Space-enabled connectivity plays a critical role across our country and Australia's technology is set to get a significant boost.
A new public, private, and academic partnership is primed to amplify Australia's space communications and observation capabilities.
A consortium led by telecom provider Optus was unveiled today along with plans to build and launch a new Low Earth Orbit satellite by 2028.
The consortium comprises of four Australian space sector organisations — iLAuNCH Trailblazer, HEO, Inovor Technologies and the Defence Science and Technology Group.
The satellite will be built by Inovor Technologies in Adelaide, South Australia and operated out of Optus' Belrose Space Operations Centre in Sydney.
“Connectivity continues to play a critical role in the Australian economy, whether that be through supporting small businesses in regional and remote towns or large enterprises with employees spread across the country, we must continue to explore new ways of delivering services that businesses rely on.
“By collaborating with Australia’s industry leaders across the public, private and academic sectors, we are able to further advance the use of technology to solve problems, fuel growth and define what’s next for the telco industry while supporting Australian businesses and Australian workers.”
- Nick Leake, Head of Satellite and Space Systems at Optus
Strengthening our national space ecosystem
Today's announcement also revealed two payloads that will be part of the 2028 mission.
The first, led by Optus in partnership with HEO and the University of Southern Queensland, includes HEO’s new 20cm Adler Imager, a specialised space telescope designed to take high-resolution pictures of space objects, also known as non-earth imaging.
As part of the Australian Space Agency's Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant, HEO received over $700,000 in funding support for their Holmes imager
Under this commercial and academic partnership, the capability will also be leveraged for better observation of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies.
The second payload will be developed by the University of South Australia with support from SmartSat CRC. It will include a compact communication terminal that functions at fast speeds, using laser light to send and receive data between another satellite or a ground terminal.
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