Southern Space - 20 December

This newsletter is the last Southern Space newsletter for 2023. We look forward to recommencing the SIAA Southern Space Newsletter in late January 2024 to share industry news, industry opportunities and upcoming events with SIAA members and the Australian space sector.?

We wish all SIAA members and readers of the Southern Space newsletter a restful end-of-year break and a Happy New Year!?

The Space Industry Association of Australia?

Industry News

Equatorial Launch Australia Reveals ASC Advanced Launch Pad (ASCALP) Design: SIAA member Equatorial Launch Australia?has today released completed designs for its launch pads. The technically advanced design, named the Arnhem Space Centre Advanced Launch Pad (ASCALP), will accommodate all current class New-Space small launcher rockets up to approximately 450 thousand kilograms launch weight (up to 3000 kg payload weight). The design also significantly minimises damage created by rocket plumes, increasing the reusability of the launch pads.

Rocket Lab Launches Imaging Satellite: SIAA member Rocket Lab has successfully launched a Japanese radar imaging satellite on the first flight of its Electron rocket. The Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on 14 December and deployed the Tsukuyomi-1 satellite?for Japanese company iQPS, which is developing a constellation of 36 satellites to provide synthetic aperture radar imagery.?This launch marks the 10th flight of Electron this year, which exceeds the company's record of 9 Electron launches last year.

Project Kuiper Tests Optical Satellite Links: SIAA member Amazon has successfully tested inter-satellite links between its two Project Kuiper prototypes in low Earth orbit (LEO), as the company prepares to start filling out a mesh broadband network in space next year. The satellites were nearly 1000 kilometres apart during the tests, with the technology designed to work across distances up to 2600 kilometres. The success of these tests will allow Amazon to add laser links to operational satellites entering production going forward.

Quasar Satellite Technologies Opens to U.S market: SIAA member Quasar Satellite Technologies?has developed a portable digital phased array antenna that can monitor the RF transmissions of dozens of satellites at a time.?The technology, currently used by Australia’s military and intelligence agencies, is now being offered to the U.S. government. To market this technology, Quasar Satellite Technologies Founder and CEO Phil Ridley, has announced that the company will be opening a U.S. office in 2024.

AVM Catherine Roberts Exits Defence Space Command: Air Vice-Marshall Catherine Roberts has formally ended her two-year tenure as Australia's first head of Defence Space Command. AVM Roberts stated that “serving as the inaugural Defence Space Commander has been a privilege.” The department of Space Command only began formally operating last year and will now be handed over to her successor, Major General Greg Novak.

China Launches Classified Optical Satellite: China used the country's largest launch vehicle to send the classified optical satellite Yaogan-41 towards the geostationary belt last Friday. The satellite was launched on the sixth Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has not released any images or further details on the satellite, with state media reporting that Yaogen-41 is an optical remote sensing satellite that will be used for land surveying, environmental management and disaster prevention.

U.S Space Command Declares Full Operational Ability: U.S Space Command has now achieved full operational capability, including staff and infrastructures. The U.S Space Command has the capability to conduct space operations and protect American and allied assets and interest in space. U.S. Space Command was established in 2019 in Colorado Springs and is tasked to monitor space activity and threats, support other military units with space capabilities like communications and surveillance, respond to crises involving space, deter aggression and defeat enemies if needed.

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] ??