UNSW Canberra furthers Space
Domain Awareness collaboration with Clearbox Systems
2.09.20
UNSW Canberra and Canberra based
SME Clearbox Systems have been successful in securing
additional Commonwealth funding to continue their
collaborative research program.
The next phase of research will see
experts from UNSW Canberra Space work alongside Clearbox
Systems to study and identify opportunities for passive
radio frequency (RF) signal monitoring to support
capabilities in Space Domain Awareness (SDA).
The key activities undertaken will
be focused on assembling prototype passive RF sensing
hardware from commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components
and analysing its performance.
The team will also advise on
concepts and techniques for storage of passive RF
sensing data in a way that would be compatible with the
broad Space Situational Awareness (SSA) community.
UNSW Canberra Space researcher,
Associate Professor Andrew Lambert said that it is
expected that there will be at least a 20-fold increase
in the number of active Low Earth Orbit satellites in
the next 5 years, and a similar increase in the total
mass in low earth orbit.
“It is wise to develop a variety of
capabilities to monitor their health and interaction. We
are pleased to continue our collaborations with Defence
related industry through the UNSW Defence Research
Institute.
“This collaboration furthers
progress in a priority area for the Australian space
research community. We are glad to be working with
Clearbox Systems on this project which is focused on
delivering real world solutions by addressing user needs
and opportunities,” he said.
Jeremy Hallett, Executive Director
of Clearbox Systems, said the company is excited to be
working again with UNSW Canberra Space, and sees this
project as further establishing Australia, and Canberra,
as a world leader in SDA.
“We have numerous programs underway
with UNSW Canberra. They are an indispensable academic
partner as we drive commercialisation of our Space
Domain Awareness technologies,” he said.
The funding was awarded as part of
the Innovation Connections grant program. Innovation
Connections assists businesses to understand their
research needs, connect with the research sector and
fund collaborative research projects.
The UNSW Defence Research Institute
facilitated the engagement with Clearbox Systems and
UNSW Canberra Space. The research institute continues to
provide liaison support and advice to Clearbox Systems
and UNSW Canberra Space on delivering key research
outcomes to support the national interest.
VADM (ret’d) Paul Maddison,
Director of the UNSW Defence Research Institute, said
this project highlights the role that research plays in
developing innovative capabilities for Australian
industry and the wider Defence sector.
“Our relationship with Clearbox
Systems continues to grow from strength to strength.
Supporting UNSW researchers and Australian industry
partners in delivering capability to meet global
challenges is fundamental to our mission at the Defence
Research Institute.” he said.
UNSW Canberra Space is a
world-class team with facilities to enable end-to-end
space mission capability. From its base at UNSW
Canberra, the team play a leading role in shaping and
developing the Australian space industry to meet global
challenges.
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