ACCELERATING AUSTRALIA'S
NEWSPACE ECOSYSTEM
ACCELERATING AUSTRALIA'S
NEWSPACE ECOSYSTEM
Since January 2016, Australian space startups Saber Astronautics, Myriota, Fleet Space, Gilmour Space Technologies, Hypercubes, Cuberider, Neumann Space, and Earth-AI have raised nearly A$20m in private angel and venture funding from firms such as Blackbird Ventures, Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes' Grok Ventures, 500Startups, and many others. Another 20 NewSpace and Spatial startups self-identified over this same period. In March 2017, the Space Industry Association of Australia released a white paper calling on the Australian government to institute a proper space industry policy. Watch the Sky News report of 21st March 2017 featuring 5-time Australian astronaut Andy Thomas calling for an Australian Space Agency to unlock our burgeoning potential.
In December 2016, Delta-V member Cuberider made history by sending the first ever Australian payload to the ISS. And on April 19th, 2017, Delta-V founding teams and members ACSER UNSW and Sydney University SpaceNet, along with teams from ANU, Adelaide University, and UniSA launched three Australian-built research Cubesats into orbit as part of the Cygnus OA-7 and QB50 missions, the first Australian-made spacecraft to travel into space since 2002. The same launch also the US Biarri Point satellite which as part of its payload has GPS technology developed by ACSER UNSW in partnership with UNSW Canberra's space engineering team and the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group.
On the opening day of the 2017 International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, 25th September 2017, the Australian Federal Government announced they would establish an Australian Space Agency which is fantastic news for the sector.
Space 2.0: CNBC calls it the "next internet". Lightweight, 3-D-printed, miniaturised satellites – up to 1000x cheaper. Low-cost, re-usable launch systems. Startups using smart sensors, machine learning, big data, autonomous robots... to create new solutions to big problems on Earth – from Space.
Recent announcements of large-scale constellations by OneWeb (648 spacecraft) and SpaceX (over 4,000 - see article), has doubled 2014 forecasts of "2,750 small satellites launched by 2020 worth $1.9bn". We're now forecasting over 5,000 spacecraft to be built and launched over the next 5 years with investment since 2013 now pushing north of $5bn.
Australia's FIRST Space Startup Accelerator
Australia's FIRST Space Startup Accelerator
Our vision is to create a new industry ecosystem drawing together fragmented groups – SMEs, university and industry R&D teams, startups, students, local, state and federal governments, and big companies – around a theme of deliberate entrepreneurship. We aim to unlock infrastructure, flight opportunities, talent, and technology to drive and business and export innovation. Working together with mentors, investors and customers to bootstrap an Australian export-focused hi-tech space services & manufacturing industry within the burgeoning global Space 2.0 marketplace.
Four local Australian space teams stepped forwards to make this vision a reality – two startups and two from university:
The Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) at UNSW
The SpaceNet Project at Sydney University
Delta-V aims to create innovative new space- and earth-system solutions for customers worldwide through activating talent, unlocking support, and connecting groups together to build value and industry momentum. So far, we've:
Run outreach programs via event series such as OrbitOz (http://orbitoz.com)
Fostered connections between different teams, leading to a number of successes:
Startup Cuberider gaining entry to the Telstra muru-D accelerator, leading to successful seed investment
Teams from UNSW, ANU, Sydney University, Adelaide University and UniSA joining forces on QB50 cubesat development and testing, with three spacecraft launched successfully on April 19th, 2017
Startup Fleet Space partnering with Saber Astronautics to provide global spectrum coverage analysis
Startup FluroSat gaining a place in the Rural.XO program with the Cotton Research Development Corporation
Provided due-diligence advice to investors in space startups, contributing to over $8m of successful raises.
Deep-tech entrepreneurship
In-orbit technology readiness
Global space solutions market validation & traction
Next-generation mission design and control
Robotics & machine learning
Small satellite system design, rapid prototyping and lean manufacturing for higher reliability
Reduction in space debris
Space-qualified 3-D & electronics printing
Space operations and diagnostics
Earth & space sensors and systems
Vehicle launch, retrieval, and de-orbit
STEM (Science | Technology | Engineering | Maths) education
Export-focused collaboration and innovation
STARTED In Australia
STARTED In Australia
Space-dedicated incubators now exist in San Francisco, London, Colorado, Houston and Florida. Sydney is a rapidly growing startup hub with world-class universities, technical talent, business expertise, and capital.
Delta-V will encourage space startup clusters across Australia and the wider region, allowing it to tap into Australia – and indeed the entire Asia-Pacific region’s – most successful and innovative universities, firms and talent to create a world-class space industry ecosystem.
The Delta-V Space Hub HQ is located on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land who have an ancient 50,000 year+ history in astronomy. Most of all, we pay respect to our Elders, past and present.