The Kanyini satellite, a pioneering project hailing from South Australia, has concluded its Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) testing, marking a crucial step forward ahead of its anticipated launch in mid-2024.
Conducted at the National Space Test Facility at the Australian National University in Canberra, the ESS testing aimed to validate the satellite’s resilience to the demanding conditions of space.
This milestone underscores the satellite’s capability to endure the harsh physical and environmental challenges it will encounter throughout its operational tenure, the government said in a media release.
Built entirely in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen, Kanyini underwent a two-week testing period, subjecting it to extreme temperature variations, intense vibrations, and vacuum conditions.
Despite these extreme conditions, the satellite remained fully operational, demonstrating its robustness and reliability.
Minister for Defence and Space Industries Susan Close said the construction of Kanyini exemplifies the collaborative efforts and expertise within South Australia’s space industry, leading to significant advancements in local capabilities.
“We are excited about the possibilities that Kanyini holds both in terms of building space heritage for South Australian space companies and the information it will provide to benefit our communities and services here in South Australia,” Minister Close noted.
With the successful completion of the System Integration Review, the local South Australian mission team is now gearing up for the final manufacturing phase, preparing for the impending launch.
Upon deployment into orbit, Kanyini’s dual payloads, encompassing IoT and imaging capabilities, will provide invaluable space data to governmental and research institutions.
This data will play a crucial role in expanding knowledge, particularly in sustainability and climate impact assessment.
Featuring advanced onboard processing capabilities and powered by Hyperscout 2 imager technology alongside cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence algorithms, Kanyini enables real-time data processing in space.
This capability supports swift decision-making for critical applications such as early detection of bushfires and a myriad of other services.
The Kanyini mission is the result of a collaborative effort between the South Australian Government, the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, Adelaide-based satellite manufacturer Inovor Technologies, and global IoT provider Myriota.
The satellite is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-11 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.
