Buccaneer Cube satellite is a milestone for Australian industry
The launch of the UNSW Canberra Buccaneer cube satellite is a major milestone in Australia’s next-generation space capability. The cubesat itself was conceptualized, designed, built and tested in Canberra, and is the first of five launched by UNSW Canberra Space Director Professor Russell Boyce and his team in partnership with DST Group.
It was launched into space from Vanderberg Air Force Base in California, and over the next few weeks it will undergo operations to test and operationalize its systems before undertaking experiments in 2018.
This milestone is a taste of what is to come for space technologies as companies, universities, agencies and departments continue to collaborate to develop capabilities and expertise in the civil and defense space sector.
News of this launch was the first in a series of events for the Australian space sector. UNSW Canberra also launched the Australian National Concurrent Design Facility (ANCDF) for space missions on campus. Notably, this result is the result of collaboration between the university, the ACT government and the French space agency CNES, which provided the software tool.
Then, at the National Space Conversation, convened at Mt Stromlo by the states and territories signatories to the space collaboration memorandum of understanding (MOU) (ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory), Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) announced successfully complete its installation phase securing land tenure for its commercial microsatellite launch and recovery facility in the NT.
This announcement highlighted the realistic prospect of an end-to-end capability in the conceptualization, design, construction, testing, launch, operation and recovery of satellite missions. This is particularly poignant as this week Australia commemorates the launch of our only major satellite, WRESAT, 50 years ago. In contrast, the next generation of space technologies, as demonstrated with the launch of the Buccaneer, ensures a pipeline of space engineering and operational activity to inspire the next generation.
Planning and forecasting ADF capability needs stimulates not only commercial interest in defence-related space, but also civilian interest. Both benefit from the activity and commitment of governments, as shown by the MoU on state and territorial space. The attention that last month’s International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide focused on the Australian space sector was both timely and brilliant. The IAC created a focus and the federal government announced the formation of an Australian Space Agency.
An agency that facilitates business activity, creates an effective gateway for engagement with Australia on space issues and provides cohesion and leadership to tell the story of Australia’s growing contribution to space science, technology and opportunities will be of great value. utility for Australia and our next generation of STEM graduates. .
