Ryan McClenaghan (ILF2022)
@AuManufacturing
Nanosatellite company Fleet Space Technologies has been awarded a$6.4 million contract with Australia’s new Defence Space Command agency to develop and demonstrate a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications system “focused on tactical communications and data transmission where connectivity is limited.”
The contract is the first in defence for Fleet, which manufactures satellites for industrial internet of things connectivity applications and for mineral exploration.
Fleet is leading a team for the ASCEND2LEO project, which will use the company’s Centauri satellites, operating about 580 km from Earth. The consortium includes Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Fleet Space Technologies, University of South Australia, Rice Satcom Pty Ltd and SmartSat CRC.