Space Connect Podcast

Michele Trenti, a professor at the University of Melbourne, discusses the development of the SpIRIT satellite with hosts Adam Thorn and Liam McAneny. Trenti also recounts his exciting career in astronomy, providing details about his work studying ancient stars and galaxies and his study of gamma-ray bursts. They discuss Trenti's use of Hubble Space Telescope as well as the James Webb Space Telesco...

Marnie Ogg, the founder of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, chats to Liam McAneny about her work on dark sky preservation. They discuss the founding of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance and the successful campaign to get Warrumbungle National Park certified as Australia's first dark sky park. The pair also delves into the increasingly popular international dark sky movement, from the Internati...

Dr Ellie Sansom, the program manager of the Australian Desert Fireball Network, is a mission scientist for NASA's Mars InSight mission and a member of Curtin University's Space Science and Technology Centre. In this episode of the Space Connect Podcast, we talk about her exciting work on the Desert Fireball Network (DFN) and what secrets it is helping us unlock about our solar system. We also disc...

Julie Autuly is the head of space tech at Cicada Innovations, the company that administers the National Space Industry Hub. She is responsible for leading the National Space Industry Hub, as part of her role. In this episode of the Space Connect Podcast, Julie speaks to hosts Adam Thorn and Liam McAneny about her experiences in her role at the Space Hub. We discuss the paths that led Julie through...

Brad Tucker is an astrophysicist at the Australian National University's Mount Stromlo Observatory where he conducts research on exploding stars and the expansion of the universe. In this episode of the Space Connect Podcast, Brad Tucker talks to host Liam McAneny about popular science and the need for science outreach, as well as his role as an educator. Brad also talks listeners through the rece...

Lockheed Martin Space is one of the most prominent players in our global industry, responsible for everything from building spacecraft to connecting soldiers on the battlefield. In this special podcast episode, David Ball, the business' regional director for space in Australia and New Zealand, talks about why our local industry is surging and what the future holds. Ball discusses the formation of...

Ed Kruzins is a professor at both UNSW and the University of Adelaide, where he teaches space communication and tracking. He's probably best known for his nine-year role as a director of the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. It's the iconic site, run in conjunction with NASA, which houses enormous antennas that receive or transmit data to robotic spacecraft exploring our solar system. In...

Virgin Orbit is about to revolutionise the global space industry by launching satellites from huge 747 aircraft, rather than traditional rockets. Speaking exclusively from LA, the business' CEO, Dan Hart, tells host Adam Thorn why the plan could open space to countries currently unable to participate. The pair discuss how the technology works, the company's plan to launch imminently in the UK, and...

Chris Kirkland is a geologist at the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and leads the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin University in Western Australia. He recently co-authored a paper that analysed the composition of mineral grains that formed Earth's ancient crust to draw conclusions about the relationship between the formation of Earth's crust and our solar system's journey thro...

Lex van Loon is a research fellow in space medicine at the Australian National University. He recently co-authored a research paper focusing on the creation of a mathematical model for studying the effects of microgravity on the human body. In this podcast, Lex talks to host Adam Thorn and co-host Liam McAneny about the dangers of zero-gravity for humans, and how the team's model may help in solvi...

Joel Lisk is a space law research associate at the Jeff Bleich Centre at Flinders University in South Australia and a PhD candidate at the Adelaide Law School. He recently co-authored a research paper on the regulation of satellite constellations and space debris in low-Earth orbit alongside Melissa de Zwart. In this podcast, Joel speaks to host Adam Thorn about how he found himself in the emergin...

Karu Esselle is a distinguished professor in electromagnetic and antenna engineering at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and was crowned the overall winner at both the Australian Space and Defence Industry awards. In total, he has taken home a remarkable four trophies in the last year. Here, he speaks to host Adam Thorn about his career, including his groundbreaking work on internet solut...

Dr Fabian Zander is a senior research fellow in aerospace engineering at the University of Southern Queensland. He recently spearheaded a project where a team conducted unique in-flight observations of debris emanating from a fragmented comet. Dr Zander is also a key player, using the university's world-beating hypersonic wind tunnel which is keeping Australia at the forefront of one of the sector...

