Gilmour, Macquarie Uni partner to develop thermal camera for space

Gilmour Space Technologies and Macquarie University have announced a partnership to develop and manufacture infrared sensors to be included on a satellite scheduled for launch in late-2023.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gilmour said Macquarie’s Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) team was internationally-recognised for its work on precision instrumentation for telescopes. 

AAO Project Lead Dr Lee Spitler said the team will develop the thermal camera payload for integration with Gilmour’s G-Class satellite.

“The data collected from the thermal camera payload will allow the exploration of a new approach to collecting imaging data,” added Spitler.

“The agreement marks an exciting new chapter for the AAO, as our team of experts can expand their skills and remits to support the growing interest in space exploration.”

Program Manager for Satellites at Gilmour Space, Shaun Kenyon, said their “new Australian-made thermal space imager… could be used for many different applications, including water quality monitoring, bushfire detection, weather monitoring, and more.”

Gilmour was awarded a $15 million contract by the previous government in May during the election campaign. The contract was to develop a “G-class satellite for Defence and [to launch] it on our Eris rocket from an Australian launch site” said CEO Adam Gilmour at the time.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour was established in 2013 by Adam and his brother James.

It is developing a launch site at Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland, with plans for a maiden orbital launch of its Eris rocket in early-2023.

Picture: supplied