Enable Aerospace

enable aerospace is proud to partner with industry and education leaders.

Partners

Sierra Space

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Founded in 1963, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has a long history of producing high performance, innovative space components and systems that are changing how we reach, explore, and utilise space.

Recognised among the world’s most innovative companies in space, SNC delivers tailored solutions to government and commercial customers, with applications in space exploration and satellites, aircraft integrations, navigation and guidance systems, threat detection and security research and infrastructure protection.

SNC’s Dream Chaser spacecraft is a multi-mission utility vehicle designed for transporting crew and cargo to and from low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations such as the International Space Station.

The Dream Chaser is currently under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for six commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), providing cargo delivery, return, and waste disposal services. It is the only commercial spacecraft capable of low-g earth return to commercial runways worldwide, allowing immediate access to high value payloads. SNC is also developing free-flying, low earth orbit missions to further access to space for commercial, agency, and international customers. Standard interfaces for deployed or returned payloads are highly valuable to maximise utilisation and lower costs.

Through this collaboration with Enable Aerospace Pty Ltd, it is envisioned that a novel standard payload interface will be developed for initial use on the SNC Dream Chaser spaceplane and potentially on other efforts throughout cislunar space. Upon successful demonstration via a space qualification flight planned in the 2023-24 timeframe, these racks can fulfil payload interface requirements on future annual flights. We are also prepared to work with Enable Aerospace to explore the utilisation of these racks in SNC developed hardware for other programs such as Artemis, ISS, Lunar Gateway, and commercial low earth orbit (LEO). This rack system will have excellent application in all space projects and would be in high demand.

RMIT University

RMIT University

RMIT is a global university of technology, design, and enterprise. The Sir Lawrence Wackett Centre, at RMIT University, supports the Transformation and growth of Australia’s defence, aerospace, and transport systems industries.

We work with organisations to build globally competitive and sustainable Australian industries by delivering trusted technology, business solutions, and workforce skills development. We have expertise in every stage of product development from concept, design, and testing, to policy, and implementation.

Through our commitment to industry best practice, transdisciplinary collaboration, and cross-sector partnerships, we support the growth of Australia’s high-tech economy by the Defence, Aerospace and Transport Systems industries. Our broad capability makes us the partner of choice for a wide range of government, industry organisations and other research institutions.

Housing some of the most advanced manufacturing technologies available, RMIT’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct (AMP) brings design and engineering together, from digital design to digital manufacturing. We focus on 3D printing of advanced high value-added products and components, including product design, topology optimisation, material selection and manufacturing processes.

The Enable Aerospace Universal Payload Rack System (UPRS) and Interface on SNC Dream Chaser project aims to grow Australian Space industry capabilities through a partnership between Enable Aerospace Pty Ltd and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). RMIT University will provide access to its AMP manufacturing facilities as well as contribute academic and technical support for design and manufacturing as part of a postgraduate PhD research project as in-kind.

Melbourne University

University of Melbourne

Established in 1853, UoM is Australia’s leading research and teaching university. It is a founding member of the Group of Eight – Australia’s leading research-intensive universities – and consistently ranked among the leading universities in the world for research and teaching, with international rankings as number 1 in Australia and number 32 in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020). In Australia, our research expenditure is second only to that of CSIRO. With over 100 research centres and institutes, over 8,000 staff and over 50,000 students we bring together expertise from across the University and connect with thought leaders around the world to tackle society’s complex problems in innovative ways.

UoM is deeply committed to expand the capability and capacity of the Australian space sector through its space research endeavors.

Founded in 2019, UoM’s Space Laboratory (MSL) has already established itself as one of the points of excellence for nanosatellite R&D in Australia. The laboratory includes academics with international leadership in space science and engineering and engineers with extensive international experience in aerospace companies. MSL team members have more than 25 years of combined experience in spacecraft thermal and mechanical engineering. This includes lead thermal roles at Airbus Defence and Space (UK) for the thermal control systems for ESA missions, including Rosetta, LISA Pathfinder and Solar Orbiter and locally for the Buccaneer Risk Mitigation Mission, RAAF M1, M2PF and M2 CubeSats, and SpIRT. Members have substantial experience in running and leading end-to-end thermal environmental campaigns for nanosatellites. Additionally, strong foundations in thermal engineering principles, through experience building complete high-end thermal modelling and simulation tools, allow for efficient thermal solutions.

enable aerospace partners

The University of Melbourne
RMIT University
Sierra Space