QuantX Labs has formed a partnership with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) through Airbus Australia, to bolster its space knowledge and skillsets as it heads towards on-orbit tests of its Australian-made technology.

QuantX Labs’ KAIROS mission will see the launch of a next-generation optical atomic clock into low Earth orbit in 2026 on a demonstration mission, in a project that the company hopes will work to revolutionise space-based position, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities.

The optical atomic clock — which was initially developed at the Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing at the University of Adelaide and supported by funding from the SmartSat CRC — will undergo crucial developments to become space-ready, guided by the expertise of SSTL’s system engineering team and driven by the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Program.

“QuantX Labs is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), a global leader in small satellite technology and systems engineering consulting,” shared Professor Andre Luiten, Managing Director of QuantX Labs.

“This collaboration adds a crucial layer of expertise to our KAIROS mission, providing confidence that we will deliver robust engineering solutions and unparalleled reliability as we venture into space.”

SSTL will not only provide its space systems engineering expertise, but also act as a conduit to uplift the skill set of QuantX Labs engineering team and helping to advance the skills base in Australia’s space sector.

“The Australian Government has identified quantum as a critical technology in the national interest,” said Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency, adding that “QuantX Labs’ quantum clock technology has the potential to transform the positioning, navigation, and timing services that underpin our daily lives, and we’re proud to provide support through the Australian Government’s Demonstrator Program.”