Insider Brief
- Safety from Space and AICRAFT, have each secured $100,000 in funding from the inaugural South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund.
- Safety from Space received funding to advance its Lunar Search and Rescue project. This system aims to locate and rescue astronauts stranded in remote areas on the moon.
- AICRAFT received funding for its ‘Leoflect’ project, which focuses on developing a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to create detailed images of Earth’s surface.
Two South Australian startups, Safety from Space and AICRAFT, have reportedly secured $100,000 in funding each from the inaugural South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund. The grants aim to accelerate the transition of space technology to operational use, focusing on projects with a clear commercial pathway.
Safety from Space received funding to advance its Lunar Search and Rescue (LunaSAR) project. This system aims to locate and rescue astronauts stranded in remote areas on the moon. The grant will support the trial of advanced satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities, marking the first Australian field trial of lunar distress beacons. The trial involves collaboration with NASA, The Mars Society, SmartSat CRC, UniSA, and Flinders University. Safety from Space aims to develop a lighter, more reliable radio beacon with longer battery life compared to current devices.
Mark Rice, founder of Safety from Space, emphasized the importance of ensuring astronaut safety during interplanetary exploration. He expressed gratitude for the South Australian government’s support, which enables the company to advance its groundbreaking communications technology.
AICRAFT received funding for its ‘Leoflect’ project, which focuses on developing a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to create detailed images of Earth’s surface. The project will use AI models for high-speed data processing and analysis in orbit. AICRAFT’s development will take place in partnership with India-based Guerin Technologies. The company aims to deliver the most compact SAR antenna and low-power onboard computer on the market.
AICRAFT CEO Tony Scoleri highlighted the significance of SAR data in various applications, including agriculture, forestry, glacier monitoring, maritime surveillance, and defense intelligence. He thanked the South Australian Government for the funding that will enable the rapid development of this crucial technology.
“South Australia is home to a long list of innovative projects that are driving economic benefits for our state and reinforce our position as a leader in the Defence and Space sectors.” Defence and Space Industries Minister Stephen Mullighan said. He noted that the grants would accelerate the development of advanced technologies and strengthen international partnerships and praised the collaborations with NASA and Guerin Technologies as examples of South Australia’s leadership in space innovation.
These grants represent a significant step forward for South Australia’s space sector, supporting innovative projects that could have a lasting impact on space technology and beyond.
Image credit: South Australian Space Industry Centre
Share this article:
