major Tier 1 defence companies and several emerging space startups, including Fleet Space Technologies, Inovor Technologies and Myriota.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the latest contracts provided Australian businesses with opportunities that could enhance defence capability.

The Australian Government’s goal is to triple the size of the nation’s space sector to $12 billion and create an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.

http://theleadsouthaustralia.com.au/

[Cryptic]

Not sure if there is a dedicated thread for the Australian Space Park but here is some exciting news. https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/ ... australia/

[Pistol]

Not sure if there is a dedicated thread for the Australian Space Park but here is some exciting news. https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/ ... australia/

That is really exciting news!!
I saw that they are advertising for jobs already but a majority require knowledge of the space industry as a prerequisite...

Would love to see some other space primes set up in SA too. Lockheed Martin setting up full scale operations in the space industry would be extremely exciting!

[mattblack]

From SA Space Industry Centre

South Australia’s space sector continues on its upward trajectory, with seven new space companies joining this year’s renowned Venture Catalyst Space program.

From eliminating cyber junk to boosting cybersecurity, this year’s cohort will focus on a range of innovative ideas that will add important capability to the state’s space economy.

An impressive list of emerging space companies have been chosen to participate in the six-month accelerator program, including four South Australian companies that will be joined by international startups from India, Canada and New Zealand.

ICC Director Jasmine Vreugdenburg says that this year’s participants represent some of the strongest South Australian companies that the program has seen to-date.

“The local talent joining our program is a true testimony to the successful development of South Australia’s commercial space ecosystem,” Vreugdenburg says.

“We know our NewSpace sector is growing by more than 64 per cent per year, and we are well on track to grow our industry by more than $8 billion by 2031.

“Adelaide, as Australia’s space capital, is leading this charge, and our four new local startups will bring significant breadth and diversity to our domestic space sector.”

The expertise of local participants ranges from educational satellites, sustainable satellites and Big Data processing to Artificial Intelligence technology.

This year’s cohort join the ranks of 29 former startups that have collectively raised $14 million in additional investment and grants, while creating more than 100 space jobs.

The 2023 Venture Catalyst Space cohort are:

AICRAFT
Adelaide, Australia 24/7 ultra-fast data processing for space activity in orbit, advancing cybersecurity features and capabilities.

Guerin Technologies
Bangalore, India Lightweight and compact space-deployable antennas for satellites, that significantly reduce the cost of space launches.

Metaspectral
Vancouver, Canada Using edge computing and AI to detect materials and chemical compositions that are otherwise invisible to conventional cameras and the human eye.

Paladin Space
Adelaide, Australia Developing reusable satellites that collect and eliminate space debris, increasing the safety of astronauts and mitigating costly damage to space infrastructure.

Robinson Aerospace Systems
South Australia Robinson Aerospace is developing RASCube, an educational satellite kit that is designed to look, feel, function and assemble just like a real CubeSat, but not go into space.

Skyspec
New Zealand/Japan SkySpec is detecting and continuously monitoring hazardous chemicals in the air on land and in water using the latest satellite data acquisition technologies combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.

Team 3
Adelaide, Australia Team 3 have developed the DISA (Data Intelligence, Search & Analysis) platform to conduct operations in information and space domains.

Part of the South Australian Government’s Space Innovation Fund, the Venture Catalyst Space program supports start-up activities to develop and grow innovative or disruptive ideas in the space sector, providing tailored support, mentoring and access to Uni SA networks and resources.

[mattblack]

South Australia is set to become a hub for in-space manufacturing with Adelaide-based launch and range service provider, Southern Launch, partnering with Varda Space Industries to conduct re-entry operations at the Koonibba Test Range.

The Koonibba Test Range, which Southern Launch operates in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, offers over 23,000 square kilometres of uninhabited land to accept the re-entry of in-space manufacturing capsules. It is also one of the largest commercial rocket testing facilities in the world.

Southern Launch will support Varda Space Industries – who are pioneers in developing orbital manufacturing and space re-entry systems – to conduct high cadence re-entry operations at the Test Range to meet a wide range of Varda’s customer requirements.

Varda will be developing life-saving pharmaceuticals in space that cannot be manufactured on Earth, before returning the goods using their specialised return capsule.

Varda Space Industries’ Chief Executive Officer, Will Bruey, spoke of the significance of the partnership between the two nations.

“Our partnership with the Koonibba Test Range is a great example of the ongoing collaboration between the United States and Australia within aerospace and defence,” said Mr Bruey.

“In the future, you will know this partnership has been successful when you look up at the sky above South Australia to see our spacecraft create a shooting star before landing softly on the desert floor.”

Chief Executive Officer of Southern Launch, Lloyd Damp, expressed the company’s excitement for the announcement and echoed the value of the collaboration.

“In-space manufacturing is the next evolution of humanity’s industrial capacity, and elements produced in-orbit have the potential to change the course of history,” said Mr Damp.

“The opportunities for South Australia are immense. It’s likely that by the end of this decade, everyday Australians will use products with parts manufactured in orbit.

“This makes space the resource industry of the future and we have the potential to expand on Australia’s high-tech manufacturing industry and develop the consumer end products right here in Australia.”

The first re-entry of a Varda Space Industries capsule to the Koonibba Test Range is scheduled for mid-2024, pending regulatory approvals.

[mattblack]

and .....

South Australia’s Axiom Precision Manufacturing has been selected by Lockheed Martin as one of two Australian global supply chain partners for the Orion spacecraft program – a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon.

Axiom and New South Wales-based Nupress Group were awarded the contracts to supply precision machined components for the Orion program based on their cost-saving proposals, exceptional customer responsiveness and reduced lead times.

The companies had also established themselves as industry partners on the F-35 program, further backing their proposals.

Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, Warren McDonald, congratulated the companies, stating they exemplified the industrial capability available in Australia.

“Their commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with Lockheed Martin’s dedication to delivering excellence,” Mr McDonald said.

“This is an example of how the Global Supply Chain program has allowed us to partner with and provide opportunities for Australian industry to shape the future of defence and space exploration.”

General Manager of Axiom, Craig Maynard, said the company is proud to contribute to the Orion program.

“This new partnership with Lockheed Martin exemplifies our dedication to precision, innovation and embracing complex challenges, and we look forward to our expanding role in advancing space exploration,” Mr Maynard said.

The Orion Production and Operations Contract is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract encompassing up to 12 vehicles. The opportunity for up to six additional spacecraft may be ordered under the IDIQ contract, leveraging cost data to enable optimised unit prices.

Learn more about the Orion spacecraft program