The countdown has begun to the launch of Western Australia’s first space satellite, which will take off on the SpaceX CRS-23 commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. Binar-1 is the first integrated satellite fully designed and built in Western Australia, and is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral in the United States of America at 3:37pm on August 28 (AWST). A team of students and engineers at Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre developed the state-of-the-art Binar-1 CubeSat.
“Western Australia is about to make history with the State’s first space mission. I am immensely proud of the students and engineers who have developed this amazing technology which opens so many doors for future missions and collaboration with the public and private sectors.” Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan commented “The Western Australian Government invested $500,000 into the Binar program and this launch demonstrates the importance of science, research and technology to the State economy and our role in the global space sector to create jobs of the future.”
“Binar-1 will take Australia into space and is a huge milestone for WA’s rich 60-year history in the space sector. This will be such a pivotal moment for our State – and is set to inspire future generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts.” WA Science Minister Roger Cook commented “Everyone in Western Australia should find time to tune into this historic launch and celebrate the achievements of this amazing feat.”
Minister Cook explained that Curtin used commodity electronics manufacturing processes to develop a cost-effective sovereign spacecraft, enabling easy access to space for students, researchers, industry and defence. After it is launched on August 28, WA’s first spacecraft will then be deployed into low-earth orbit from the International Space Station.
Minister Cook said that Binar-1 will validate the technology in space and lay the foundations for future Moon missions to locate and produce high resolution digital mapping of resources on the Moon’s surface. A total of seven Binar CubeSat launches are planned for this year and 2022. The Minister added that the technology is set to become the most validated and flight-proven Australian spacecraft, positioning WA as the national leader in the development and operation of active spacecraft.
The Minister said that over the past 18 months, the McGowan Government has committed more than $6.25 million to enhance the capability and capacity of WA’s space sector and support innovative jobs of the future.
