Three satellites from Curtin University have successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), marking the first occasion that a payload from a Western Australian business has ventured beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and representing a significant milestone for the state’s growing space industry.
Named Binar 2, 3, and 4, these satellites were launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX rocket on Sunday night (WST) and subsequently docked at the ISS on Tuesday.
These three satellites are categorized as ‘CubeSats,’ which are small and cost-effective satellites specifically designed for scientific, technological, and research missions. This launch comes after the earlier success of the first spacecraft manufactured in Western Australia, Binar 1, which was launched in 2021.
A SpaceX rocket transported the CubeSats on a mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). The rocket is anticipated to reach the ISS in approximately 24 hours, after which the CubeSats will be deployed into a Low Earth Orbit a couple of weeks later. For 6-12 months, the CubeSats will circle the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 400km above the planet’s surface.
This significant mission represents a major accomplishment for WA, as the CubeSats will carry equipment from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and AVI, a communications systems company based in Perth. This marks the first instance of a WA business sending its products into outer space.
AVI’s transmitters will undergo testing in the space environment, while CSIRO will conduct tests to assess how new materials can shield electronics from radiation.
According to Binar principal investigator John Curtin Distinguished Professor Phil Bland, the mission is a monumental achievement, and he expressed immense pride in the team that made this milestone achievable.
“Seeing the launch of three world-class spacecraft, designed and built right here by Curtin students and staff and carrying WA industry payloads is mind-blowing,” Professor Bland said.
Curtin’s Space Science and Technology Centre in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences is leading in the establishment of Western Australia’s growing space technology industry.
The program has created cutting-edge technology, resulting in collaborations with well-known space agencies worldwide. Additionally, it is motivating future space scientists through its outreach program, possibly allowing high school students in WA to conduct their own experiments on upcoming Binar missions.
“The launch of Binar 2,3 and 4 is the next big step for WA’s journey into space,” Professor Bland said.
“It shows if you have dreams which are out of this world, whether you’re part of a local business or harbouring hope for a career in the space industry, you no longer need to leave WA to reach the stars.
“On behalf of the Binar team, I would like to thank the WA State Government, Curtin University, and our industry partners for their generous ongoing support.”
