|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Recent research from Curtin University could revolutionise space missions and enhance a variety of industries, including environmental management, agriculture, disaster response, and infrastructure inspection. Funded by the Australian Research Council, a team from Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences has developed innovative techniques for operating and monitoring small satellites, known as CubeSats.
The research team, led by Professor Ahmed El-Mowafy, created novel algorithms to leverage links between satellites, enabling precise determination of a CubeSat’s position, whether flying solo or in formation. This advancement addresses significant limitations associated with CubeSats, such as their small size and the impact of aerodynamic forces on their orbits. The new methods allow CubeSats to operate with greater autonomy, reducing the need for constant human intervention.
These enhancements make CubeSats easier to manage and capable of being guided and controlled in real-time, thus increasing their efficiency in space missions. The precision of CubeSat operations has improved dramatically, with accuracy now within a few centimetres, compared to the previous level of several meters.
Professor El-Mowafy highlighted the potential of these advancements to assist in climate change management and enhance industrial profitability. CubeSats have diverse applications in Earth and space science, from tracking land-use changes and pollution levels to supporting wildlife conservation efforts through habitat monitoring. For instance, farmers can utilise detailed crop monitoring data from CubeSats to make better-informed decisions regarding fertiliser application, water management, and harvest planning.
CubeSats also provides high-definition monitoring capabilities for infrastructure such as bridges, pipelines, and powerlines, improving asset management and accident prevention. Additionally, they can support disaster response by delivering targeted imagery of affected areas, facilitating more effective intervention strategies.
The resources industry can benefit from high-resolution mapping provided by CubeSats, aiding in the identification of mineral deposits and optimising extraction processes, thereby reducing costs and increasing success rates.
The innovations from this project are expected to see widespread use, from everyday applications to ambitious space exploration endeavours. The ability of CubeSats to operate independently and with high precision makes them valuable assets in large-scale space missions. For example, swarms of CubeSats can collaborate to capture detailed Earth imagery, a task that traditionally required a single, larger, and more expensive satellite.
This breakthrough in CubeSat technology, spearheaded by Curtin University, promises to enhance the functionality and efficiency of small satellites. By overcoming previous constraints and providing precise, real-time control, these advancements pave the way for more sophisticated and cost-effective space missions. Moreover, the broad applicability of CubeSats in various industries underscores their potential to drive significant improvements in environmental management, agriculture, disaster response, and infrastructure inspection.
Professor El-Mowafy’s team has not only pushed the boundaries of what CubeSats can achieve but also opened new possibilities for their use in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications. As a result, these innovations are poised to become increasingly integral to scientific research, industry operations, and space exploration efforts.
According to the analysis provided by their research analyst, the global aerospace and defence market is projected to grow at an annual compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.2% from 2023 to 2030. In terms of revenue, the market size, valued at around USD 750 billion in 2022, is expected to reach USD 1388 billion by 2030. Increased investment in the aerospace and defence sector is anticipated to drive this revenue growth.
Within the market, the defence segment is predicted to hold a significant market share over the forecast period. The autonomous segment, based on operation, is projected to experience the fastest growth rate during this time. Additionally, the weapon system segment, categorised by components, is expected to capture a notable market share. Regionally, North America is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period.
