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SmartSat announced the initiation of four new space research projects, funded jointly with New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and opened additional funding opportunities for future projects. These projects, starting in August 2024, include monitoring methane emissions, enhancing real-time greenhouse gas monitoring, managing free space optical communication nodes across Australia and New Zealand, improving the tracking of space objects, and developing a joint Australia-New Zealand concept for maritime domain awareness.
The CEO of SmartSat CRC highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating that the partnership between Australia and New Zealand in the space sector exemplifies a commitment to leveraging combined strengths and resources. He noted that these projects demonstrate a shared vision of driving innovation and developing capabilities that benefit both countries and contribute to global advancements in space technology.
The partnership between SmartSat and MBIE aims to establish lasting collaborations between Australian and New Zealand researchers, creating platforms for larger-scale future research collaborations. This initiative seeks to develop talent, joint expertise, and support research and development in alignment with industry and end-user needs. Additionally, the research addresses major environmental, economic, and social challenges through scientific collaboration, leveraging the unique geographical advantages of Australia and New Zealand, such as the southern hemisphere location, clear skies, and varied topography.
The Chief Research Officer of SmartSat CRC stated that initiatives like this are essential for fostering the development of space technology and amplifying its impact to solve environmental, economic, and social challenges on Earth.
Alongside announcing the initial projects, SmartSat opened a call for submissions for further research funding opportunities under the program. SmartSat CRC and MBIE invite proposals for collaborative six-month feasibility studies, offering up to AU$ 100,000 for Australia-based research activities or up to NZ$100,000 for New Zealand-based research activities. This funding opportunity aims to harness complementary resources and expertise to develop innovative research and development projects in Earth Observation, driving the growth of the space industry in both countries.
Eligible for public and private Australian and New Zealand research organisations, these projects should align with industry and end-user needs, addressing major environmental, economic, and social challenges. For more information and proposal submissions, interested parties are encouraged to visit the SmartSat CRC website. Additional details are available on the MBIE website.
The funded projects include:
- Verifying MethaneSat Livestock Methane Emission Estimates in New Zealand and Australia Using Ground and Airborne Observations:
- Collaborators: University of New South Wales, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), University of Wollongong.
- Objective: This project aims to utilise ground and airborne observations to verify MethaneSat’s livestock methane emission estimates in New Zealand and Australia. It seeks to improve real-time monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, providing valuable data for carbon accounting and emission reduction strategies.
- A Feasibility Study into the Governance and Management of a Network of Free Space Optical Communication Nodes Across Australia and New Zealand:
- Collaborators: University of South Australia, University of Auckland.
- Objective: This study explores the governance and management of a network of free space optical communication nodes across Australia and New Zealand, addressing technical and operational challenges of Earth-to-space optical communications.
- Supporting the SatPing Initiative with Observation, Modelling, and Hardware Development:
- Collaborators: Curtin University, Nova Systems, University of Auckland.
- Objective: This project aims to develop observation modelling and hardware for the SatPing initiative, which seeks to enhance space situational awareness by improving the tracking of objects in Earth’s orbit.
- Monitoring the Southern Indo-Pacific from Space – The Takahē Mission:
- Collaborators: SmartSat CRC, Restore Lab.
- Objective: This project focuses on developing a joint Australia-New Zealand mission concept for maritime domain awareness, advancing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technologies for environmental and security monitoring.
Through these initiatives, SmartSat CRC and MBIE are set to drive significant advancements in space technology, fostering collaboration, and innovation, and addressing critical global challenges.
