Australian Spacecraft on SpaceX’s Transporter-11: Waratah Seed, CUAVA-2 and Kanyini
J. C. Wanja NJUE
Aeronautical Engineer - BEng Flight Vehicle Design & Engineering, MSc Thermal Power - Gas Turbine Technology
Three Australia made satellites –?Kanyini, Waratah Seed, and CUAVA-2 – were sent to space as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-11 mission and deployed by Exolaunch in August 2024.
Falcon 9 launched SpaceX ’s Transporter-11 - the 11th dedicated smallsat rideshare program mission at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday 17, August [5].
This 11th dedicated smallsat rideshare mission had 116 spacecraft on board [9].
Falcon 9, the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket, is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond [6].
SpaceX has launched more than 1,000 smallsats for 130+ customers across the entire Rideshare program to date [5].
The cost of the Rideshare program is $ 300,000 for 50kg to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), also called a heliosynchronous orbit [8], with additional mass at $6,000 per kg.
The Australian CubeSat on SpaceX ’s Transporter-11
1. Waratah Seed
Waratah Seed is an Australian ride-share mission, flying an Australian-built 6U CubeSat [1].
Funded by the NSW government through their Space Industry Development program, the project focus on developing the NSW space sector and the whole Australian space industry [1].
Waratah Seed Space Qualification Mission mission is to deliver space flight qualification opportunities to NSW startup and industry-led teams, who get to test and prove the function and capability of their novel technologies aboard a 6U CubeSat platform flying to LEO [1].
The spacecraft was successfully deployed into Sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from the SpaceX Transporter-11 launch to a 513 km altitude circular Sun-synchronous orbit on Saturday, 17 August 2024 [1].
The spacecraft communicated as designed, on-orbit commissioning begun [1].
On board Waratah Seed are technologies from five space startups: Euroka Power, Spiral Blue, Extraterrestrial Power, Contactile and Dandelions [10].
The spacecraft also has technology aboard from: Mawson Rovers, Deneb Space , University of Technology Sydney , University of Sydney, UNSW, SmartSat CRC, ARC Training Centre for CubeSats, UAVs, and their Applications (CUAVA)?[10].
NSW has a broad and deep range of space capabilities in Australia from start-ups and SMEs through to established businesses and primes. These ?include [17]:?
2. CUAVA-2
Funded by the Australian Research Council, ARC Training Centre for CubeSats, UAVs, and their Applications (CUAVA)?mission is to train the next generation of workers in advanced manufacturing, commercial space and Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications [18].
ARC Training Centre for CubeSats, UAVs, and their Applications (CUAVA) aim to develop new instruments and technology to solve crucial problems, and?develop a world-class Australian industry in CubeSats, UAVs, and related products [18].
According to information from CUAVA [19], active communications have been successfully established from both CUAVA-2 and Waratah Seed-1 CubeSats, including beacon reception and decoding.
The satellites are now time-synchronized, and the Electrical Power System (EPS) status has been confirmed, with battery voltages reading near 15.8 V as per images below.
The next phase will focus on satellite commissioning, with full operational communications expected to be achieved within a month [19]. CUAVA anticipates holding separate "Status and Initial Results" press conferences before mid-October [19]. In the meantime, payload and instrument teams may release details about their devices [19].
3. Kanyini
The South Australian satellite, Kanyini, named by local students, is the first state-based satellite for Australia and a key part of the South Australia Space Sector Strategy 2030 [20].
This initiative, supported by the Government of South Australia through the South Australian Space Industry Centre , SmartSat CRC , Myriota , and Inovor Technologies [22], aims to enhance local capabilities in CubeSat manufacturing and increase involvement in satellite construction, contributing to the government's broader Growth State strategy [20].
Following the successful launch of Kanyini, the next step in the mission is to establish stable communications through an operations center located at Inovor Technologies in Adelaide.
Once fully commissioned, Kanyini will provide critical space data to support government and research institutions, particularly in the areas of sustainability and climate impact.
Key research initiatives include early bushfire detection, using technology capable of identifying fires from space 500 times faster than traditional methods, and a project led by South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water and Greening Adelaide to monitor urban heat islands. Additionally, data from Kanyini will aid the development of advanced AI predictive models for natural disasters such as landslides and floods, spearheaded by 澳大利亚昆士兰科技大学 and the European Space Agency - ESA 's Φ-lab.
The successful deployment of Kanyini, Waratah Seed, and CUAVA-2 aboard SpaceX ’s Transporter-11 mission represents a significant step forward for Australia's space ambitions. These satellites, each with distinct objectives, highlight the growing capabilities and collaboration within the nation's space sector.
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