Hello, fellow space enthusiasts. It’s great to be back on deck after time off over the holiday period, but oh how the year is flying! I hope you all managed to have a relaxing break and are ready to launch into what is going to be a VERY exciting and big year for space. Here at SMC, our pipeline is looking to be huge in 2025. We’re working on some major things, including releasing previews of our Scintilla engine in development, which is set to power our Optimus Viper vehicle. We’ve expanded our global footprint and added a USA location. We’re going to be heading to the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs in April, back to India for the India Space Congress 2025 and will be participating in the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, which will be a pivotal moment in the Australian space sector. You’ll see some familiar faces, including our friend and ambassador, Steve Waugh. Our team is also growing, which, as the company's co-founder and CEO, is a proud moment. I’m incredibly proud of our team and what we’ve built and achieved so far. As we embark on global expansion, growing our capabilities and expertise, I am excited to bring you along for the ride.
Our journey into space this year is going to be an exciting one. Thank you for the support we received in 2024, here’s to big things in 2025!🚀 Rajat Kulshrestha CEO and Co-Founder, Space Machines Company
Major Milestone: Preliminary Design Review Cleared
SPACE MAITRI, our international space safety and sustainability initiative, has successfully cleared its Preliminary Design Review, marking a significant leap forward in protecting our orbital environment.
We're on track with our spacecraft design, operations planning, risk management, and innovative technology development.
Optimus Viper
In December 2024, we unveiled our newest vehicle, Optimus Viper. Optimus Viper will provide detailed observations and technical inspections on satellites. This will help identify problems such as power system malfunctions and potentially help stabilise its system.
Read Capital Brief's coverage of the unveiling here.
Orbit Side Assist - National Security
The Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicle and Solstice OS will deliver a superior decision advantage through integrated capabilities. Our work on the Solstice OS software will leverage AI to process real-time proximity data into actionable intelligence, accelerating decision-making. Providing a unified system for proximity operations and real-time intelligence.
UTS Partnership
Collaborating with UTS and the broader Tech Lab ecosystem has been pivotal in Space Machines Company’s growth journey. In a rapidly evolving sector like space, the power of collaboration between innovators and entrepreneurs is undeniable. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of the local industry and unlocking new opportunities.
“Hey there, I’m Holly Wardlaw, SMC’s vehicle engineer overseeing the design and structure of the spacecraft!
My journey into the space industry was a little different to most people; before becoming an engineer, I studied Classics, majoring in Ancient Greek. On my adventures, I have also followed a passion for sports, including rowing and sabre fencing, at an elite level.
At Space Machines, I am a Vehicle Engineer, currently focusing on the design of the spacecraft’s secondary structure and layout. Since my role involves designing the interfaces between the main vehicle structure and other subsystem components, I’m able to engage with all the other subsystem teams, which gives me a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s overall capabilities.
The team at SMC never fails to impress me with their forward-thinking and creative approach to problem-solving, which has given me an amazing platform to exercise my design and optimisation skills.
It has been an inspiration to be a part of the engineering team through this early design phase, and I’m looking forward to the journey as we take our spacecraft from ideation to manufacture, launch, and mission operations.
As a lover of all things space-related, I’m very proud to work at Space Machines, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve next!
Meet Mike Kaplan 👋 Head of Commercial and Business Development
“Hello space cadets! I’m Mike Kaplan, coming to you from the US."
Introducing our newest international team member, Mike Kaplan. Mike is joining us from the US, Colorado, and will be at the forefront of our US expansion as the new Head of Commercial and Business Development, as we set to expand our capabilities into different markets.
Mike will be in charge of developing and implementing the commercial strategy in the US market. He will also identify new market opportunities and key decision-makers. He’ll also help shape the future of Space Machines Company’s product and service portfolio to meet customer needs. We’re so excited to welcome Mike—you'll be seeing lots more of him!
Our partner spotlight: Defence Trailblazer
We have recently announced our partnership with Defence Trailblazer on a collaborative project that aims to develop space-borne perception and intelligence technology for space domain awareness, supported by funding from Defence Trailblazer’s Accelerating Sovereign Industrial Capabilities (ASIC) program.
Our role in this will be to develop space-borne perception and intelligence technology that enables a host spacecraft to understand its immediate environment, characterise the objects therein, execute rendezvous and proximity operations, and achieve co-orbital Space Control.
We will also be working closely with Sentient Satellites Laboratory at the University of Adelaide; Scarlet Lab, a SmartSat CRC initiative; and Space Control STC at Defence Science Technology Group. This is an exciting and collaborative opportunity for us to be a part of.
Our project lead at SMC, Mark Ramsey has said, “The technology developed in the project underpins a range of proximity operations and servicing applications such as high-resolution inspection, satellite servicing, space control and space debris management, that help safeguard space assets on-orbit.
What's next: Building the future of space propulsion
Shane Albances, VP of Engineering at Space Machines Company
In the competitive landscape of space technology, agility and speed of innovation are paramount. At Space Machines Company, we made a strategic decision to invest in developing our own satellite propulsion system as well as establishing a propulsion test facility — a capability that has already proven instrumental in accelerating our product development cycles...
SIAA’s Southern Space 2025 conference is coming up in March, a flagship event for Australia’s space sector. It’s a great event for key decision-makers from government, defence, and industry to come together to explore global challenges and opportunities, positioning space as a key driver for a more secure and prosperous future!
The Space Symposium is one of the world’s largest space industry events, averaging over 10,000 attendees representing all sectors of the global space community, inclusive of space agencies; military, national security and intelligence organisations. Space Machines Company are very excited to be part of the Australian Delegation with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
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