Skykraft is an Australian space services company specializing in the design, manufacture, and operation of satellite constellations for global services. Their primary focus is on developing a constellation of over 200 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide space-based Air Traffic Management (ATM) services, offering real-time communication and surveillance for air traffic control, especially over remote areas. Skykraft partners with organizations like Airways New Zealand and is working on projects with the Indian Institute of Science and RMIT University. Keywords associated with Skykraft are: satellite constellation, air traffic management, space-based communication, and Australian space industry.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Skykraft provides Air Traffic Management (ATM) services from space using small satellites and specialised ATM infrastructure.
Skykraft's next space mission in 2024-04-01 will include a demonstration of multilateration to provide independent aircraft position data in the event of GNSS failure.
Skykraft completed a world-first trial of space-based VHF voice communications as part of its development of satellites to provide space-based aviation communications and surveillance services.
Skykraft is developing a constellation of more than 200 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide global air traffic management services from space.
Skykraft's trial supports work on operational space-based aviation VHF services leading up to the World Radio Congress 2023 (WRC-23).
Skykraft's planned services include surveillance using ADS-B and UAT.
Skykraft's planned services include multilateration for validation of ADS-B and UAT messages received from aircraft and for providing independent aircraft position data in the event of GNSS failure.
Skykraft collaborated with Airservices Australia to implement test protocols that ensured there was no interference to the operational Air Traffic Management (ATM) system during testing.
Skykraft's initial satellite constellation was under rapid development with two launches in 2023 and additional launches planned for 2024.
A Skykraft prototype Air Traffic Management satellite stack launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 2023-06-12.
Skykraft’s Air Traffic Management technology is designed to track aircraft, provide global communications between pilots and air traffic controllers regardless of aircraft location, and aims to improve safety, reduce fuel costs, and reduce the environmental impact of air transport.
Skykraft is collaborating with Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) on a space-based solution to track aircraft and provide global communications between pilots and air traffic controllers regardless of aircraft location.
Skykraft’s manufacturing facility opened in March 2022 and is located in the centre of Canberra as part of the UNSW Canberra Launch innovation hub.
Skykraft was established in 2017 as a spin-off company from UNSW Canberra.
Neumann Space’s first Neumann Drive electric thruster, which uses a solid metal rod as fuel, was part of a satellite built by Australian company Skykraft on Transporter-8.
The Skykraft satellite carrying the Neumann Drive® is undergoing final testing before being shipped to the United States for a scheduled launch in mid-2023.
Neumann Space has completed integrating its Neumann Drive® propulsion system onto Skykraft’s Australian designed and manufactured satellite.
Skykraft’s manufacturing will then increase to build 210 satellites to provide global coverage in the company’s first constellation.
Skykraft will complete five satellites by 2022-06-20.
The first Skykraft satellites will be launched later 2022 by SpaceX from Florida.