The NSW Space Research Network issued a call for Research Pilot Program applications on 16 December 2022, with applications closing on 3 February 2023. A total of 25 submissions were received, with total funds requested at $3,630,580.92.
Awarded Projects
4 projects were selected for funding, representing an investment of $468,072.49 by the NSW State Government to promote collaborative research in NSW in the space sector.
| Project | Investigator(s) | Lead University | Institutional Partner | Industry Partner | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Printed Self-Deployable Antenna Arrays for CubeSat Applications. A novel concept of 3D printed CubeSat antennas, using light-weight shape-memory-alloy (SMA) for motor-free in-space actuations of antenna arrays, including expansion (after launching), contraction (in-space maintenance) and attitude control (satellite communications and objects tracking). | A/Prof. Yang Yang; Dr. Dush Thalakotuna; Prof. Karu Esselle; Dr. Xiaopeng Li; Dr. Michael Leo Dela Curz | University of Technology Sydney | University of New South Wales | Nano Dimension | $134,991 |
| Should you venture into space; using adaptation to a lack of visual gravity to identify key selection factors for astronauts. To establish the perceptual and motor characteristics of an individual that are responsible for differences in adaptability of vision and fine motor skills in visual microgravity. | A/Prof. Tamara Watson; Dr. Kiley Seymour | Western Sydney University | University of Technology Sydney | $110,820 | |
| Conductive kapton composite coatings for lunar dust mitigation. To develop highly conductive titanium dioxide-graphene-Kapton composite coatings, building on our recent progress in that area. The nanoparticles present in the coating hold conducting properties which equalise surface charges that prevent dust particle accumulation, making it efficient for lunar missions. | Dr. Karthika Prasad; Dr. Janith Adikaram; Dr. Juan Felipe Torres; Dr. Joice Mathew; Dr. Rusen Zhou; Prof. Roderick Boswell; Prof. Katia Bazaka | Australian National University | University of Sydney | Boswell Technologies | $111,668.20 |
| Demonstration of a vision‐based navigation alternative. To develop a space‐based optical navigation system that will integrate celestial body observations to derive a position and velocity. | Dr. Xiaofeng Wu; Prof. Iver Cairns; Joshua Critchley‐Marrows; A/Prof. Lee Spitler; A/Prof. Simon Ellis | University of Sydney | Macquarie University | Inovor Technologies; D-Orbt UK; Spatial Information Systems Research; Deneb Space | $111,593.29 |
Funding Rounds Comparisons
The Network has awarded $2,092,517.49 worth of cash contributions across 15 NSW Space-research projects to date.
