University Partners’ Capabilities

The University of Sydney undertakes fundamental and applied research in the areas of space and planetary sciences. This includes significant research programs in astroseismology, biotech and human performance in space, space systems, autonomous detection and quantum sensing for PNT, robotics for extraterrestrial deployment and spectroscopy for Earth observation, amongst many others. They lead the ARC Industry Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Cubesats, UAVs and Applications (CUAVA), the NSW Waratah Seed program and co-Direct the NSW Space Research Network (SRN).  The University of Sydney’s elite student cohort in space related disciplines is amongst the largest in the country and has contributed to one of the country’s most robust student organisations for space, including their Rocketry Team which recently won the Spaceport America cup student rocketry competition in the US. Sydney supports several specialist core research facilities including the Sydney Nanoscience Hub and the Sydney Manufacturing Hub which are delivering specialized services to researchers, students and industry.  The University also maintains close partnerships with other domestic and international universities as well as government research organisations such as the CSIRO which has enabled Sydney to establish itself as one of the few Australian organisations with true spaceflight heritage.

UTS is a national leader in research-industry engagement and is pioneering an Australian start-up culture for Space. While UTS is a founding partner of Cicada Innovations and the National Space Industry Hub, UTS’ flagship Space and Deep Tech incubator is Techlab. UTS’ goal is to home a global innovation destination in Sydney’s Inner South by offering bespoke support to small companies and start-ups and placing them into the orbit of primes and large industry partners. UTS Techlab is an aggressive and fertile ecosystem converting the theoretical to the practical to the profitable, and in so doing, has garnered major funding from federal and state governments to supply space and defence technology and solutions. UTS’ core space capabilities include: cybersecurity, swarming technology, earth observation sensors, propulsion, robotics and space domain awareness, as well as the design, testing and manufacture of satellites.

UNSW is one of Australia’s key space institutions. Over two main campuses in Sydney and Canberra, UNSW has the most expansive space footprint of a single university in the country. UNSW also houses dedicated teams of space specialists, scientists and engineers and operate in world-class facilities to deliver end-to-end space mission capability. UNSW is a research and education leader in the fields of advanced satellite systems and materials; geospatial, positioning and navigation research and development; Earth observation analysis and applications; robotics, telecommunications, space and artificial intelligence research and technological development. UNSW delivers Australia’s only complete Masters-level qualifications for Space, in the Masters of Space Engineering and Space Operations. UNSW has key partnerships with Government, Defence and the international Space community that allows the university to contribute meaningfully to real-world problems and emerging challenges.

Macquarie University research delves into all of the National Civil Space Priority Areas, while also conducting innovative research into specialised areas. This notably includes Astronomy, of which Macquarie has world-renowned capabilities, and is one of only a few established astronomy bodies in Australia. Macquarie’s specialist facilities include Australian Astronomical Optics, a world-class optics engineering house that fulfils global contracts for astronomical and earth observation equipment. Along with the Macquarie Analog Devices Laboratory, Macquarie supports crucial space capability for the state, the nation and the world in its specialist facilities. Macquarie’s research strengths include advanced optical engineering for both astronomical and space domain awareness purposes, as well as next-gen satellite comms systems, quantum technologies for Space PNT, robotic swarm technologies, Earth observation data analysis and environmental trend mapping. Macquarie is a highly collaborative university. While Macquarie maintains key linkages to major international universities in the UK, US, Italy and Spain, the majority of their academic collaborations among Space and Planetary sciences and Aerospace engineering disciplines are with universities within NSW.

The University of Newcastle’s strengths in space are rooted in a deep and influential history in engineering. The University is a key player in the understanding of the translation from aeronautics to astronautics. The University’s research strengths include space weather and its effects on spaceflight, gravitational sciences for orbit determination and geophysical processes, and multidisciplinary collaboration in centres such as the Precision Mechatronics Lab and the Centre for Space Physics.  The University of Newcastle is ranked No. 1 in Australia for industry collaboration, and this also applies in the domain of aeronautics and astronautics research and innovation. The University has active student engineering groups for space and allied disciplines, including the NU Rocketry team.

Western Sydney university is the academic centre of Sydney’s twin heart, and at the core of a developing economic centre in the Western Parkland City area. WSU is expanding in parallel with the construction and development of the Western Sydney International Nancy-Bird airport. WSU’s publications in space disciplines is particularly evident in the pioneering fields of Space Law and Neuromorphic systems. Deeply multicultural and form-to-fit the communities they serve, WSU’s constellation of satellite campuses deliver into some of the most important developmental markets for Australia’s future in Space.

The University of Wollongong services much of the south of NSW, both regional and metropolitan. While Wollongong shares many fields of research in common with its other NSW counterparts such as robotics, Quantum, and advanced sensor technology, Wollongong also boasts a deliberate space-transferability in their research design. Wollongong has a marked focus on Leapfrog R&D and cascading technologies, alongside a robust partnership acquisition strategy. Wollongong’s flagship capability is in Earth Observation, data analysis and space-analogous technologies stemming from remote and challenging environments. Wollongong’s catchment area and successful association with TAFE makes one of NSW’s strongest argument for the dual-sector, while also being a key partner for international organisations such as NASA, JAXA and the ESA.