A radioisotope heater designed to help payloads survive the lunar night and a GPS-free navigation system for rockets are among five projects to share in $3.6 million in federal space funding.
Industry and Science minister Ed Husic announced the successful projects in the latest round of the federal government’s Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grants program over the weekend.
It is the first funding from the program — which forms part of the broader $150 million Moon to Mars initiative — to flow since March 2024 and brings the running total to more than $25 million.
The grants program seeks to grow Australia’s sovereign space industry, ensuring it can support the US led public-private Moon to Mars exploration program, including NASA’s Artemis mission.
South Australia’s clean energy tech company entX will receive $1 million, making it the only recipient of Intake 11 to receive the maximum funding available under the grant program.
entX will use its funding to develop a radioisotope heater unit capable of helping payloads withstand the ultra-cold temperatures of space, extending the mission life of payloads during a two-week lunar night.
Nanosatellite startup Fleet Space Technologies, also based in South Australia, will receive just shy of $1 million for a gravity measurement instrument that will “improve exploration for critical minerals”.
AI robotics innovator Advance Navigation has, meanwhile, secured $856,077 to develop an inertial navigation system for use on rockets, ensuring they maintain their correct trajectory.
The final shock-proof system will support Gilmour Space Technologies’ development of its Eris rockets and Elara satellite platforms. Gilmour Space is now targeting March for the maiden launch of its Eris rocket.
Other funded projects include:
- Space Services Australia: $556,189 to enhance Phenomenal Systems’ ability to offer its virtual satellite testbeds to key international markets
- Element Robotics: $257,479 to raise the technology readiness level of its LunarSim simulation environment to six by integrating digital twin technologies for modelling
“These investments will help further embed us in the global space supply chain, working on the global Moon to Mars mission,” Mr Husic said, adding that the local “space industry continues to go from strength to strength”.
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