Space Machines Company has announced the successful launch of Optimus, Australia’s largest-ever private satellite and the company’s first Orbital Servicing Vehicle.
The in-orbit satellite embarked on its journey aboard a SpaceX’ Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California during the Transporter-10 mission.
Weighing a whopping 270 kilograms, the launch marks a major milestone for Australia’s sovereign space capabilities and the broader space industry.
As the first Australian commercial satellite capable of providing existing space infrastructure and satellites with life-extension services, inspections and assistance on-orbit, Optimus heralds the beginning of a new era in space sustainability.
Rajat Kulshrestha, Space Machines Company CEO celebrated the successful mission which brings the company one step closer to its vision of robotic satellites sustaining our space infrastructure.
“The successful launch of Optimus opens up new possibilities for how satellites are launched and operated. We believe it will transform the economics of space infrastructure,” he said
“As the foundational asset in our architecture of servicing vehicles designed to repair, refuel, upgrade and relocate other satellites, Optimus enables us to provide services to extend satellite lifetimes, reduce space debris and sustainably scale space activities.”
With the Optimus now in orbit, Space Machines Company looks forward to leveraging its capabilities to support a wide range of applications and drive further advancements in space technology.
The launch’s success exemplifies the power of innovation and commitment in pushing the limits and opening up new frontiers for the future of space exploration.
