Space Machines Company

Space is contested. Threats conduct uninvited close approaches to sovereign satellites, and the window to detect, assess and respond is shorter than conventional command and control processes were built to handle. Nhat Nguyen, Mission Manager at Space Machines Company, recently represented SMC at the DTECH26 Capability Showcase at Parliament House, Canberra. The event, run by Defence Trailblazer, brings together stakeholders from defence, academia and industry to build connections that turn into collaborations to improve sovereign capability. That is a mission we are directly invested in. The systems we are developing with Defence Trailblazer and University of Adelaide are grounded in precisely the kind of challenge DTECH26 puts in the room: how do you protect critical space infrastructure when threats move without warning and response time is measured in minutes? Solstice OS is our answer. It autonomously detects potential threats, identifies close approaches and proximity operations, and generates recommended courses of action for operators in near real-time. ■ Continuous space domain awareness, processing real-time data rather than relying on periodic updates ■ Threat analysis and decision support delivered faster than traditional processes allow ■ Human-on-the-loop architecture: AI compresses the time from observation to informed decision; operators retain full authority When threats can approach unannounced and response windows are narrow, the capacity to decide swiftly and act on-orbit is not a marginal advantage. It is the requirement. #SpaceDefence #SpaceDomainAwareness #DefenceInnovation #AustralianSpace

Space security demands hardware that can evolve as fast as the threat. 🛰️ Space Machines Company was awarded $2.9 million in CRC-P funding from the Australian Government, as part of a $6 million consortium investment with University of Technology Sydney, the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) at Bradfield City, and Fordyno PTY LTD. The two-year project "Optimised Generative AI Design for Mass-Manufacturable Spacecraft" will develop a machine learning system that generates optimal spacecraft structures in direct response to shifting design requirements, coupled with additive manufacturing and robotic assembly capable of producing flight hardware in weeks, not months. The final deliverable is a flight-qualified Optimus Viper primary structure validated to launch standards. This will be a proven manufacturing pathway, ready to scale. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources’s Ambitious Australia Report (industry.gov.au/publications/a…) called for exactly this kind of work: industry-university collaboration anchored to national defence priorities, advanced manufacturing kept onshore, and research infrastructure extended to rapid prototyping. This project is a direct response to that ambition, put into practice. 🏭 It will create 15 to 20 high-skilled roles during its term, with SMC's longer-term production trajectory pointing to a workforce requirement several times that size. These are the sovereign industrial jobs Australia's R&D strategy depends on, being built here and now. For SMC, targeting production of 20+ Optimus Viper vehicles annually from our Australian facilities, this is not a research exercise. It is a manufacturing necessity. This project received grant funding from the Australian Government. 🇦🇺 SMC's press release: …pltt28.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/News%20Article… All Round 18 CRC-P grant recipients on the business.gov.au website: business.gov.au/grants-and-pro…

We are thrilled to announce that Space Machines Company has been named a finalist in the Innovation in Aerospace category at the 2026 Manufacturers' Monthly Endeavour Awards! 🏆 Being shortlisted is a genuine honour, and it feels particularly well-timed. Today, the release of the Ambitious Australia report — the government's Strategic Examination of Research and Development by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources — makes the case that building sovereign industrial capability through bold R&D and industry-research partnerships is how Australia competes. SMC is an Australian manufacturer first. We design, build and test spacecraft in Sydney, in collaboration with universities, and industry partners, and we are scaling that capability to create the kind of high-skill manufacturing base a Future Made in Australia demands. We are in excellent company for this category and wish luck to Metakosmos, who we work alongside at the UTS Tech Lab innovation hub and Hypersonix Launch Systems. 🙌 #EndeavourAwards #AustralianManufacturing #SpaceTech #Innovation

🚀 We're proud to welcome Professor Anton van den Hengel as our Chief AI Scientific Advisor. Anton is the Founding Director and Chief Scientist of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), now home to over 200 researchers, and Director of the Centre for Augmented Reasoning. He previously built Amazon Australia's machine learning research group and today chairs the Kingston AI Group. Our AI-driven command and control platform, SolsticeOS, with its threat detection and response capability, sits at the intersection of autonomous decision-making, real-time situational awareness, and machine learning at scale. Anton's expertise in vision, language, and autonomous systems speaks directly to the problems we're solving today. Anton will shape our AI/ML strategy and provide the scientific oversight that mission-critical AI demands. Welcome, Anton. It's a pleasure to have one of Australia's most distinguished AI researchers on our mission to safeguard space for everyone. 🛰️ #SpaceTech #AI #MachineLearning #AustralianSpace #SovereignCapability

