The new Chippendale research and development facility was officially unveiled in the ‘heart of Sydney’s tech central', on March 4.
The laboratory is expected to promote Australia’s cutting edge capabilities in space traffic management, logistics, and mission critical software for allied partners, including the United States Space Force.
“New South Wales has got all the fundamentals to ensure that the space and the defence and aerospace industry continues to thrive not only for the state but also for the country as well,” according to Minister Chanthivong, speaking exclusively with Space Connect.
“Let’s not forget that 40 percent of the nation’s defence manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, actually happens right here in New South Wales.
“And I think the fundamentals of great research institutions, great research and development companies like Sabre Astronautics and others with a real passion for science and engineering and research and development means that New South Wales will continue to play a significant role when it comes to the advancement of Australia's space and defence and astronautical industry.
“Certainly we want more and more companies like Sabre Astronautics and others to plonk themselves right here in New South Wales, in particular in this part of New South Wales, really at the heart of tech central. Our great universities are down the road, UTS, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales. Lots of engineering, lots of science, our faculties and research, research and development that’s been done.
“A talented and intellectually capable workforce and student and research population; all those fundamentals are actually already here and we need to continue to support and empower those ahead for the future.”
Saber Astronautics chief executive officer Jason Held, speaking with Space Connect, said Sabre’s growth as a domestic space company founded in New South Wales highlights the state’s strength in working with startups.
Looking ahead, Sabre’s focus is on space logistics, civil space traffic management, and expanding space domain awareness into geostationary and cislunar regions, supporting both civil and military operations as satellite activity increases between Earth and the Moon.
Dr Held said that rather than relying on government grants, Sabre has focused on turning research and development into commercial products and securing customers, including contracts with NASA and the US Space Force.
“Space logistics is the way (forward for us). Civil space traffic management on the civil side. Space domain awareness on the military side has got to extend into geo and cislunar (high-interest region between Earth and the Moon),” he said.
“Low Earth orbit has become quite saturated both with satellites as well as satellite-as-a-service companies. And yet the way forward with this lab in particular is going to be focusing on supporting both civil and military tech that flies between the Earth and the moon.
“What's happening is all those Chinese and Russian and American satellites that are dancing with each other in the geo belt, some of them are flying outside halfway to the moon in that cislunar region, where the radars and telescopes find it hard to see.
“All militaries around the world are looking at satellites that can manoeuvre and manoeuvre quickly. And that's giving oomph to other companies, some of which you're actually finding in New South Wales… that's the push.”
“We're focusing on space traffic… Space logistics is a requirement. How do you move fuel from A to B without bringing it up from Earth? How do you monitor and track? How do you coordinate? It's not just identifying where a thing is, but extending that into actual decisions,” he said.
“And everything that's made out of here is going to deploy straight to the mission control out of the Space Agency headquarters. And directly into our products which deploy to thousands of operators around the world, including Space Force and NATO and multiple nations and allied countries.”
With advice for future space startups in NSW, Dr Held said Australia has traditionally struggled with commercialising space technology despite strong research and development, often requiring US validation before domestic adoption.
“That was my nightmare scenario when I founded this company… ‘It’s going to succeed in the US. Australia will only buy it after it sells in the US.’ Looks like there’s some element of truth there,” he said.
“The Australian defence typically won't trust their own market, unless the US provides that validation for the product, which has happened to us quite soundly.
“And Australia historically finds it difficult to set up acquisition systems which are unbiased towards the local market, where the local market can independently sell here.
“It's the reason why Australia is unique in OECD countries where we’re top ten in the world for space research and development, but we're dead last for commercialisation. Sabre kind of bucks that trend because of our success overseas and our ability to export. I think there are a couple of other companies that are finding that success as well.”