A consortium led by Optus will build a low-Earth orbit satellite (LEOSat) in Australia, opening the door to future constellation of sovereign satellites to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The first satellite, which will be built by space and defence research company Inovor Technologies at Lot Fourteen in South Australia, is expected to be launched by early 2028 on a SpaceX mission.
It is set to cost up to $50 million, with Optus already looking to build at least two follow-on satellites, according to the telco’s head of satellite and space systems Nick Leake.
“Once we’ve… proven out the technology, not only do we sell it here, but it means that we can export Australian space technology for… the first time in history, and show that the skills and capabilities and the workforce we’re developing,” he said.
Optus and its partners, which also include the Defence Science and Technology Group, the iLAuNCH Trailblazer Universities program and space technology startup HEO, announced the ‘SWIFT’ project in Adelaide on Monday.
Conversations between project partners have been underway for at least two years, according to Darren Lovett, the executive director federal government’s iLAuNCH Trailblazer.
“At that time, we were looking for a partner and a project that… exemplified everything we’re trying to achieve, and this is it,” he said during the launch of the project on Monday.
“Project SWIFT brings together all of those technologies across the three universities, and the program that we’re trying to deliver in a couple of years, which will get us up into space.
The first LEOSat will carry a payload of local space technology developed under the iLAuNCH Trailblazer, including HEO’s Adler Imager, a 20cm space telescope developed to help satellite operators avoid collisions.
The first-ever Adler Imager, developed with the support of the federal government’s Moon to Mars Supply Chain program, was launched on a SpaceX rocket earlier this year.
“The technology is already proven… but this mission will expand that vital capability for Australia…. We’re strongly committed to building sovereign space capability right here at home,” Joann Yap, senior partnership manager at HEO said.
The LEOSat will also host a terminal that relies on optical laser as a high-speed satellite communication capability. The University of South Australia is currently leading work on DSTG-focused program.
“What this project does is help us build up our knowledge of optical and LEO communications. We are achieving so much more than we could possibly do on our own,” DSTG’s information sciences division chief Suneel Randhawa said.
Defence is looking at both LEOSats and geostationary satellites for its future satcom needs, having scrapped a multi-billion-dollar contract with Lockheed Martin last year.
Optus, which will operate the LEOSat from its Belrose Space Operations Centre in Sydney, currently serves Defence’s satcomm needs. Optus flies a total of nine satellites, including two purpose-built SkyMuster satellites that serve the NBN.
“LEO for us is about innovation. It’s about support the Australian industry, both universities and small business, to deliver unique capability into the Australian market,” Optus’ Mr Leake said.
Inovor Technologies chief executive Matthew Tetlow added that the project is “proof that [with] the right collaboration and investment in Australia, we are more than capable of building and operating our own sophisticated space assets”.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.