New ANU agreement to strengthen Australian space industry

This endeavour will provide a significant new pathway to answering important questions in environmental science, defence, space physics and astronomy. The ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) will reinforce its position at the centre of the national space industry with a new agreement with UNSW Canberra on building and testing satellites and space instruments. The new agreement will boost the role of the Advanced Instrumental Technology Centre (AITC) at ANU as a key national resource for Australia's space industry. The AITC at the ANU Mount Stromlo Observatory hosts Australia's most sophisticated space testing facility, including complex equipment that can reproduce the vibration shock of rocket launches and the temperature extremes experienced in the vacuum of space. The AITC is a global leader in the design and fabrication of state-of-the-art optical and laser instrumentation and scientific payloads, with a history of more than 30 years participating in major international space missions. The UNSW Canberra team will contribute an impressive set of engineering and technical skills, including their experience with CubeSats - a miniaturised satellite system for space research. Together, the collaborating institutions will provide an end-to-end capability for mission and payload design, assembly and testing.