Advanced Navigation to manufacture photonic chip

AI robotics and navigation technology manufacturer Advanced Navigation has been awarded a grant by the Australian Department of Defence to develop manufacturing capability for photonic chips. Australia does not have commercial manufacturing capability for photonic chips which contain circuits using light transmission and receival – a laser is a photonics device. Advanced Navigation is the…

Space Machines Company used Siemens software to create new OSV

Space “roadside assistance” startup Space Machines Company (SMC) and engineering firm Siemens have shared details of SMC’s use of Siemens Xcelerator software portfolio to create an Orbital Servicing Vehicle (OSV), described as “one of the largest commercial spacecrafts” made in Australia. Last month SMC announced assembly and integration of all hardware for the 270 kilogram…

Space Machines Company purchases navigation system from Inovor

Space logistics business Space Machines Company has announced a purchase of Inovor Technologies’ navigation system, Star Tracker, which will be integrated into SMC’s orbital servicing vehicle, Optimus.  Star Tracker “will play a pivotal role in enhancing the navigation capabilities of Optimus” according to SMC, which plans to provide transportation and other in-space services following its…

Space manufactured drugs could touch down in SA

South Australia could become part of the in-space manufacturing industry after Varda Space Industries and Southern Launch announced a partnership to conduct space capsule re-entry operations at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. Torrance, California-based Varda are developing orbital manufacturing and space re-entry systems, utilising the space environment’s advantages including microgravity and vacuum. Varda…