The Australian Space Agency has allocated funding under its Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grants program to support the development of an Australian aerospace-grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver.
This receiver is intended for use in various aerospace applications, including rockets, satellites, and aircraft, as revealed in a news release.
Gilmour Space Technologies, headquartered in Queensland, will collaborate with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to co-develop the GNSS receiver.
This collaborative effort will leverage the Australian supply chain, aiming to qualify the receiver for use across a broad spectrum of position, navigation, and timing applications for civil, commercial, and defence customers.
Kody Cook, head of Software, Electrical, GNC & Avionics at Gilmour Space, expressed gratitude for Australia’s investment in the sovereign development of essential capabilities.
Cook emphasised the importance of incorporating more Australian-made avionics in launch vehicles and spacecraft, particularly amidst growing uncertainties in the global landscape.
“If we could use more Australian-made avionics in our launch vehicles and spacecraft, we would,” he noted.
Professor Andrew Dempster, director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at UNSW, hailed the collaboration with Gilmour Space as a significant milestone.
He noted the exciting prospects of working together on this project, reflecting on Gilmour Space’s journey since its inception.
“I’ve followed Gilmour Space from the beginning, and it’s a fantastic development for us to work with them on this exciting project,” Professor Dempster remarked.
The GNSS receiver will be built upon proven technology developed at UNSW, with Gilmour Space leveraging its advanced space manufacturing expertise and commercialisation efforts to bring the project to fruition.
