In a boost to local space innovation, South Australian company, entX has secured $200,000 under the second round of the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund.
The funding will help entX fast-track the commercialisation of their prototype Radioisotope Heating Unit (RHU) in collaboration with Japan’s leading international lunar exploration company, ispace.
The RHU is a breakthrough device designed to shield and protect spacecraft components during the extreme cold of the lunar night, where temperatures can reach minus 190 degrees celsius. The unit offers a safer, more cost-effective and accessible alternative heat source compared to traditional solutions, potentially extending the lifespan of lunar missions from 10 days to a few months.
A recent Memorandum of Understanding inked by entX and Japan’s ispace will see the two companies working together to further develop, test and demonstrate the technology, with the intention of bringing it to market.
entX Managing Director Bryn Jones welcomed the grant’s contribution to helping entX expand opportunities for the project on the global stage.
“This support from the South Australian government will enable us to work closely with ispace to investigate the feasibility of integrating our RHU into future lunar missions,” Mr Jones said.
The international partnership is an exciting step forward, demonstrating the innovative capability of South Australian industry in addressing critical space challenges and reinforcing the state’s position as a key player in the global space industry.
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A collaboration between the South Australian Space Industry Centre and Defence Innovation Partnership, the South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund was launched in 2024 to accelerate the development of local space innovations and collaboration with international partners.
Learn more about the fund at sasic.sa.gov.au/space-fund
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Photo: (L-R) ispace Director & CFO Jumpei Nozaki and entX Limited Managing Director Bryn Jones.
