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T wo Australian space-reliant startups have begun the year with a (productive) bang, announcing major evolutionary milestones.

Following successful capital-raising rounds netting around $19 million in late 2018, Queensland-based Gilmour Space Technologies has publicly unveiled One Vision, a nine-metre tall rocket that it plans to launch in late February.

One Vision will be carrying payloads from Australian and Singaporean universities, but its main purpose will be to test Gilmour’s hybrid rocket engine for commercial orbital launches with its Ariel and Eris launch platforms in 2020.

This month’s launch will take place from a private property in far north Queensland, also testing Gilmour’s ground control station and mobile launch platform.

CEO & Founder, Adam Gilmour called for increased government support for Australia’s nascent space industry, adding that their mobile launcher will allow them to reach orbit while infrastructure develops.

“There are currently no commercial launch sites for orbital launches in Australia. What you see here today will enable us to launch from remote areas in Australia and elsewhere,” he said.

“It’s becoming clear to everyone that space is a real business. It is an industry that is developing cutting edge technology, attracting real investments, employing highly skilled talent within Australia, and bringing new and valuable skills into the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Adelaide-based Fleet Space have opened reservation space on its Project Galaxy LoRaWAN satellite network, with the company announcing that they had sold out of their initial capacity for one million devices within the first 24 hours.

Fleet said that interested clients representing another two million devices have already signed on to their waiting list.

Fleet’s constellation currently has four nanosatellites in orbit, whilst the company is in the midst of a capital raise to develop and launch another ten.

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