Southern Space - 17 September

Industry News

Southern Launch and Hypersonix Sign MoU: SIAA?Members Southern Launch and Hypersonix Launch Systems Ltd signed an MoU at LandForces last week to collaborate on a turnkey hypersonic test bed service. Under the agreement, Hypersonix and Southern Launch will collaborate to develop a mission to launch and return Hypersonix’s test bed vehicles at either of Southern Launch’s spaceports. Work on a joint mission will commence immediately with intentions to launch in late 2025. ? ?

Gilmour Space Technologies and Hanwha Sign MoU: SIAA Member Gilmour Space Technologies signed a three-way MoU with Hanwha Defence Australia and Hanwha Aerospace at LandForces last week. The companies agreed to develop a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship, whilst aiding the advancement of the broader strategic interests for Australia and Korea within the Space domain.?

iLAuNCH Partnership with Deloitte: SIAA Member iLAuNCH Trailblazer announced a partnership with SIAA Member 德勤 to connect Australian research and development with international organisations; aiming to collaboratively develop and commercialise Australian space technologies. The iLAuNCH Global Pathfinder will strive to propel Australian research and business capabilities onto a global platform. Upon completion of the first phase, iLAuNCH expects to announce successful international partners in late 2024.?

Last week, iLAuNCH also announced the appointment of five new Advisory Board members to provide strategic guidance and oversight to the program. The new members include SIAA Deputy Chair Veronica Bainton, Dr Katrina Sanders, Ravi Jain, Jarrod Powell and Professor Celine D’Orgeville. ?

ELA Appointment: Last week, SIAA Foundation Member Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA ) announced the appointment of Nina Patz as the company’s new Head of Business Development. Nina will add to ELA’s senior commercial team ahead of the company’s next scheduled launches commencing in mid-2025. ?

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Circuitwise Electronics Manufacturing Nautech Acquisition: SIAA Member Circuitwise Electronics has announced the company’s acquisition of Nautech Electronics with the support of Quadrant Private Equity. Nautech Electronics is a New Zealand-based company specialising in electronics design and manufacturing. The Nautech acquisition extends Circuitwise’s offering, with advanced testing facilities and a team of production engineers and electronics designers. The transaction is expected to finalise at the end of September 2024.?

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Neumann Space On-Orbit Test: Last month, SIAA Member Neumann Space announced the successful completion of the company’s first on-orbit test of the Neumann Drive—an electric propulsion system based on solid metal propellants. The Neumann Drive is one of several Australian-made space technologies integrated onto the SpIRIT nanosatellite launched in December 2023. SpIRIT was able to demonstrate charging of the Neumann Drive’s power capacitors by the nanosatellite’s solar panels and batteries, and conduct several test firings, successfully demonstrating the ability to use Molybdenum as a solid metallic propellant.? ?

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Kanyini Launch: South Australian owned and manufactured satellite Kanyini was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX rocket?on August 17. Kanyini is a collaboration between the SA Government, SmartSat CRC, SIAA Member Inovor Technologies , and Myriota. The satellite carried two payloads into orbit: an Internet of Things?communications receiver from Myriota, and the HyperScout2 from Dutch company Cosine. Once fully commissioned, Kanyini will deliver critical space data, particularly significant for sustainability initiatives and climate impact such as bushfire detection.?

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澳大利亚科廷科技大学 Binar Satellites: SIAA Member Curtin University recently celebrated the launch of three Curtin University satellites to the International Space Station (ISS). The?Binar?2,3, and 4 satellites?launched?from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre aboard a SpaceX rocket on August 4. Binar-2, Binar-3, and Binar-4 now represent the completion of Curtin’s 1U small satellite platform.?

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Jacobs NASA Contract: NASA has awarded SIAA Member Jacobs Technology Inc . a contract to support operations at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Under the contract, 嘉科工程 will assist in crucial research operations, engineering, and maintenance services at NASA Langley. Jacobs will also provide institutional and research operations support, maintenance and engineering on facilities, and central utilities operations.?

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Spire NOAA Contract: SIAA Member Spire Global has been awarded a USD $3.8 million contract from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide radio occultation data for a one-year period spanning from September 2024 to September 2025.?

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NASA Commercial SmallSat Services Award: NASA has selected eight companies , including SIAA Members BlackSky and Planet Labs, for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program On-Ramp1 Multiple Award contract. Under the contract, the selected companies will be tasked with acquiring Earth observation data from commercial sources that support NASA’s Earth science research and application activities.?

