Gilmour Space Technologies banked $217 million (US$145m) in a Series E to become a unicorn, with the Queensland rocket builder’s valuation topping $1 billion. The round was jointly led by the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) and existing backer, super fund Hostplus, with support from previous investors Future Fund, Blackbird, Funds SA, HESTA, NGS Super, Main… Read more »
As ROI goes for investing in deep tech, Sydney deep tech innovator Cicada Innovations has delivered in spades over the past 25 years. The organisation celebrated its 25th anniversary this week, estimating that its role in Australia’s economic growth tops $8 billion, including $6.5 billion in capital raised, high-skill jobs creation, and broader innovation innovation… Read more »
“You treat us like a pack of galahs. [That’s a kind of parrot.] Just because I don’t wear a tie or spend all day buried in a manual doesn’t mean I’m a drongo. [That’s a hopeless …]” What’s your favourite line from the movie ‘The Dish’? Created and written by Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Tom… Read more »
A proposed constellation of satellites has astronomers very worried. Unlike satellites that reflect sunlight and Reflect Orbital would produce light pollution by design. The company promises to produce “sunlight on demand” with mirrors that beam sunlight down to Earth so solar farms can operate after sunset. It plans to start with an 18-metre test satellite… Read more »
Major pacts with Europe and the US set Australia’s space industry on course for expansion, with IAC 2025 showcasing the moment Australia and the European Union will sign cooperation agreements to cooperate on future space missions and extra-terrestrial business opportunities. The agreement between the Australian and European Space Agencies would offer businesses and researchers greater… Read more »
Australia has launched the Australasian Space Innovation Institute to cut foreign reliance and speed up space commercialisation. A new not-for-profit space organisation has launched at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. The Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII) aims to speed up the use of industry research, strengthen Australia’s own space capability, and deliver tangible benefits… Read more »
Advanced Navigation’s LUNA laser navigation sensor has cleared a critical validation campaign on Earth and is moving to final space qualification for Intuitive Machines’ 2027 south pole mission, with Australian Astronomical Optics supplying the space-qualified optical head.
UniSA, RapidBeam and Japan’s Warpspace have teamed up to fast-track laser satellite communications in Australia and New Zealand, integrating Warpspace’s HOCSAI modem into UniSA’s optical ground station network to run interoperability and performance trials.
Bradfield, the site of the new Western Sydney airport, will become a manufacturing hub for space infrastructure such as satellites following a deal between the NSW government and local startup Space Machines Company. Space Machines Company will begin high-value manufacturing projects at the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility’s (AMRF) this year, developing production capability to produce… Read more »
Round three of the South Australia Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund will open next Tuesday, September 23, with two projects awarded up to $150,000 each This round is focused on real-world applications of space-derived data to solve pressing challenges on Earth. Funding will support innovative projects that demonstrate clear commercial potential in areas such as: … Read more »
A $42 million project to put an Australian-designed and built lunar explorer on the Moon will be realised by the end of the decade. NASA has confirmed the Roo-ver will make the 384,000km trip from Earth as part of its Artemis Moon exploration program, via NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services by 2030. The Roo-ver, 20kg semi-autonomous… Read more »
Akula Tech has joined Australia’s space cohort in orbit, launching its Nexus-01 AI payload on SpaceX via Dhruva Space’s LEAP-1 as Esper’s OTR-2 hyperspectral imager rode along.
An Australian built and operated cube satellite has won the SmallSat Mission of the Year award at the AIAA Small Satellite Mission of the Year Awards in Salt Lake City, USA. The Waratah Seed-1 – Australia’s first ‘rideshare’ satellite – launched 12 months ago and beat 10 rival finalists from global space experts includes NASA, the… Read more »
Government-owned NBN Co has chosen Amazon’s Project Kuiper’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology for high-speed, wholesale fixed broadband to customers in sections of regional, rural and remote Australia. The decision sidelines Elon Musk’s Starlink, which launched in Australia in 2021, and has around 200,000 local customers, and was also pitching for the NBN contract.… Read more »
Bowen, we have lift off. In the end Gilmour Space’s 23-metre-high, 30-tonne orbital rocket didn’t rise more than 100-metres in the air before crashing after 14 seconds of flight, but finally, after several attempts, the Australian-designed and made rocket took off just after 8.30am, AEST. “Got off the pad , I am happy. Of course… Read more »
Daily startup news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
