Momentum Media staff have witnessed the launch of a new Beacon satellite device by Sydney start-up ANT61.
The Beacon unit blasted off aboard a MAPHEUS 14 sounding rocket from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden.
Space Connect media strategist Benjamin Foster, Space Connect editor Adam Thorn and Defence Connect senior journalist Robert Dougherty attended the official livestream launch event held at Cicada Innovations coworking space in Sydney on 27 February.
The palm-sized Beacon unit blasted off aboard a MAPHEUS 14 sounding rocket from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden under the guidance of the Swedish Space Corporation. The unit is expected to provide a backup communication system for dead satellites, allowing the operator to update software and recover from failure – effectively allowing recovery of otherwise useless space debris.
ANT61 director Mikhail Asavkin attended the launch in Sweden and answered an on-site Q&A, which was streamed back to Sydney, Australia, after the launch.
Media strategist Benjamin Foster said the launch was extremely fast, and uplifting as an example of Australian innovation.
“It’s great to see a domestic solution being tested with Australia acting as middle space power (encouraging responsible behaviour in space),” he said.
“It was also good to see an informative live interview with ANT61founder Mikhail Asavkin after the launch in Sweden.”
The launch event was also attended by representatives from the Australian space industry, universities and interest groups.
“ANT61 is one of the most pioneering companies in space in Australia and it’s great to see a launch run well,” said Space Connect editor Adam Thorn at the event.
“It was great to represent Space Connect as the main brand for informing the space industry and witness the event first hand.”