The Australian Space Agency has launched its second season of Outback to Orbit – the podcast that introduces the people and technologies leading our nation's space future.
It’s a momentous year for space in Australia as Sydney hosts the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) – the world’s biggest space conference and showcase event.
To mark the occasion, we’re dedicating season two of the podcast to some world-class Australian space capabilities that will be on show at IAC.
Episode one of the new season will be released next week.
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Launched in 2024, Outback To Orbit connects listeners to the people and technologies leading Australia's space future.
Episode 1 | Sustainable Space: Made in Australia
In the first episode of season 2, we meet some Australian companies with their own ways of keeping valuable space activities safe, efficient, and economically viable for the long-term – plus one company refining how we use space data to improve environmental sustainability on Earth. To set the scene, we also kick things off with a quick history lesson on IAC from our space historian Kerrie Dougherty.
Our featured guests for this episode are Paddy Neumann (Neumann Space) discussing the Neumann Drive electric spacecraft thruster fuelled by metal, Julia Mitchell (Space Machines Company) discussing in-orbit spacecraft servicing and the Space MAITRI mission, William Crowe (HEO) discussing non-Earth imaging cameras that monitor objects and activities in space, and Venkat Pillay (LatConnect 60 / LC60 AI) discussing how to make insights from Earth observation satellite data more useful and affordable.
High Earth Orbit Robotics (HEO)
Advanced cameras for imaging satellites from satellites in space — supporting various applications such as monitoring space debris, surveillance of space objects, and ensuring safe and sustainable use of space.
HEO received over $700,000 funding support for their Holmes imager as part of the Australian Space Agency's Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant.
Neumann Space
- The tech is a cutting-edge Australian electric propulsion system, which uses solid metal propellants to deliver mobility to its spacecraft in orbit.
- The company's Neumann Drive® offers Agency-funded SpIRIT nanosatellite a fuel source.
Neumann Drive® is onboard the Agency-funded SpIRIT satellite, which was launched in 2023 and provides an important form of space propulsion available to the spacecraft.
SpIRIT is led by The University of Melbourne and supported by the Agency’s International Space Investment and Moon to Mars initiatives.
Space Machines Company
- The company will lead Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research and Innovation), a joint industry-led Australian-Indian Mission to demonstrate progress towards space debris management and a sustainable space future.
- The Space MAITRI mission will incorporate an Australian built Orbital Servicing Vehicle, launched on a dedicated Indian launcher.
In June 2024, the Australian provider received an $8.5 million grant as part of the Agency’s International Space Investment India Projects program. The funding supports the firm's role in Space Maitri — a collaborative demonstration mission between Australia and India.
LatConnect 60
- To develop and build a Low Earth Orbit satellite in Australia to collect information on carbon emissions at a very high resolution.
- The satellite will be launched from India, and aims to significantly lower the cost of data acquisition and insight generation of key indicators like methane and carbon dioxide.
As part of the Australian Space Agency's International Space Investment India Projects program, the company was awarded almost $5.8 million.
Outback to Orbit
Our podcast introduces you to the people and technologies leading our nation's space future.