Neumann Space announces partnerships with Gilmour and SSTL

Adelaide-based Neumann Space has signed partnership agreements with Queensland firm Gilmour Space Technologies and with UK company Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).

Neumann Space has developed the world-leading Neumann Drive propulsion system which uses solid metallic propellant and is today available in a format suitable for satellites weighing less than 50kg with the ability to be clustered for larger satellites. The company will work with launch services company Gilmour to develop a more powerful version of the Neumann Drive® suitable for use by the international small satellite market.

The development of this new space product is a key focus for Neumann Space within the Australian Space Manufacturing Network (ASMN) whose co-funding under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) Collaboration stream was announced last month.

As part of the ASMN project, the two companies will work together to ensure product compatibility for satellites up to 500kg, enabling the broader satellite industry to gain access to technology that delivers superior mobility in space.

Gilmour Space will provide satellite analogues for testing at the ASMN, which will allow Neumann Space to scale up their system and create a new Australian capability for manoeuvring small satellite (SmallSat) on- orbit.

“Access to Gilmour Space Technologies’ satellite interfaces and their talented team are both integral to supporting the successful product design, integration and testing of a more powerful Neumann Drive,” said Neumann Space’s CEO, Herve Astier. “This is an important milestone for Neumann Space in the commercialisation of our technology, and the expansion of our business into new markets.”

Neumann Space launched its first propulsion system into space in June of this year and has a series of in-orbit demonstrations planned for 2023 and 2024 to secure further flight heritage with national and international partners.

Under the agreement with SSTL, a pioneer of the SmallSat industry, the two companies will work together to test an Australian designed and manufactured in-space propulsion system as part of the CarbSAR In Orbit Demonstration Mission.

SSTL and Neumann Space will commence work this year to integrate the next generation Neumann Drive® as an IOD payload on board the SSTL CarbSAR satellite scheduled for launch in the second half of 2024. The companies will collaborate over the course of the mission to test, demonstrate, and verify the performance of the Neumann Drive® whose unique propulsion technology uses solid metallic propellant.

The CarbSAR Demo Mission is a partnership between SSTL and Oxford Space Systems to build and launch an OSS Wrapped Rib antenna mounted to an SSTL CarbSAR satellite. This mission is designed to prove a ground-breaking Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) concept with implications for near to medium term UK defence ISR strategies.

The opportunity to be a part of the CarbSAR Demo Mission will provide Neumann Space with the ability to further grow its space heritage and is an active demonstration of SSTL’s commitment to collaborate with the Australian Space industry to stimulate local growth and competitiveness.

orbit debris removal and servicing and exploration beyond Earth infrastructure. Since 1981, SSTL has built and launched 72 satellites for 20 international customers, as well as providing training and development programmes, consultancy services, and mission studies for ESA, NASA, international governments and commercial customers. SSTL is well known for innovative missions such as the CARBONITE satellites, the NovaSAR S-band radar imaging satellite and the RemoveDEBRIS space debris removal technology demonstrator.