Advanced Navigation is an Australian company that designs and builds devices to help the navigation of spacecraft in orbit. What began as a university thesis has evolved into an organisation now planning to be Australia's first to operate on the moon in the next couple of years. This week, its CEO, Xavier Orr, tells host Adam Thorn how its pioneering systems work. The pair also talk through the pr...

Space Machines Company will next year launch a spacecraft that can taxi commercial satellites into their orbital paths around Earth. When complete, the 270-kilogram Optimus orbital transfer vehicle will be the largest commercial spacecraft designed and built in Australia. On this week's episode, the business' CEO, Rajat Kulshrestha, tells host Adam Thorn how it works. He also discusses the local i...

Kleos Space is a "spy satellite" company based in Luxembourg but listed on the ASX. The business' revolutionary approach means its satellites can spot illegal activity on Earth by detecting radio frequencies, rather than just taking simple images. Kleos' co-founder, Andy Bowyer, talks about how the technology works and how he grew the firm. He also discusses how the rise of Kleos signals a shift a...

Defence Space Command is the new space division of the ADF and currently resides within the RAAF. On this week's episode, Bella Richards sits down with its new head, Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts. The two discuss what the new division will do and why it is so significant as space becomes more congested and contested.  Plus, the Air Vice-Marshal also explains her experiences in the early years...

On this week's episode of Space Connect podcast, host Bella Richards meets Stéphane Israël, who is the CEO of Europe's largest launch provider, Arianespace – which is also the company that launched the iconic James Webb Telescope into space.  The duo discusses the most anticipated launch of the decade that occurred on Christmas Day in 2021, and what it looked like for the Arianespace team, along w...

It's becoming easier for smaller businesses to secure access to space, but what challenges remain?   In this special episode, the founder of Gilmour Space, Adam Gilmour, and Microsoft Azure's Lynn McDonald talk to host Adam Thorn about the current situation in Australia.   They discuss whether government initiatives are working, why space is becoming critical infrastructure and the new opportuniti...

In a time where more satellites are launching into space than ever, it is vital to have a 24/7 eye in the sky.  On this week's Space Connect Podcast episode, host Bella Richards chats to managing director and president of LeoLabs Australia, Terry van Haren. The two first discuss the importance of having radars looking at orbiting objects in space at all times. Then, Bella and Terry chat about the...

In a world where space is moving away from being the preserve of big governments, are smaller players doing enough to keep their assets secure? In this special podcast episode, Microsoft Azure's Lynn McDonald and Peter Padd from cyber security experts Fortifyedge discuss why the industry needs to be proactive against this evolving threat. Padd argues that many of our current defences cannot keep u...

Space Centre Australia is gearing up to be the nation's first large-scale, multi-use spaceport, due to be fully operational by 2028. In this episode of the Space Connect Podcast, host Bella Richards sits down with James Palmer and Nick Mullings of Palm Branch Group, parent company to Space Centre Australia, to learn all about the development. Located in Far North Queensland, Space Centre Australia...

Without whole-of-industry collaboration, Australia's space sector will not flourish.   On this week's episode of Space Connect podcast, host Bella Richards chats to QUT's industry engagement director, Ali Buchberger, and Boeing's research and development lead, Dr Jason Armstrong, about the importance of partnering academia and industry together to produce pioneering space technologies that will dr...

On this week ' s Space Connect Podcast, Bella Richards is joined by the University of Sydney ' s Rocketry Team, who is set to compete against over 150 other universities in June with its Bluewren rocket.    Executive director Alison Lockley and project director Alistair de Vroet chat about what the USYD Rocketry Team does, and how they are preparing for the upcoming competition, led completely by...

Without funding for basic research, many space workers are out of jobs.   On this week's episode of Space Connect Podcast, host Bella Richards is joined by Professor Phil Bland from Curtin University, who is also the director of the Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC).    Professor Bland reveals that Australia needs to aim higher in funding basic research to make more discoveries, send more...