The launch of a nation-leading Space Optics Lab in Adelaide is bringing together researchers, scientists, and space industry professionals to accelerate the development of ideas into real-world space applications to solve problems on Earth.
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO’s purpose-built Space Optics Lab on Kintore Avenue boasts world-class specialised equipment plus calibration and test facilities to support the rigorous testing of space-qualified optical payloads and accelerate their path to space.
Applications for the technologies developed in-lab include hyperspectral imaging systems for monitoring water quality and the potential to support future defence and military missions that require precision optics.
Dr Craig Ingram, CSIRO Senior Research Scientist and Project Lead for Satellite Optical Systems, said Adelaide was the ideal location for the national laboratory.
“It’s a great alignment in South Australia with the Australian Space Agency being based at Lot Fourteen as well as many other national and international space companies setting up shop here – it opens opportunities for collaboration,” said Dr Ingram.
“We pride ourselves on being a one-stop-shop for R&D with the focus on moving solutions from the lab to industry for a real-world impact.”
The CSIRO Space Lab Team recently celebrated the success of seeing their CyanoSense II hyperspectral imager payload successfully integrated into the 100-kilogram satellite bus, ElaraSat, built by Gilmour Space, and launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California, USA.
“The payload was designed and built in Australia and is currently on-orbit – we will start commissioning it soon and look forward to sharing the first images once received,” said Dr Ingram.
“Although the CyanoSense II payload was developed to detect and quantify cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, we will be using it to image the current bloom in the gulf of South Australia to determine its usefulness in monitoring the situation.”
Dr Ingram said the team had outgrown the previous CSIRO Space Lab, located within the University of Adelaide precinct for the past five years, and that the new facility was better suited to advancing Australia’s sovereign space manufacturing potential.
“The new facility includes world-class optical metrology systems, rapid prototyping facilities, an ISO 7 cleanroom for assembly and integration, and a thermal vacuum chamber with an optical port – all of these are vital to support our ambition to undertake cutting-edge research and development for space-based optical systems.”
The official launch of the CSIRO Space Optics Lab was held in mid-June during Australian Space Week and was attended by representatives from industry, academia, and government including the Australian Space Agency.
