The ARC Training Centre for CubeSats, UAVs & their Applications (CUAVA) at the University of Sydney will have mission control status for its first satellite, in partnership with Saber Astronautics.
Officially launched on 17 June 2019 by Senator Arthur Sinodinos, CUAVA seeks to effectively enhance Australian CubeSat technology and form a primary part of Australia’s future space development.
Professor Iver Cairns, Director of CUAVA at The University of Sydney, unveiled that the contract for satellite services was granted to Saber Astronautics. This will provide important aircraft software, satellite integration and mission control help for the initial launch of a CUAVA satellite.
The announcement comes as the team prepares for the CUAVA-1 mission, which will carry instruments created by CUAVA teams across various scholarly, government and business organisations.
Under the contract, Saber Astronautics will provide three months of continual spacecraft operations of CUAVA-1 from their mission control centres in Sydney, Australia and Boulder, Colorado. Saber Astronautics will also support the CUAVA partners via training on new processes of aerial operations.
Professor Cairns said the partnership will push forward the development of spacecraft control, data management and ground-station solution that links to CUAVA’s new spacecraft software.
“This could also provide a template for many future Australian space projects. It is an example of two Australian entities coming together to develop an Australian solution to a global problem,” he added.
Saber Astronautics CEO, Dr. Jason Held, said, “CubeSats are small, susceptible to damage and prone to failure so the willingness to take a risk and learn-by-trying is what innovation is all about.”
“The reward is high because a successful flight will qualify several new Australian products for the space industry. That’s exciting,” he added.
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