Southern Space - 6 May 2022

Southern Space is a weekly newsletter produced by SIAA to inform the Australian space industry.

Industry News?

Northern Territory Space Strategy:?The state’s new?space strategy?(2022-2026) provides a framework to grow the Territory’s space sector and develop industry capability at a state and national level. The Space Strategy further emphasises?the importance of creating space industry infrastructure that is connected to the broader state economy.?

Rocket Catch:?SIAA member Rocket Lab has declared the catch of its Electron booster by helicopter an overall success. The helicopter briefly caught the Electron booster before releasing it due to the load characteristics differing from previous tests.?

Australian high school students to build CubeSat:?56 high school students will assist experts from Griffith University to build a?CubeSat.?The CubeSat will use artificial intelligence to process data that will improve the management of natural disasters and is planned to launch onboard SIAA member Gilmour Space Technologies’ Eris rocket by the end of the year.?

New Russian Space Debris:?A defunct?Russian SOZ?motor broke apart on 15th April, creating 16 trackable pieces of space debris. This is the 54th SOZ motor explosion that has been monitored by satellite trackers.??

Australian Sovereign Navigation:?SIAA member SmartSat CRC has announced a $1 million investment in QuantX Labs development of an?atomic clock satellite payload?with civil and defence applications to increase Australia’s sovereign navigation and timing capability.?

CubeSats in GEO:?Blue Canyon Technologies, subsidiary of SIAA member Raytheon Technologies has launched its first CubeSat bus into geostationary orbit. This launch is part of the Ascent mission, which seeks to understand and evaluate the performance of LEO technology in GEO environments.??

Saudia Arabia:?Arabsat?has signed a contract with SIAA member Thales Alenia Space to develop a fully software-defined satellite that can adapt to different areas based on demand. The Arabsat 7A will replace most of Arabsat’s existing communications capacity.?

China:?As early as 2023, China plans to launch a small?constellation?around the moon?to support the future Chang’e-6 and Chang’e-7 sample return missions.?

NASA Mars Sample Return Program:?NASA?will undertake virtual public meetings and accept public comments on its proposed Mars orbiter and lander missions scheduled to launch in 2027 and 2028.??Comments close 16th May.

UAE to send astronaut to the ISS:?The?UAE?has announced that it will send the first Emirati astronaut on a 180-day mission to the ISS in 2023.?

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Industry Opportunities?

Space Start Ups Australia by Microsoft:?SIAA Foundation Member Microsoft Australia has announced a program to foster start up innovation in the space sector, offering recipients up to US$150,000 in Azure credits, mentoring, technical advisory sessions and co-selling opportunities.?Apply here.??

Earth Observation Grant Program:?The Earth Observation for the Northern Territory grant program is looking to support businesses that use earth observation data to solve problems or improve business performance and productivity. Applicants must work with a Northern Territory based end user.?Applications?close 27th June.?

S-Booster Ideas Contest Open:?The spaced based business idea contest is now open to ventures, individuals and businesses in the Asia-Oceania region to assist space innovators commercialise their business ideas through mentoring and investment.?Applications?close 20th June.?

Inovor University Space Internship:?SIAA member Inovor has opened applications for their summer space internship program. The program will give participants the chance to work onsite at Lot Fourteen, Adelaide and assist on real space engineering projects. Apply?here.?

Upcoming Events?

OEMF2022: The Changing Tide of Space Research and Commercialisation Down Under?

When: 18-19 May 9am – 5 pm AEST??

Where: Tower Three, International Towers, Barangaroo?

The fifth bi-annual Off-Earth Mining Forum features speakers and delegates from the research, government and industry sectors to discuss the future of the cislunar economy.??

Register?here?

SIAA Member Profile: Leonardo??

Providing satellite services for satellite launching, in-orbit control and data processing by Telespazio (owned 67% by Leonardo and 33% by Thales), Leonardo manages space programmes and missions through a global network of 8 space centres and 14 ground stations. Leonardo also provides satellite services in earth observation, communications and planetary exploration programs. Through the use of geoinformation collected in earth observation, Leonardo is working to reduce water consumption in agriculture as well as monitor and mitigate the effects of climate change.??

Leonardo was recently appointed to take part in a feasibility study to create a new earth observation satellite that will utilise Leonardo’s PRISMA hyperspectral technology?for the Italian Space Agency. ?