Nova Systems opens space ground station

Defence engineering and technology group Nova Systems has inaugurated its Space Precinct in mid-north South Australia and announced a new collaboration agreement with European space company Leaf Space.

The 21-hectare site outside the former railway town of Peterborough supports several international space and technology companies and the Australian Space Agency with data download needs for satellites.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall officially opened the Nova Systems’ Space Precinct and said: “This unique ground station hosts world leading technology connecting satellites to Earth and supports the state’s plan to grow its presence in the $500 billion-a-year global space sector.”

Nova Systems CEO Jim McDowell (pictured) said more than half a million dollars had been invested into Peterborough since 2019.

Nova Systems successfully acquired Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) licensing in commercial UHF, S and X-band for the Peterborough location and is connecting fibre to the site which will increase the commercial and government client base.

The site supports international ground stations for clients including Tyvak USA, RBC USA, and Leaf Space Italy.

It also is earmarked to host Nova Systems’ Passive Array Sensor solution as part of its offering for the Defence Space Situational Awareness Project JP9360 in an all-Australian collaboration with Curtin University.

The site will also accommodate the UHF terminal that is part of the Nova Systems’ Autonomous Intelligent Ground Station System (NAIGS) being developed as part of the Australian Space Agency’s funded Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal (SpIRIT) Satellite Project.

McDowell said: “The continued development and future success of the Peterborough site is testament to our space capability, made up of satellite communications and space specialists working at the forefront of industry.

“Our team has a broad range of skills that cover the gamut of design, engineering, integration, installation, launch, communications, test and commissioning.”

Picture: Nova Systems CEO Jim McDowell

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