Western Australia's Satellites Reach the ISS: A Milestone for the State's Space Industry

Credit: NASA

In an unprecedented achievement, three satellites developed by Curtin University have successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant milestone for Western Australia's budding space industry. Named Binar 2, 3, and 4, these CubeSats were launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX rocket and docked at the ISS, making it the first payload from a Western Australian business to venture beyond Earth's atmosphere.

CubeSats are small and cost-effective satellites crafted for scientific, research, and technological missions. This momentous occasion follows the successful launch of Binar 1, the first spacecraft manufactured in Western Australia and launched in 2021. The recent SpaceX mission carrying the CubeSats aimed to resupply the ISS, with the satellites expected to be deployed into a Low Earth Orbit in the coming weeks, where they will circle the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 400km.

This mission is not only a remarkable achievement for Western Australia but also a pioneering one as the CubeSats are carrying equipment from CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, and AVI, a communications systems company based in Perth. AVI's transmitters will undergo rigorous testing in the space environment, while CSIRO will assess how new materials can protect electronics from radiation.

Professor Phil Bland, the principal investigator of the Binar project and a John Curtin Distinguished Professor, expressed immense pride in the team behind this milestone. He highlighted the significance of seeing world-class spacecraft designed and built by Curtin students and staff, carrying payloads from Western Australia's industry into outer space.

Curtin University's Space Science and Technology Centre, located within the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, has been at the forefront of establishing Western Australia's space technology industry. The center's cutting-edge technology has led to collaborations with prominent space agencies globally, inspiring future space scientists through its outreach program, with possibilities for high school students in WA to conduct experiments on upcoming Binar missions.

According to Professor Bland, the launch of Binar 2, 3, and 4 signifies a significant leap forward for Western Australia's presence and contributions in space exploration. He emphasized that dreams of venturing into space are no longer out of reach for those in Western Australia, whether part of a local business or aspiring to a career in the space industry.

In his closing remarks, Professor Bland extended thanks to the WA State Government, Curtin University, and industry partners for their steadfast support, highlighting the collaborative efforts that made this exceptional journey into space possible.

The successful arrival of Binar 2, 3, and 4 at the ISS stands as a remarkable achievement not only for Curtin University and Western Australia but also for the broader space industry, signaling a bright future for space exploration and innovation from the region.

Original article: https://www.inceptivemind.com/western-australias-satellites-reach-iss/37833/