The Biarri Cubesat project, is a four nation project involving Australia, the US, the UK and Canada. In Australia, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is working closely with BAE Systems, ACSER at the University of NSW, the Australian National University and Electro Optic Systems (EOS).
The project will see three, 3-Unit Cubesats launched by the United States in 2014, and involves precision flying experiments, which will also be tracked by EOS in Australia using their laser tracking system.
As part of the project, the US is providing the launch facilities and satellite bus, the UK is providing the communications links, Canada is providing the ground station infrastructure and Australia is providing the space-qualified L1-only GPS receiver, which BAE Systems has already qualified in its testing facilities. The FPGA based GPS receivers are designed to measure the precise relative positions of the Cubesats in their low earth orbit.
DSTO’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division (ISRD) is leading the charge from the government front, with BAE Systems from Edinburgh Parks in South Australia leading on the industry side.
The Biarri project will use the Colony II Cubesat bus, which is a US NRO program, with Boeing currently building the satellite bus. No doubt through the Biarri project, DSTO will gain some very good insight into designing, developing, launching and operating a satellite, which bodes well for their future capabilities in small satellites.
DSTO is also apparently also working on another, higher Australian content Satellite called Bucaneer – together with BAE Systems. It will feature a Space Based Miniaturised High Frequency radar payload, and is likely to have a US supplied spacecraft bus.
Showing posts with label ANU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ANU. Show all posts
Monday, March 18, 2013
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Australian Space Research Program Round 4 Winners Announced
The Australian Space Research Program round 4 winners have been announced on the 17th of June 2010 by the Minister for Space Kim Carr. Round 4 sees 3 different grants awarded, totalling $6.1 Million in funding. The announcement can be found here.
The first project entitled "A Comprehensive Tertiary Education Program in Satellite Systems Engineering" sees the University of NSW team up with Thales Alenia Space France, Optus and the French Institut Superieur de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace.
Their project was awarded $675,173 as part of Stream A of the ASRP, and includes the following description:
The project will develop and deliver a comprehensive, sustainable tertiary education program in satellite systems engineering comprising a two-year master’s qualification. The project is led by the University of New South Wales in collaboration with a world class consortium which includes Australia’s only satellite owner and operator, Optus, the multinational Thales Group, and France’s Institut Superieur de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace.
The developed program will be optimised for Australia’s strategic and commercial interests and deliver a ‘systems-wide’ understanding of satellite systems and their applications, from the space segment, to the ground operations, and the end users. International and local industry internships and student exchanges will be incorporated into the program to enhance the skills of graduates.
"Space science is no longer about a race to the moon. Rather, it has the power and potential to help us address major issues that affect our quality of life like health care, food production and climate change," Senator Carr said at the announcement.
"Australia's space and engineering research is among the best in the world - Excellence in Research for Australia showed 85 per cent or more of the units assessed in the space sciences and related areas of engineering are world standard or above - and our space-related industries are growing."
Another great step forward for Australian space in my view - this time, with some interest coming out of the two main European Prime contractors in Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, as well as some funding going towards space hardware and components that could end up being part of an international program or global supply chain.
Well done to all who are winners this round, and commiserations to all of those who have been trying hard for the last 4 rounds to get involved. It is also worth congratulating the Space Policy Unit in Canberra who have been working hard to keep making the ASRP such a success.
It is with some hesitation that we see the round 4 announcement, as it is currently the last round of the ASRP funding, with no future funding or replacement program yet announced. Hopefully the upcoming National Space Policy will include a future for the ASRP, or something similar, to build upon the great gains already made by the ASRP.
The first project entitled "A Comprehensive Tertiary Education Program in Satellite Systems Engineering" sees the University of NSW team up with Thales Alenia Space France, Optus and the French Institut Superieur de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace.
Their project was awarded $675,173 as part of Stream A of the ASRP, and includes the following description:
The project will develop and deliver a comprehensive, sustainable tertiary education program in satellite systems engineering comprising a two-year master’s qualification. The project is led by the University of New South Wales in collaboration with a world class consortium which includes Australia’s only satellite owner and operator, Optus, the multinational Thales Group, and France’s Institut Superieur de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace.
The developed program will be optimised for Australia’s strategic and commercial interests and deliver a ‘systems-wide’ understanding of satellite systems and their applications, from the space segment, to the ground operations, and the end users. International and local industry internships and student exchanges will be incorporated into the program to enhance the skills of graduates.
