Spiral Blue Secures 2022 Orbital Launch With Space Machines Company

27th of October, 2021

Spiral Blue, has secured an orbital mission in 2022 with Space Machines Company. The Australian in-space logistics provider, Space Machines Company, will be launching Optimus-1 next year, its first orbital transfer vehicle. Amongst the new clients participating with Spiral Blue on the launch are three other Australian companies, Esper Satellite Imagery, Sperospace, and Dandelions.

Space Machines Company is an Australian startup that develops in-space logistics capabilities, including deploying satellites into desired orbits, servicing, powering and assembling space infrastructure and supporting deep space missions.

For the 2022 launch, Space Machines Company’s Optimus-1, will showcase the orbital transfer vehicle’s ability to deliver commercial satellites onto their orbital paths around Earth and deeper into space, and will enter into orbit using a Gilmour Space Technologies rocket.

As a part of this mission, Spiral Blue and Esper Satellite Imagery will work with each other to test a new approach to producing high definition satellite images and transfer of these images to Earth.

Esper will use hyperspectral imagery to gather images in wavelengths that allow the analysis of materials compositions, from minerals to plants. Spiral Blue will use artificial intelligence and edge computing to process the images with the combined technologies seeking to transform how space images help in areas such as agriculture, mining and environmental controls.

Having already built its own Space Edge Computer, Spiral Blue will use its onboard computer for Earth observation and use its AI to process and transfer these images faster.

Spiral Blue CEO, Taofiq Huq, said, “The launch with Space Machines Company will help us demonstrate our technology in space, allowing us to access domestic and international market opportunities for new space image applications.”

This mission will also be a vital test for Esper Satellite Imagery’s imaging technology capabilities, CEO of Esper, Shoaib Iqbal said. “This mission, in particular, will have a key focus on the agriculture and forestry industry while also covering other industries Esper currently serves.”

Earlier in August, Space Machines Company partnered with CSIRO for the Optimus-1 launch, giving Australia’s national science agency a test bed for its next generation flexible solar cell technology.

“We are excited to announce the partnerships with each organisation”, Space Machines Company CEO, Rajat Kulshrestha said,  “as we continue to strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability while collaboratively working together to launch Optimus successfully.”

Space Machines Company is an Australian startup that is developing in-space transportation capabilities to cost-effectively insert small satellites into desired low earth orbits (LEO), geostationary earth orbits (GEO) and lunar orbits. Space Machines Company has contracted Gilmour Space Technologies to launch the largest commercial satellite built in Australia next year to test their platform.

Spiral Blue was recently a recipient of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant, a grant which supports the Australian space industry to build capacity to deliver products and services into domestic and/or international space industry supply chains that could support Moon to Mars activities. This grant is supporting the development of Spiral Blue’s Space Edge Services platform. The company is also developing its Vessel Detect maritime surveillance algorithm under a Defence Innovation Hub contract.