Australian-Owned Satellite Database
This study presents an analysis of historical data on all Australia-owned satellites launched since 1967, starting with the inaugural Australian satellite, "WRESAT."
Data was collected from various space catalogs and databases, including some based on orbital software data files and others referenced by satellite operators. It's important to note that the resulting dataset on Australian spacecraft is informative but not authoritative. This highlights the challenge of establishing precise spaceflight information. Nonetheless, the dataset includes information on each satellite's mission, launch year, operational status, mission type, application, operators, mass, volume, and more. Visual aids like graphs and histograms are included to provide a quick overview of Australia's historical spaceflight endeavors. Furthermore, the findings showcase Australia's in-house capabilities for space mission design, production, and operation.
Below is the Australian-owned satellite database created for this project, and current as of August 19, 2023. All citations in creation to this table can be seen under the 'citations' tab. Below the database contains another table to explain and define the datasets pertaining to each satellite.
|
Satellite Name
|
NOARD ID
|
Mission purpose
|
Operational status
|
Operator
|
Launch year
|
Configuration(U)
|
Launch Mass(kg)
|
Contractors
|
Launch site
|
Launch Site Country
|
MissionType
|
OrbitType
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WRESAT
|
3054
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
WRE & University of Adelaide
|
1967
|
|
45
|
|
WOMRA
|
Australia
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
Australis - OSCAR 5 (AO-5)
|
4321
|
Communication
|
Decayed
|
University of Melbourne
|
1970
|
|
17.7
|
|
AFWTR
|
US
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
OPTUS A1 (AUSSAT 1)
|
15993
|
Communication
|
Inactive
|
OPTUS
|
1985
|
|
1250
|
Hughes
|
AFETR
|
US
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS A2 (AUSSAT 2)
|
16275
|
Communication
|
Inactive
|
OPTUS
|
1985
|
|
1250
|
Hughes
|
AFETR
|
US
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS A3 (AUSSAT 3)
|
18350
|
Communication
|
Inactive
|
OPTUS
|
1987
|
|
1250
|
Hughes
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS B2 (AUSSAT B2)
|
22278
|
Communication
|
Decayed
|
OPTUS
|
1992
|
|
2858
|
Hughes
|
XICLF
|
China
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS B1 (AUSSAT B1)
|
22087
|
Communication
|
Inactive
|
OPTUS
|
1992
|
|
2858
|
Hughes
|
XICLF
|
China
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS B3
|
23227
|
Communication
|
Inactive
|
OPTUS
|
1994
|
|
2800
|
Hughes
|
XICLF
|
China
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
WESTPAC (Western Pacific Satellite)
|
25398
|
Geodesy
|
Active
|
EOS
|
1998
|
|
23.8
|
Russian Institute for Space Device Engineering (RISDE)
|
TYMSC
|
RussiaBaikonur
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
FedSat
|
27598
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
CRCSS
|
2002
|
|
58
|
Space Innovations Limited (bus)
|
TANSC
|
Japan
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
OPTUS C1 (Optus and Defence C1)
|
27831
|
Communication
|
Active
|
OPTUS & DEFENCE
|
2003
|
|
4800
|
Mitsubishi Electric (prime), Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) (bus)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS D1
|
29495
|
Communication
|
Active
|
OPTUS
|
2006
|
|
2300
|
Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS D2
|
32252
|
Communication
|
Active
|
OPTUS
|
2007
|
|
2460
|
Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS D3
|
35756
|
Communication
|
Active
|
OPTUS
|
2009
|
|
2500
|
Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
OPTUS 10
|
40146
|
Communication
|
Active
|
OPTUS
|
2014
|
|
3270
|
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
SKY MUSTER 1 (NBN 1A)
|
40940
|
Communication
|
Active
|
NBN Co Limited
|
2015
|
|
6440
|
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
SKY MUSTER 2 (NBN 1B)
|
41794
|
Communication
|
Active
|
NBN Co Limited
|
2016
|
|
6440
|
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
GEO
|
|
Buccaneer RMM
|
43014
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Active
|
University of New South Wales & DSTG
|
2017
|
3
|
4
|
UNSW & DSTG
|
VAFB
|
US
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
I-INSPIRE II (AU03)
|
42731
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
University of Sydney
|
2017
|
2
|
2
|
University of Sydney
|
TYMSC
|
RussiaBaikonur
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
SUSAT(AU01)
|
42730
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
University of Adelaide
|
2017
|
2
|
2
|
University of Adelaide
|
TYMSC
|
RussiaBaikonur
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
UNSW-ECO (AU02)
|
42732
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
University of New South Wales
|
2017
|
2
|
2
|
UNSW
|
TYMSC
|
RussiaBaikonur
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
SIRION PATHFINDER-2
|
43759
|
Communication
|
Active
|
EchoStar
|
2018
|
6
|
10
|
Astro Digital
|
AFWTR
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
CENTAURI-2
|
43722
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
Fleet
|
2018
|
3
|
3.3
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
M1
|
43779
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Inactive
|
University of New South Wales
|
2018
|
3
|
4
|
UNSW
|
KVBG
|
US
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
CENTAURI-1
|
43809
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Fleet
|
2018
|
3
|
3.3
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Satish Dhawan Space Centre
|
India
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
PROXIMA 2
|
43696
