Australia's Kanyini satellite sends first images from space

Australia's first state-funded satellite, Kanyini, has produced its inaugural images from space, representing a key achievement for the Australian mission.

Kanyini was launched on the SpaceX Transporter-11 mission and has subsequently spent 194 days orbiting the Earth. The satellite's journey and initial deployment have been overseen by the mission control team at Inovor Technologies, located within Adelaide's Lot Fourteen innovation district.

During its commission phase, preliminary images have been gathered, demonstrating the satellite's ability to capture extensive data that promises to be of significant value when the satellite becomes fully operational. The released high-resolution images depict regions of South Australia, including Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula, and Adelaide.

The detailed data captured behind each image allows for processing to expose infrared elements, which are not visible to the naked eye. This ability is pivotal for applications such as monitoring agricultural crop health, assessing vegetation density, and tracking variations in inland and coastal water conditions.

At the core of Kanyini's imagery capabilities is the HyperScout 2 hyperspectral imager. This advanced instrument merges hyperspectral and thermal imaging with sophisticated data processing and Artificial Intelligence features, enhancing its analytical outputs.

Additionally, the satellite is equipped with an Internet of Things (IoT) payload, devised and created by Myriota in South Australia. This functionality enables the satellite to capture imagery and IoT data simultaneously, providing information on elements like groundwater levels and pipeline integrity from a single platform.

This mission is marked as Australia's inaugural state-owned satellite project, a cooperative endeavour supported by the South Australian Government, SmartSat CRC, Inovor Technologies, and Myriota. The mission team will continue refining the satellite's systems over the coming months to ensure they satisfy rigorous scientific standards.

Once fully operational, Kanyini is set to supply critical space-derived data. This information will be instrumental in supporting research efforts by various government bodies and educational institutions, especially those focused on sustainability and the impacts of climate change.

Commenting on the achievement, Stephen Mullighan, South Australia's Minister for Defence & Space Industries, remarked, "The release of Kanyini's first images is an exciting moment for the mission team and the South Australian space community, reinforcing our position as a national leader in space technology. The commissioning of the satellite's ongoing operations will ensure Kanyini can deliver critical real-world benefits once fully operational. From monitoring environmental changes to supporting emergency services, Kanyini's data will provide vital insights that will help improve lives and drive innovation across multiple industries."

SmartSat CRC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Andy Koronios, stated, "Putting anything into space is an extraordinary feat, however the work does not stop at successfully delivering your spacecraft into orbit. These first images are the result of years of hard work and dedication from our talented team of engineers as they work through the onboard commissioning of the spacecraft. SmartSat is proud to be funding a suite of projects in artificial intelligence, onboard processing, and machine learning aimed at using the data gathered by Kanyini to address challenges in agriculture, water management, and the environment. Having access to the wealth of information-dense data gathered from our own sovereign satellite opens up a world of opportunities for industry, academia, and government departments."

Dr Matt Tetlow, Chief Executive Officer of Inovor Technologies, expressed, "Inovor Technologies is incredibly proud to see Kanyini delivering its first images from space—this is a major milestone for the mission and a testament to the dedication of the team. Every step of the commissioning process brings us closer to unlocking the full potential of Kanyini's data, which will provide invaluable insights for environmental monitoring and resource management. This achievement reinforces Australia's growing sovereign capability in space technology. We look forward to further calibration and data collection in the coming months."

Dr David Haley, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Myriota, added, "As Kanyini comes to life, we are realising critical satellite capabilities that harness the power of space to deliver valuable data for real people here on Earth. We have tested and proven Myriota's home-grown IoT payload and are now integrating Kanyini into Myriota's satellite network where it will soon join our global connectivity service. We are incredibly excited to be able to utilise a collaborative, South Australian-made satellite to communicate data that improves the management of key resources, both here in South Australia and beyond."