Written by Lara Zakhour and Tayla Oates
Adelaide based company, Paladin Space, will continue to work towards reducing space debris floating in Earth’s orbit to reduce risks of damage to spacecrafts – thanks to a $100,000 State Government grant.
Currently there is an estimated 9,000 metric tons of space debris including, defunct satellites, rocket parts, and much smaller items, orbiting Earth, travelling at speeds of 27,000 kilometres per hour, which is posing a risk to the long-term safety of space activities.
Susan Close MP, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science says SA is a “proud home to the nation-leading Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML)”.
“South Australia is leading the way in AI technologies, and Paladin Space is working with the Institute to develop its AI-enabled satellite that can capture and remove space debris” Susan added.
“It’s no surprise that this innovation has captured the attention of local and international investors and space organisations. I wish Paladin Space and all the other South Australian startups the very best for their upcoming US mission and business growth opportunities.”
Stephen Mullighan MP Treasurer, and Minister for Defence & Space Industries says this program is one of many government investments that will “continue to build our state’s – and our nation’s – innovative and world-class space capabilities”.
“This $100,000 grant will provide a boost for Paladin Space and the South Australian space sector and underscores the state’s position as a leading incubator for space technology. This support paves the way for a sustainable future in space and ensures South Australia remains at the forefront of this exciting industry” shares Stephen Mullighan.
Paladin Space will join eight other South Australian startups as part of an Australian delegation to the US from October 27th to November 2nd.
Sponsored by the SA Government and hosted by Tribe Global Ventures, Paladin Space will pursue significant business development opportunities, including meeting with Space X and NASA to pitch its debris removal technology.
Harrison Box, former graduate of UniSA’s Venture Catalyst Space Program and founder of Paladin Space, is developing the world-leading reusable space debris remover that will benefit commercial satellite owners, the defence industry and government space agencies.
“With an estimated 9,000 metric tons of space debris currently scattered in orbit, and moving at extremely high speeds, a piece as small as a pen lid could easily damage any satellite in its way and put astronauts at risk” Box said.
Working with the AIML, Paladin Space will use a $100,000 Seed-Start grant to develop new image processing techniques using AI to help identify space debris. This grant will also help refine its novel capture design technology and finalise a prototype for demonstration by mid-2025, accelerating the pathway to market and attracting further investment funding.
Seed-Start provides grant funding for high-growth potential businesses through the South Australian Government’s Research and Innovation Fund.
With SpaceX’s world’s first catch-landing of their rocket booster, this is a major step forward into creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable way of space travelling.
Learn more about Paladin Space here.
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