The second project entitled " The Australian Plasma Thruster Project" sees ANU, teaming up the University of Surrey (UK), Astrium France, and local company Vipac. This project capitalises on the significant existing capability within the Plasma Research Laboratory at ANU.
Their project was awarded $3,117,172 as part of Stream B of the ASRP, and includes the following description:
The Australian Plasma Thruster project will aim to develop a spaceflight ready Australian plasma thruster design based on the helicon double layer technology invented and developed at the Australian National University. If successful it will find a market in satellite propulsion systems, including for station-keeping, end-of-life satellite insertion into graveyard orbit, and ultimately for deep space missions.
Their project was awarded $3,117,172 as part of Stream B of the ASRP, and includes the following description:
The Australian Plasma Thruster project will aim to develop a spaceflight ready Australian plasma thruster design based on the helicon double layer technology invented and developed at the Australian National University. If successful it will find a market in satellite propulsion systems, including for station-keeping, end-of-life satellite insertion into graveyard orbit, and ultimately for deep space missions.
The project will also develop and build a large Space
Simulation Facility (S2F) at the ANU’s Advanced
Instrumentation and Technology Centre at Mt Stromlo in the ACT. The S2F will incorporate a thermal/vacuum
test capability that will allow the final stage of development and testing of the plasma thruster
technology. The facility will also be
available for use by other Australian researchers and industry for testing
purposes.
The third project entitled " Greenhouse
Gas Monitor" once again sees Vipac (who have done very well in
Round 4), teaming up the University of Wollongong, Rosebank Engineering, ANU, the
University of Melbourne and the Bureau of Meteorology. Could this be the start
of the capability Australia needs to develop instruments and be part of a
future international Remote Sensing or Meteorology program? I hope so!
Their project was awarded $2,346,928 as
part of Stream B of the ASRP, and includes the following description:
The Greenhouse Gas Monitor project will
develop an innovative sensor to measure greenhouse gases nationally and
globally. The project will tie the
measurements to observations by satellites in order to provide global coverage. Additionally it will develop modelling and
analysis tools to interpret the data, thereby advancing scientific
understanding of the carbon cycle and providing policy relevant information of
sources and sinks of greenhouse gases.
The improved information on the
distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere resulting from the
project will mean better monitoring and management of the roles of agriculture,
forestation and deforestation as CO2 sources and sinks, more reliable weather forecasts
and more sensitive detection of climate change.
The project will also increase Australian capability in the design,
build and test of advanced remote sensing instruments.
"Australia's space and engineering research is among the best in the world - Excellence in Research for Australia showed 85 per cent or more of the units assessed in the space sciences and related areas of engineering are world standard or above - and our space-related industries are growing."
Another great step forward for Australian space in my view - this time, with some interest coming out of the two main European Prime contractors in Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, as well as some funding going towards space hardware and components that could end up being part of an international program or global supply chain.
Well done to all who are winners this round, and commiserations to all of those who have been trying hard for the last 4 rounds to get involved. It is also worth congratulating the Space Policy Unit in Canberra who have been working hard to keep making the ASRP such a success.
It is with some hesitation that we see the round 4 announcement, as it is currently the last round of the ASRP funding, with no future funding or replacement program yet announced. Hopefully the upcoming National Space Policy will include a future for the ASRP, or something similar, to build upon the great gains already made by the ASRP.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Australia takes a step closer to new a Space Museum
The Australian National University signed an agreement with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on the 19th of January 2011 in Washington DC taking the first steps towards a dedicated Australian Astronomy and Space Museum at Mount Stromolo.
The agreement outlines the cooperation between the ANU and the National Air and Space Museum, and will see many staff from the museum in Washington come to Canberra to being planning for the new museum.
The museum, which ANU hopes can be built over the next 3 years has been in discussion for around 18 months.
The new Museum will focus on Australia's contribution to both Space Science and Astronomy, and will leverage support from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in both the setting up of the new facility, as well as the on-going operations.
The Museum is yet to be fully funded and will be looking toward the federal government to provide funding to set up the facility.
The agreement outlines the cooperation between the ANU and the National Air and Space Museum, and will see many staff from the museum in Washington come to Canberra to being planning for the new museum.
The museum, which ANU hopes can be built over the next 3 years has been in discussion for around 18 months.
The new Museum will focus on Australia's contribution to both Space Science and Astronomy, and will leverage support from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in both the setting up of the new facility, as well as the on-going operations.
The Museum is yet to be fully funded and will be looking toward the federal government to provide funding to set up the facility.
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