University of South Australia (UniSA) recently celebrated the opening of a new Advanced Manufacturing facility and revealed significant industry investment in four space research projects under the iLAuNCH Trailblazer.

With over $18 million granted in cash funding, these space and research projects underscore UniSA’s role in advancing the South Australian space industry through strong commercial partnerships.

Located at Stärke-AMG group’s VPG Innovation, in Adelaide’s Camden Park, the metal 3D printing facility will support the industry with rapid 3D printing of metals for space structures, housing machines capable of printing titanium and nickel alloys that are crucial in space technologies.

“As we transition from resource-intensive manufacturing to more research-driven and energy efficient processes, we will produce more high-value products,” SA Deputy Premier Susan Close says, during the opening ceremony. […] “The facility will support a world-class sovereign manufacturing capability that will create new jobs and lead to global exports within the space industry. It will add to our state’s competitive manufacturing advantage and will fill a critical gap in the burgeoning space sector.”

UniSA iLAuNCH lead Industry Professor Colin Hall says the SA projects represent a real opportunity for Australia to expand and develop its space engineering ecosystem.

The first four UniSA projects that have been announced under the iLAuNCH program include:

  • Additive Manufacture of space components using Electron Beam Melting Industry Partners: VPG Innovation, a part of Starke-AMG
  • Additive Manufacture of novel materials for optical components, and satellite sub-assemblies Industry Partners: SMR Automotive Australia and VPG Innovation
  • Development of an AI/ML-enabled space surveillance system for hypersonic missile defense Industry Partners: Northrop Grumman and Spiral Blue
  • Development and flight qualification for an Australian Radioisotope Heating Unit (RHU), supporting a thermal management technology platform for multiple lunar night survival Industry Partners: entX

Additional projects in areas such as Earth observation and optical communication will be announced in the coming weeks.

Backed by $50 million from the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, which boasts a total of $362.5 million, and further supported by a cumulative investment of $180 million in industry research, commercialization, and manufacturing, iLAuNCH is set to revolutionize Australia’s space sector.

The program focuses on developing commercially viable civil rockets, advanced rocket test and launch facilities, rapid satellite manufacturing, cutting-edge communication technologies, and integrated sensing systems.

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