An Adelaide-made cube satellite has blasted off from the United States and is now orbiting Earth as part of the Buccaneer Main Mission!
The satellite launched onboard SpaceX Transporter-13 Falcon 9, thanks to an international collab with the US Department of Defense Space Test Program.
This little powerhouse nanosatellite is now on a big mission—sharpening radar accuracy, boosting national security, improving communications, and paving the way for future space exploration and defence technology capabilities.
The Buccaneer Main Mission, known as a CubeSat, developed by Defence Science and Technology Group, was packed into the SpaceX launch stack this month.
South Australian space company Inovor Technologies built the cube satellite—the main body and backbone of this high-tech nanosatellite.
So, what’s a nanosatellite? It’s a tiny but mighty spacecraft, weighing between one and ten kilos, but packed with cutting-edge tech.
Over the past year, a team of Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) scientists and engineers in Adelaide put the satellite through its paces—integrating all the tech and running rigorous space-readiness tests at Edinburgh Defence Precinct.
Once it passed with flying colours, the team shipped it off to California for final checks before working with the SEOPS team in Houston, Texas, to lock it into its launch dispenser for take-off!
The Buccaneer Main Mission CubeSat is the second of two CubeSats launched as part of the Buccaneer project, and it’s on a mission to uncover the secrets of space.
Its job? Collecting high-frequency data while orbiting Earth, helping scientists get a clearer picture of how radio waves travel through the ionosphere. This info is key to improving radar systems and communication networks back on the ground.
“The in-orbit outcomes from Buccaneer Main Mission will inform future space-based capability for Defence, and the technology and knowledge gained will be available for Australian industry for use in developing future capabilities,” Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, said.
The high-tech payloads on board were designed by Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), who also put the whole satellite together and made sure it was space-ready. They had solid backing from the Royal Australian Air Force and Space Command, working within Defence’s Joint Capabilities Group to get the job done.
Pulling off a mission like this takes teamwork, and collaboration with the defence industry was key to making the Buccaneer Main Mission a reality.
“The launch of the nanosatellite is a testament to the ingenuity of the Australian space industry and academia base, and demonstrates how Defence is harnessing the key expertise and facilities available on our home soil,” Professor Monro said.
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