16 January 2025
As we step into 2025, we know your inbox is filled with wrap-ups and hopes for the new year—but this one might just be the best yet. We’re excited to share a huge achievement with you - our eMag (magnetic attitude control system) successfully demonstrated orbital operations at the end of last year! That’s right, we now have space heritage! This milestone marks a significant step in our journey, and we couldn’t wait to share some of the insights we’ve gathered so far with you.
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eMag Flight Heritage
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Space-proven, in-orbit tested
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Efficiency redefined 50% of the power consumption of competitors
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Automatic detumbling, enabling satellites to stabilise and orient themselves without relying on manual intervention ~96% time saving, a world-first capability that we are bringing to the space market.
The power efficiency of our eMag system is a game-changer for satellites. In the first set of testing we rotated the satellite 90 degrees in less than 2 minutes. Our magnetorquer uses just 50% of the power that conventional systems require, which is a massive improvement in power consumption. Why does this matter? In space, every bit of power counts. The less power a satellite needs to maintain stability and orientation, the more power it can allocate to its core mission - whether it’s collecting data, sending signals, or performing other tasks. This efficiency means longer operational time, reduced operational costs, and extended satellite lifespans - key benefits for satellite operators.
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While the current demonstration on the Waratah Seed 1 CubeSat mission is exciting, our technology is highly scalable. We've proven a capability on a smaller platform, and now we're focusing on adapting eMag for larger, more complex satellites. With our powerful yet efficient magnetorquer, we’re tackling the issue of satellite jitter (the unintended movements that disrupt mission performance) to provide better satellite stability for better operational outcomes. This is just the beginning of our journey to bring smarter, more efficient, and sustainable satellite operations to the industry.
One of the most exciting aspects that we anticipate of eMag is its role in enabling automatic detumbling. After launch, satellites often need to stabilise, or detumble to stop them rotating before they can begin performing their tasks. This detumbling is one of the early tasks performed during the commissioning phase. Without the eMag this is a manual and time-consuming operation. Often made worse if the satellite is not facing earth or it is tumbling too quickly, as it cannot be communicated with to provide instructions on how to detumble. This leads to a large number of failures, roughly 1 in 3 satellites - seems crazy, right? Our eMag system can provide an automated solution, enabling satellites to stabilise and orient themselves without relying on manual intervention; this is a world-first capability that we are bringing to the space market.
We sincerely thank the CUAVA and Waratah Seed teams for letting us be a part of these fantastic projects and for all the valuable learnings along the way. As well as the support of Investment NSW.
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This success is a key milestone on our roadmap to building Autonomous Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS). ADCS will allow satellites to operate independently in space, with little to no manual input from ground control. We’re working towards a future where satellites can make autonomous decisions, from avoiding collisions to managing their energy usage—leading to a more efficient, reliable, and sustainable approach to space operations.
We’re thrilled about the progress we’ve made so far, and 2025 promises even more breakthroughs as we continue on our path toward space autonomy. Thank you for being a part of our journey. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
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