Perth Voice Interactive

THE Binar Space Program, a pioneering initiative led by Curtin University’s Space Science Technology Centre, is set to make history again this weekend with the launch of Binar-2, 3, and 4 satellites. 

Scheduled for launch today (Saturday August 3) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre aboard the SpaceX NG-21 rocket, the satellites will follow the groundbreaking path set by Binar-1, the first Western Australian satellite to enter Earth’s orbit.

Binar-2, 3, and 4 are notable for carrying the first-ever WA-owned business payload, an S-band transmitter developed by AVI. 

Payload

This payload aims to showcase the transmitter’s capabilities and pave the way for AVI to enter the global space market. 

The launch will also enable high school students to participate in space exploration through the BinarX program, which allows them to fly their payloads on the satellites.

Once in orbit, these CubeSats will test various new technologies and conduct scientific experiments for the CSIRO. The data collected will inform the development of three more upgraded satellites, which will carry additional industry and research payloads, as well as four high school student payloads from WA.

The Binar Space Program is revolutionising access to space by reducing costs through advanced manufacturing and highly integrated design. This approach lowers the entry barriers for WA and Australian start-ups and researchers, allowing them to develop and test space technologies more affordably. 

The program’s innovative design consolidates all complex spacecraft systems onto a single core, enabling larger payloads on smaller satellites, thus driving down costs compared to other manufacturers.

The Binar Prospector project aims to take WA’s space technology to the Moon, with plans to deploy satellites within 20 kilometres of the lunar surface to map resources and provide critical data for future lunar missions. 

Binar (pronounced BIN-nah) is the Noongar word for “fireball”.

The launch from Kennedy will be shown on the big screen in the Northbridge Plaza tomorrow (Sunday August 4) from 2pm, with the team from Binar hoping to share and describe the success of the mission.