HENSOLDT and the University of Tasmania defend space in simulation exercise called ‘SpaceFest’
Hobart, Australia, 12 April 2022 – This week, as part of the Southern Guardian Partnership, HENSOLDT and the University of Tasmania participated in the Defence sponsored SpaceFest which is an international activity in which participants demonstrate their capability to detect, track and catalogue objects orbiting Earth, to understand, predict and prevent adverse events.
Hobart, Australia, 12 April 2022 – This week, as part of the Southern Guardian Partnership, HENSOLDT and the University of Tasmania participated in the Defence sponsored SpaceFest which is an international activity in which participants demonstrate their capability to detect, track and catalogue objects orbiting Earth, to understand, predict and prevent adverse events.
SpaceFest is part of a joint civil-military, international space traffic management exercise consisting of real and simulated events in which companies collaborate and compete to solve problems.
SpaceFest saw our staff ‘chasing’ satellites identified by a central management cell, mapping and predicting their orbits and sharing information back into the central team. Information was visible on large screens in the universities interim operations room, after being processed through our unique Space Battle Management System. The event was hosted by HENSOLDT Australia Deputy CEO Mr Scott Reeman and Professor Simon Ellingsen, Dean of School of Natural Sciences at the University of Tasmania.
Scott Reeman said, “SpaceFest is a fantastic opportunity for HENSOLDT and the University to showcase our unique nationwide sovereign SDA capabilities. The Southern Guardian Team is expertly playing a leading role in the development of this Australian national capability.”
Professor Ellingsen said the global training exercise was an opportunity to collaborate with and learn from other universities, government organisations and private companies around the world.
“This exercise is all about building our collective capacity in space domain awareness. We will be demonstrating the capabilities of the five radio telescopes we manage across Australia, which operate at a higher frequency than most and are able to retrieve very accurate information.”
This activity will assist the Australian Defence Force’s new Space Command to understand our ability to support the collection of data, search for objects and identify threats to Australia’s space-based capability.
HENSOLDT and the University of Tasmania formed the Southern Guardian Partnership last year. The Partnership combines the capabilities of HENSOLDT, a leading provider of platform-independent technology solutions in the space sector with those of the University, who own and have sovereign control over the largest continental networked array of sensors in Australia.
HENSOLDT Australia
HENSOLDT Australia and New Zealand is committed to unlocking the potential of technological solutions and services by providing its customers with integrated answers and analytics. We work across the Defence and Security industry, are pioneering into the Australian Space awareness domain, and are focusing on the Clean Technology potential in Australia and New Zealand. Our Solutions and Services expertise is what stands us apart.
Our capabilities include design, manufacture, integration, engineering, repair, and ILS (Integrated Logistics Support). We are internationally recognized for our leading-edge technologies, installing, and delivering radars and electronic solutions, hydrogen systems, electro-optronics, and air traffic control solutions.
HENSOLDT Australia is headquartered in Canberra, with offices in Hobart, Newcastle and Adelaide and a growing team that support various Defence programs and civilian applications across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
ABOUT HENSOLDT
HENSOLDT Australia is part of the HENSOLDT Group and consolidates the portfolio of products and solutions offered to the Australian and New Zealand market.
HENSOLDT is a German champion in the defence industry with a leading market position in Europe and a global reach. Headquartered in Taufkirchen near Munich/Germany, the company develops sensor solutions for defence and security applications. As a technology leader, HENSOLDT also continuously expands its Cyber security portfolio and develops new products to combat a wide range of threats based on innovative approaches to data management, robotics and cyber. With more than 6,400 employees, HENSOLDT generated revenues of 1.2 billion euros in 2020. HENSOLDT is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Contact
Nicola Leigh Tel.: +44 1992 805 349
Communications nicola.leigh@hensoldt.net
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