uq system set to launch australia into space

UQ system set to launch Australia into space Researchers at The University of Queensland yesterdaymoved one step closer to sending small satellites into space via a reusable launch system. The launch of a small plane on 23 December marked the first successful use of the Austral Launch Vehicle (ALV), which is designed to return to its base after carrying a satellite into space. UQ Chair of Hypersonic Propulsion Professor Michael Smart said current single-use launch systems for small satellites made it incredibly expensive to send satellites into orbit. Currently, once launch systems have travelled their designated trajectory, they drop away and fall into the ocean, Professor Smart said. This is where the ALV differs. Working in partnership with Brisbane-based start-up companies Heliaq Advanced Engineering, and Australian Droid and Robot, weve designed a rocket system that can be re-used, Professor Smart said. It is a rocket booster in the usual sense, but instead of falling into the ocean once it has done its job, it deploys wings and a propeller motor, so it can safely return to base. UQ has a great interest in this new technology since we have worked for many years to develop

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Researchers at The University of Queensland yesterdaymoved one step closer to sending small satellit

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UQ system set to launch Australia into space

Researchers at The University of Queensland yesterdaymoved one step closer to sending smallsatellites into space via a reusable launch system.

The launch of a small plane on 23 December marked the first successful use of the Austral LaunchVehicle (ALV), which is designed to return to its base after carrying a satellite into space.

UQ Chair of Hypersonic Propulsion Professor Michael Smart said current single-use launch systemsfor small satellites made it incredibly expensive to send satellites into orbit.

Currently, once launch systems have travelled their designated trajectory, they drop away and fallinto the ocean, Professor Smart said.

This is where the ALV differs.

Working in partnership with Brisbane-based start-up companies Heliaq Advanced Engineering, andAustralian Droid and Robot, weve designed a rocket system that can be re-used, Professor Smartsaid.

It is a rocket booster in the usual sense, but instead of falling into the ocean once it has done its job,it deploys wings and a propeller motor, so it can safely return to base.

UQ has a great interest in this new technology since we have worked for many years to develop

Page 2: UQ system set to launch Australia into space

reusable scramjet vehicles that fly like planes.

The combination of the ALV and a UQ scramjet would mean almost 85 per cent of a satellite launchsystem would be reusable.

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UQ system set to launch Australia into space from The University of Queensland on Vimeo.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia to become a part of the space sector.

The successful launch of the ALV has the research team looking to the international market, with aprojected demand for 400 satellites in 2016.

I think there is real potential for Australia to become the go-to country for small satellite launches,and I see this as playing a vital role in Australias innovation revolution, Professor Smart said.

Media: Michael Smart, [email protected], 3635 3783; EAIT communications Maddy Flanagan,[email protected], 0434899288