South Australia's Kanyini satellite launched via SpaceX mission

In an unprecedented move for Australia, the satellite Kanyini, developed and manufactured in South Australia, was successfully launched into orbit. The satellite was onboard SpaceX's Transporter-11 mission, which took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. This marks the first State Government-funded satellite project in the nation, showcasing a collaborative effort from South Australian companies SmartSat CRC, Inovor, and Myriota.

The mission, valued at AUD $6.5 million, aims to foster job creation in South Australia's high-tech space sector and advance the state's space technology capabilities. Following the successful launch, the subsequent goal involves establishing stable communications with the satellite through an operations centre located at Inovor Technologies in Lot Fourteen, Adelaide.

Once operational, Kanyini is set to provide substantial data to government and research institutions, focusing on critical issues like sustainability and climate impacts. It is equipped with technology that can significantly enhance early bushfire detection, boasting the capacity to identify fires up to 500 times faster than traditional means. Additionally, the satellite will play a role in monitoring urban heat islands, a program spearheaded by the South Australian Department for Environment and Water and Greening Adelaide.

Kanyini's data will also contribute to developing advanced predictive AI capabilities. These capabilities, led by the Queensland University of Technology and the European Space Agency Phi-Lab, aim to forecast natural disaster events such as landslides and flooding accurately.

Stephen Mullighan, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, highlighted the importance of this milestone: "The launch of Kanyini is a significant milestone and pivotal step forward for South Australia's space sector, setting us up for further success on a global stage. We are excited for Kanyini to unlock more opportunities for research and development of innovative, sovereign Australian space technologies. This project will also inspire talented Australians to pursue a career in the space industry as engineers and future space leaders."

SmartSat CRC's Chief Executive Officer, Andy Koronios, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "The State's small satellite, Kanyini, has taken a giant leap for South Australia's space sector. The Kanyini mission is not just about sending a satellite into space; it’s about building South Australia's capabilities and contributing valuable data for applications that enhance our lives here in South Australia. We have now realised our mission of seeing homegrown South Australian space technologies launched into low Earth orbit. The coming months will be crucial as the team works to fully operationalise Kanyini and begin reaping the benefits of its data-gathering capabilities."

Dr Matt Tetlow, Chief Executive Officer of Inovor, also spoke about the collaborative efforts behind Kanyini's launch: "Putting anything into space is an extraordinary feat, and the success of this launch of the Kanyini satellite is an excellent achievement, not only for the Kanyini team, including Inovor, but also for the South Australian space sector as a whole. The collaborative effort from the whole mission team, including SmartSat CRC and Myriota, as well as the support from the South Australian Government, has been critical for the success of Kanyini."

Myriota's Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, Dr David Haley, commented on the technological and commercial implications of the satellite's successful deployment: "We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of Kanyini, marking another major milestone as we continue to deliver IoT connectivity globally. This launch is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Kanyini team in preparing the 6U CubeSat and our onboard IoT payload to withstand the harsh conditions of space. As part of Myriota's commercial IoT constellation, Kanyini will be instrumental in delivering critical field data to users across a range of key industries."

Kanyini's successful launch signifies a pivotal moment for South Australia’s space sector, promising new job creation, advanced research opportunities, and enhanced predictive capabilities for natural disaster management.