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Polaris Dawn Mission: On September 12, Space X made history with the Polaris Dawn mission, conducting the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts. The spacewalk occurred during the five-day mission testing new spacesuits. The Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of Florida early on September 15. ?

Industry Opportunities

Global Space Challenge Sponsorship Opportunities?

The Global Space Challenge will be returning to Toowoomba for World Space Week 2024. Toowoomba students will collaborate and compete for the chance to win the Global Space Challenge.?

SIAA Member the One Giant Leap Australia Foundation will return to run the virtual space mission for Year 7 & 8 students, hosted by the University of Southern Queensland’s iLAuNCH Trailblazer. SIAA Member the iLAuNCH Trailblazer will also return to sponsor students to participate in the program.?

The Global Space Challenge is a dynamic 6-day program open to explorers aged 12 and above. Mission team members will attend the University of Southern Queensland’s Toowoomba campus during World Space Week, from October 5-10, where they will design, build and launch spacecraft, as well as create sustainable habitats on remote planets.?

Applications close?20 September 2024.

See here for more details. ?

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Apprentices and Trainees in Space Survey? ?

As Australia's space industry evolves, new sets of skills among our workforce will be required to fulfil changing needs. Apprentices and Trainees are one avenue of simultaneously training and skilling, but the appetite for such employees in the space sector is under-explored.?

SIAA has put together a short survey for Australian businesses to determine the current attitudes towards hiring apprentices and trainees in space-related fields. Your participation will give valuable insight into what our sector needs now and for the future. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and is best answered by someone who has been involved in the company's hiring process.? ?

The survey is until 4th October 2024.

See here to participate.?

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2024 Space, Spatial, and Surveying Workplace Inclusion Survey?

SIAA is a proud partner in the 2024 Australia and New Zealand?Space, Spatial, and Surveying Workplace Inclusion survey from the Space, Spatial & Surveying Diversity Leadership Network (SSSDLN), made possible with the help of the Diversity Council Australia. ? ? The survey is now open, is anonymous and takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey is open to everyone whose workplace is in the Space, Spatial, or Surveying sectors.?

See here to participate.

Upcoming Events

New Zealand Aerospace Summit??

When: 23-24 September??

Where: Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch??

The New Zealand Aerospace Summit offers attendees a chance to connect with a?diverse range of participants – from government agencies to industry giants and innovative SMEs. Panels and?discussions focus on making aerospace a vital, sustainable part of New Zealand's economy, exploring the latest trends, sustainability challenges, and?opportunities for collaboration that will propel New Zealand’s aerospace sector forward.?

Discover new business prospects, groundbreaking technologies, and practical applications that are driving our industry ahead.?

Register for the New Zealand Aerospace Summit here ?

VEX Robotics Competition 2024 Australia: National Championship?

When: Thursday 5 December – Friday 6 December?

Where: Rose Hill Racecourse?

The VEX Robotics Australian National Championship is the culmination of the season for over 400 teams, with the top 200 competing across two days for a range of awards and the opportunity to be crowned the Australian National Champions. Students demonstrate teamwork, time management, critical thinking, perseverance, problem solving and resilience as they compete alongside their peers. Winners will qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas.?

To become a volunteer judge please see here . ?

Contact [email protected] for more information.?

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South Australian Health and Safety Conference 2024?

When: Friday 18 October 2024?

Where: The Lounge, 79 Morphett Road Morphettville SA 5043?

The Australian Institute of Health & Safety?invites you, or employees at your organisation, to attend the annual?South Australian Work, Health and Safety Conference. This opportunity to share principles, perspectives and practical lessons will be insightful and helpful for a broad cross section of health and safety practitioners, professionals and leaders across government, private and non-for-profit sectors, as well as for lawyers, academics and many others.?

See here to register. ?

Job Opportunities

View new job postings on SIAA’s Southern Space Jobs Board to see what job opportunities are available in the space industry.

SIAA members can advertise job positions for free on the Southern Space Jobs board. For more information, please email [email protected]

?Want to feature your industry update in the Southern Space Newsletter? Email [email protected]

Join the Southern Space mailing list by emailing [email protected]

Header Image Credit:?Lake Powell and Grand Staircase-Escalante (NASA, 03-02-17)