- Three satellites (CubeSats) from Curtin University's Binar space program launched
- CubeSats to be delivered to the International Space Station onboard a SpaceX rocket
- Cook Government has committed $3 million to support the Binar CubeSat program
Western Australia's space industry continues to take off with the latest launch overnight of three locally built satellites, called CubeSats.
Science Minister Stephen Dawson said the satellites from Curtin University's Binar space program were carrying instrumentation from CSIRO and Perth-based communications systems company AVI.
This is the first time a Western Australian business has sent its goods into space.
AVI is sending transmitters while the CSIRO is testing how new materials can protect electronics against harmful radiation in space.
The CubeSats (Binar-2,3 and 4), launched from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, were carried onboard a SpaceX rocket heading for the International Space Station (ISS) as a part of a resupply mission.
It's expected to take around 24 hours for the rocket to reach the ISS and then the CubeSats will be released into a Low Earth Orbit a few weeks later.
The CubeSats will orbit the earth approximately every 90 minutes for 6-12 months at 400km above the planet's surface.
The Cook Government has committed $3 million to support the Binar CubeSat Space Program. In August 2021 Binar-1 became the first ever WA-made satellite to be launched into space.
For more information see: https://www.binarspace.com/about-binar/
As stated by Science Minister Stephen Dawson:
"This is another giant leap for WA's space industry with this latest launch of three CubeSats from the Curtin University Binar space program.
"This a milestone achievement with three satellites successfully taking off on a SpaceX rocket last night, carrying instrumentation from a Perth based business. This is the first time locally built goods have been sent into space.
"This latest launch is further proof of our Government's commitment to grow our local space industry as we position the state to become a major player on the international stage.
"There is little doubt that WA is the place for space."
