The National Space Qualification Network evolved from the desire to provide a high-quality sovereign space qualification service to help grow the Australian Space Manufacturing Industry. The consortium of six founding partners – The Australian National University, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Steritech, University of Wollongong Australia, Saber Astronautics, and Nova Systems – came together to drive the vision of Australian-led and managed space testing facilities.
To help Australian industry successfully launch their products into space requires the highest level of reliability for mission success in extreme environments. The NSQN will provide a combined total of $1 billion dollars of space qualification infrastructure for immediate, cost-effective testing and accelerated space mission design and delivery.
The new radiation capabilities are world-leading and will accelerate Australian space manufacturing growth, which drives the increased international competitiveness for Australian space technology.
With the NSQN, businesses can boost space mission assurance and success through knowhow, rigorous testing, and qualification right here in Australia.
The NSQN is supported by funding from the Australian Space Agency’s Space Infrastructure Fund and the ACT Government.
Mission goals
Build the next generation of Australian space testing qualification capabilities and drive and shape space testing education and culture
Founding Partners
- The Australian National University
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
- Steritech
- University of Wollongong Australia
- Saber Astronautics
- Nova Systems
Milestones
- The NSQN is already a cornerstone for the majority of Australian missions active in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including significant missions like UNSW-Canberra's Space M2/M3, Optimus platform of Space Machines Company, Fleet Space Technologies, and Skykraft, to name a few.
- In August 2023, the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with Inovor Technologies, Neumann Space, and Nova Systems, concluded the final space environmental testing of the SpIRIT satellite at the NSTF and launched successfully in December 2023. The Space Machines Company conducted space environmental testing of their Optimus spacecraft at the NSTF which successfully launched March 2024.
Breaking news
NSTF featured as an ASA Project in Action
24-10-2024When companies launch advanced technology into orbit, you might wonder: how can they be sure it’ll work when it gets up there and experiences space for the first time? Well, The Australian National University has thought about exactly that – and created the National Space Test Facility (NSTF) in Mount Stromlo, near Canberra.