Over the past five years, Kanyini has delivered historic achievements as Australia’s first state government-funded satellite mission, marking a defining moment for the nation’s sovereign space capability.
Launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-11 mission in August 2024, Kanyini’s milestones include:
– Successfully launched a state-funded and built satellite and demonstrated it working on orbit.
– Achieved the majority of the technical objectives set out in the initial program once launched, including completing all commissioning activities.
– Demonstrated design and on-orbit operation of Myriota’s new IoT payload to successfully process signals and communicate IoT data from ground-based devices and sensors via the Myriota network.
– The key spacecraft bus components, including the Attitude Control, Flight Computer and Power Systems, successfully demonstrated their capabilities and continue to be fully operational.
– Demonstrated hyperspectral Earth observation imaging from orbit, Kanyini has captured over 50 images and delivered valuable data to SA Government partners and researchers.
Recently, the Kanyini space mission has encountered an unexpected technical anomaly during its operation, which will affect some of the mission’s planned extended research objectives.
The anomaly has compromised the satellite’s payload interface computer, and communication with the hyperspectral imager and IoT payloads is no longer possible. As a result, the Kanyini team will need to adjust some of the planned research pathways for the mission.
All other satellite systems remain fully operational, allowing engineers to continue to monitor and collect data, including Telemetry, Tracking and Control information.
The Kanyini engineering team is conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify and evaluate the anomaly, along with all potential causes and effects. The root cause is unknown; however, it appears to be solar radiation induced.
Acting Kanyini Mission Director Sarah Cannard said: “Despite this recent anomaly affecting Kanyini’s payload operations, the mission stands as a testament to Australia’s growing strength in space innovation, collaboration and talent development.
“While some of our research activities will not go ahead as planned and may need to utilise alternative data sources, we recognise that such challenges are a part of operating in an unpredictable space environment.
“The Kanyini mission team extends its deepest gratitude to its dedicated network of supporters, collaborators and partners for their tireless efforts on this mission. The team is determined to continue to push forward and build on the accomplishments this mission has initiated by exploring further research and experimentation.”
In order to support the objectives of research projects under Kanyini, opportunities and alternative systems are being put in place to with mission lead SmartSat CRC continuing to work with mission partners to ensure their continued success.
In addition to delivering major technical milestones, the Kanyini mission has had a huge impact on not only the South Australian space industry, but also our national space ecosystem.
– As the second satellite launch for Inovor Technologies, it has driven substantial growth in both technical expertise and workforce capability across advanced manufacturing, systems engineering, satellite integration, testing, and mission operations.
– The Kanyini mission has been instrumental in the development of seven separate SmartSat CRC projects, including international collaborations with the European Space Agency and NASA.
– The Kanyini mission has enabled Myriota to test and prove its in-house IoT payload in orbit, with the mission findings being applied to the development of the newest version of its IoT payload.
The Kanyini mission team are immensely proud of the historic achievements of this mission. Kanyini has already achieved its key mission objectives, from building local sovereign space capabilities to making profound impacts on the development of skills and know-how and creating local jobs.
The data collected by Kanyini will allow the continued development of valuable knowledge that will inform and strengthen future missions. Most importantly, this mission has successfully achieved its critical aims, including establishing space heritage for South Australian partners.
A collaboration between the South Australian Government, SmartSat, Myriota, and Inovor Technologies, the Kanyini mission demonstrates the value of such partnerships in fostering significant advancements in space technology research and development. The team remain committed to pushing towards achieving Australia’s ambitious growth goals in the space industry.
