This year SmartSat celebrates its fifth year of achievements thanks to the support of our partners and the Cooperative Research Program; In this Annual Report we take the opportunity to look back on our achievements during the 2023/2024 operational year.

This financial year started with a bang, with the launch of SCARLET-α, a $7 million project to develop new autonomous spacecraft using artificial intelligence. This project, a collaboration between SmartSat and eight of our key partners with support from the Federal Government’s CRC Program, was the flagship of a suite or projects under the SCARLET Laboratory, which we also officially launched this year.

We continued to strengthen our collaborative relationships with international partners, starting with an agreement with European Space Agency’s Φ-lab to collaborate on Earth Observation research, enabling us to further showcase our nation’s expertise on a global scale. The agreement opened the door for us to fund two of our PhD candidates, Nermine Hendy and Brandon Victor, to complete a three-month internship at Φ-lab. On the other side of the world, PhD candidates Emily Ahern and Anne Bettens were working under the mentorship of the team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Our PhD students represent the next generation of Australian space scientists and engineers, and by offering them opportunities such as these to launch their space careers, SmartSat is preparing the next generation to transform Australia into a high-tech space nation.

We started the calendar year off strong with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Zealand Space Agency to accelerate the growth of Australian and New Zealand space industries. This agreement has since resulted in joint-funding for four space research projects, as well as an open call for feasibility studies with up to AUD $100,000 available for Australia-based research activities, or up to NZD $100,000 for New Zealand-based research activities.

Back home, we were proud to support the Australian Capital Territory’s new space strategy through a suite of R&D projects and university appointments, bringing our total investment in the state to over $7 million. We also increased our support in New South Wales through the NSW Space+ Program, offering grants up to $500,000 to local businesses looking to commercialise their innovative capabilities.

This funding call followed SmartSat backing the $2.3 million In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) project, led by University of Sydney and supported by NSW-based industry partners Abyss Solutions, ANT61, Space Machines Company, Sperospace and Spiral Blue.

SmartSat’s second Defence & National Security Showcase was held in Canberra in August, welcoming key stakeholders from defence, the broader national security community and industry to receive an update on our relevant research projects and strategic direction. The event included a research project highlight session, followed by a showcase event that provided a more strategic view of Defence interests in space technology and innovation and how SmartSat supports the national enterprise.

We were grateful to be able to bring our broader community together once again for the SmartSat CRC Annual Conference 2023, hosted at the magnificent Australian National Wine Centre. This year’s theme was ‘Delivering Value for our partners and impact for our nation’ and through the more than 50 presentations delivered by our researchers, industry partners and PhD students, SmartSat demonstrated that it is well and truly delivering on this theme. I was very proud to witness some amazing technologies showcased by our industry and research providers and was truly inspired by our doctoral student presentations, which were a testament to the hard work and passion that drives this sector.

This year we saw Kanyini take its final steps towards launch, with the satellite passing its final regime of testing before being packaged up for delivery to the Launch Service Provider. Although the launch of Kanyini took place after the end of this reporting year, I am delighted to report that it was successfully launched onboard the Space X Transporter 11 from the Vandenburg Air Force Base in California, US. It is now being commissioned and all systems are thus far working outstandingly well. A program of research projects has been initiated aimed at developing applications for a number of South Australian Government departments.

This year also saw some significant changes to the SmartSat team. In April, we farewelled our Principal Earth Observation Scientist, Dr Jasmine Muir, who has since taken on a new role at Landgate as the Spatial Architect in the Western Australian Digital Twin project. Jasmine made a great contribution to SmartSat during her time here, not only as an expert in Earth Observation but also as a valuable team member. We also welcomed on board out new Commercial Director, Cameron Stephenson. Responsible for SmartSat’s finance and business development activities, Cameron is an internationally experienced finance and commercial executive, having held senior roles across Asia, Europe and Australia in the IT sector.

Finally, we welcomed our new Strategic Advisor, Lieutenant General (USAF Ret’d) Larry James to the team. Larry will also be employed by Monash University as a Distinguished Professor of Space Research and Innovation. This appointment will build on our existing relationships with our counterparts in the US, providing strong opportunities in the US for SmartSat and the
broader Australian Space ecosystem.

Through our partners, SmartSat continues to contribute to the growth of the space industry, and we will continue to seek opportunities for collaboration with our key stakeholders, including Defence, the Australian Space Agency, the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia as well as many other key contributors to other sectors of the economy, such as the research and development corporations. Our focus remains on delivering impact and value for our partners and stakeholders, and we are grateful to our partners for your support as we continue to deliver value to our nation through our great R&D projects and technology maturation initiatives.

Professor Andy Koronios
SmartSat CEO & Managing Director