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Fleet
|
2018
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
RLLB
|
New Zealand
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
PROXIMA 1
|
43694
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Fleet
|
2018
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
RLLB
|
New Zealand
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
ACRUX1
|
44368
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
Melbourne Space Program
|
2019
|
1
|
1
|
|
RLLB
|
New Zealand
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
TYVAK-0171 (EG 2)
|
46295
|
Communication
|
Active
|
EchoStar
|
2020
|
6
|
10
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
FRGUI
|
French Guiana
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
TYVAK-0172 (EG 1)
|
46267
|
Communication
|
Active
|
EchoStar
|
2020
|
6
|
10
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
M2 Pathfinder
|
45727
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Active
|
University of New South Wales/ RAAF
|
2020
|
3
|
24
|
UNSW
|
RLLB
|
New Zealand
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
M2-A (previously M2)
|
47967
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Active
|
University of New South Wales/ RAAF
|
2021
|
6
|
10
|
UNSW
|
Mahia Peninsula
|
New Zealand
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
M2-B
|
47973
|
Communication
|
Active
|
University of New South Wales/ RAAF
|
2021
|
6
|
10
|
UNSW
|
Mahia Peninsula
|
New Zealand
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
CENTAURI-3 (TYVAK-0210)
|
47966
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Fleet
|
2021
|
6
|
10
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Mahia Peninsula
|
New Zealand
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
CENTAURI-4 (TYVAK-0211)
|
48898
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Fleet
|
2021
|
6
|
10
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
MYRIOTA 7 (TYVAK-0152)
|
47968
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Myriota
|
2021
|
3
|
3.3
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Mahia Peninsula
|
New Zealand
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
TYVAK-0173 (EG 3)
|
48892
|
Communication
|
Active
|
EchoStar
|
2021
|
6
|
12
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
CUAVA-1
|
49275
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
University of Sydney
|
2021
|
3
|
3.3
|
University of Sydney
|
Kennedy Space Centre
|
US
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
Binar 1
|
49272
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Decayed
|
Curtin Unversity
|
2021
|
1
|
1.5
|
Curtin University
|
Kennedy Space Centre
|
US
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
CENTAURI 5
|
52742
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Fleet
|
2022
|
6
|
12
|
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-1
|
55041
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
300
|
Skykraft
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-1D
|
55052
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-1A
|
55054
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-1B
|
55058
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-1C
|
55061
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Cape Canaveral
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-3
|
56229
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
300
|
Skykraft
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-3A
|
56981
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-3B
|
56227
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skykraft-3C
|
56228
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skykraft
|
2023
|
|
|
Skykraft
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
Skycraft-3D
|
57956
|
Communication
|
Active
|
Skycraft
|
2023
|
|
300
|
Skycraft
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Commercial
|
LEO
|
|
SPIRIT
|
58468
|
Science Technology and Education
|
Active
|
University of Melbourne
|
2023
|
6
|
11.5
|
University of Melbourne
|
Vandenberg Space Force Base
|
US
|
Non-profit
|
LEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Column number Dataset Description 1 Satellite name The official and other given names of the satellite 2 NORAD ID Official sequential number assigned by United States Space Command in order of launch. Satellites launched as a single payload with other numerous satellites separating from the launch body will only count as a singular Australian satellite launch as it will have a single NORAD ID 3 Mission purpose The categorical use of the satellite, either communications, geodesy, or science and technology and education 4 Operational status Whether the satellite is active, inactive, or decayed. An active satellite is still operational and can transmit/ receive signals. Inactive satellites are no longer operational but still in orbit. A decayed satellite has fallen from orbit and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere 5 Operator The main operator of the satellite. This may be a joint position 6 Launch year The year the satellite was launched 7 Configuration Applicable for Cub sat design specifications e.g. 1U, 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U, 12U. A 1U Cube sat is a 10cm cube with a maximum mass of 2kg 8 Launch mass Launch mass of the satellite. Cube sats usually specify mass depending on size specification 9 Contractors Manufacturing company of satellite 10 Launch site The site at which the satellite was launched 11 Launch site country The country of Launch Site 12 Mission type Profit or commercial 13 Orbit type Two types; LEO (low Earth orbit about 160-2000km), and GEO (geostationary orbit 35,786km above equator) 14 Year inactive/not operational The year which any previous active satellites are now inactive
