Space Machines Company (SMC)

Space Machines Company (SMC) is developing space transportation infrastructure which will augment the capabilities of launch companies such as SpaceX, Rocket Lab and Gilmour Space Technologies, to provide flexibility in obtaining access to orbits, both LEO and GEO, through space tugs and other vehicles to service objects in space, de-orbit them and maintain them.

SMC’s first major venture is Optimus-1, the largest commercial satellite under construction in Australia, which provides a modular, scalable and reusable orbital transfer vehicle to support cost-effective insertion of small satellites into LEO. SMC is working with Gilmour Space Technologies to launch the 35-kg spacecraft in 2022, which promises to be the first Australian payload launched on an Australian rocket from an Australian site. Major customers currently include: Fireball International (bushfire detection), Spiral Blue (onboard computing for space imagery), Esper Satellite Imagery (specialists in hyperspectral imagery), Dandelions (IoT provider), Sperospace (robotic arms), HEO, and CSIRO. SMC will partner with Leaf Space to provide all the ground support services for the launch including the decommissioning of the launch vehicle.