Skykraft to upgrade SmallSat Earth observation

Australian space services company Skykraft will begin work on a $1.76 million project to upgrade its proprietary Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) which will significantly improve satellite pointing accuracy.

The company, which has received funding support from the Australian Space Agency through it’s Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement programme, will upgrade the company’s satellite platform to support Earth Observation (EO) instruments, including hyperspectral cameras.

Skykraft specialises in the design, manufacture and operation of SmallSat constellations and is currently focused on delivering global, real-time, uninterrupted Air Traffic Management (ATM) services from a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft.

The project will equip the platform with a high fidelity and accurate pointing system, as well as upgrading capacity, skills and capabilities to participate in domestic and international supply chain opportunities.

The upgraded ADCS will also enable a commercial platform capable of a mission to the Moon.

The upgraded ADCS will be flown on Skykraft spacecraft in 2023 for flight qualification to achieve Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 9.

Picture: Skykraft

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.