UNSW Sydney buys nanosatellite bus from NanoAvionics for its Satellite Innovation Laboratory

17 February 2022

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, has contracted mission integrator NanoAvionics to build a nanosatellite bus for UNSW’s satellite innovation laboratory. As part of the collaboration, NanoAvionics will deliver a 6U nanosatellite bus fully assembled and tested on a functional level, ready for its research and educational purposes. Payload integration for laboratory testing, modifications, and mission operations validation will be carried out by UNSW Sydney.

The intended GNSS (global navigational satellite systems) payload named “Harry v2” will consist of two “KEA” GPS receivers, developed by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at UNSW, to perform remote Earth sensing operations using GPS reflectometry. Able to host multiple experiments, it will take measurements from reflections coming from the Earth while using navigation signals from other GPS satellites. The receivers, designed for both aircraft and CubeSat operations, are capable of recording intermediate frequency (IF) data and delay Doppler maps (DDM) with its associated metadata. The experiment data can be used to infer sea-state, wind speed, water-land boundaries and many other unexplored applications.

Dr. Joon Cheong, from UNSW Sydney, said: ”NanoAvionics offers a suite of state-of-the-art satellite buses that is cost-effective and suitable for modern payload research and development activities to take place.”

Vytenis J. Buzas, founder and CEO of NanoAvionics, said: “The Australian space market is of immense importance to us and we are looking into expanding our footprint there. We have been supplying Australian research centres and educational institutions with nanosatellite technology since the inception of the company. We keep nurturing these relationships by transferring our knowledge in nanosatellite technology with them.

“NanoAvionics is already working with several Australian companies, acting as a technology partner, with intentions to provide our satellites for institutional and commercial segments, mostly for Earth Observation and IoT missions. As a result, and due to Australia’s constant development in the space industry, NanoAvionics is exploring the possibility of establishing local capabilities in the region.”

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