Space is for everyone. And we want to see more Australians in it. 🚀 This International Women's Day, we're proud to support efforts to return one of Australia's brightest to space, 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg. As an ESA-trained, mission-ready astronaut, she is living proof that Australian women belong at the frontier of human spaceflight. Katherine's journey is exactly the kind of story IWD was made for, not just as inspiration, but as a call to action. The systemic barriers that have long kept women underrepresented in space exploration don't disappear on their own. They require deliberate investment, bold partnerships, and governments willing to act. A formal mission partnership with ESA would open access to European supply chains and long-term procurement frameworks, anchor deep-tech capability in Australia, and position us as a serious long-term participant in space. Katherine's mission would generate real scientific outcomes in areas like space medicine and microgravity research, and signal to the world that Australia is ready to contribute at the highest level. For the seven in ten Australian kids under twelve who want to go to space, many of them girls who will grow up watching what we do next, it would mean everything. 🌏 On a day when we celebrate the women shaping our future, let's back one of the best. We are calling on the Australian Government to open formal negotiations with ESA. The window is open. Let's seize the opportunity. 👩‍🚀 #FlyKatherine #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #AustralianSpace #ESA #WomenInSTEM #WomenInSpace

🇦🇺🇮🇳 Space Machines Company is actively contributing to India–Australia trade relations by sharing operational learnings, developing practical partnership pathways, and advocating for stronger bilateral connections in advanced manufacturing and space technology. Our participation in the Delhi launch of "Pitch Perfect: Perfect Conditions for a $100 Billion Partnership", the India–Australia Business Case Studies Compendium hosted by Newland Global Group and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, exemplifies this commitment. Our Global Missions Engineering Lead, Genoedberg Nadar, joined the panel discussion to share how Australian space companies can build genuine cross-border collaboration, encouraging other organisations to pursue similar partnerships that strengthen both economies. 🌏 🛰️ The Space MAITRI mission demonstrates this in practice. Australian-designed spacecraft technology will be integrated and launched in India, establishing a practical bilateral supply chain for advanced space systems. This technology demonstration, launching in 2027 on India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, creates pathways for further trade and partnerships whilst showcasing how the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) enables real manufacturing and engineering collaboration. Through MAITRI and our ongoing advocacy to both governments, SMC is helping foster the connections that advance sustainable space operations and create skilled jobs across both nations. Thank you to Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Dr. Preeti Tak, and the entire IIFT team for documenting these real-world business journeys and creating platforms that strengthen policy, academic, and industry collaboration. Thanks also to Natasha Jha Bhaskar, Newland Global Group, Investment NSW and The Consulate General of India Sydney. The Space Maitri project received grant funding from the Australian Government via the Australian Space Agency. #IndiaAustralia #SpaceTechnology #ECTA #SpaceCollaboration

From observation to action. That is where space defence needs to go. 🛰️ Today, when a potentially hostile spacecraft begins manoeuvring toward a critical satellite, operators often do not know about it until well after the approach has begun. And when they do, the process of assessing intent, evaluating options and deciding on a response can take hours. In a domain where threats can loiter indefinitely near high-value assets, that timeline is not good enough. ⚡We are developing autonomous threat detection and response planning capabilities within Solstice OS to compress the entire cycle from detection through to decision. The goal is to process inputs from multiple space domain awareness sources, continuously assess orbital dynamics, predict potential interference windows, and generate courses of action for operators before the window to respond has closed. 🎯This is about accelerating decision-making and response coordination for space operations. Solstice OS will provide the intelligence and decision support to act with speed and confidence. Optimus Viper provides the physical means to respond. The operator remains in control throughout. Human-on-the-loop architecture means the system recommends, the decision-maker decides. 📍Interested in how we're moving space defence from passive observation to coordinated action? Join our Co-Founder and CEO Rajat Kulshrestha at the Australian Defence Magazine Space Summit on 18 February at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra. #SpaceDefence #SpaceDomainAwareness #AUKUS #DefenceInnovation

🚀Come join the team building the distributed rapid response system that will safeguard space for everyone. We are looking for exceptional engineers to help us deliver 🛰️Optimus Viper and 🖥️Solstice OS: the spacecraft and command and control platform. Our platform enables proximity operations across all orbital regimes, autonomous decision-making at scale, and resilient infrastructure. Current openings in Sydney: ■ Satellite Flight Software Lead apply.workable.com/spacemachines/… ■ Principal Command and Data Handling Engineer apply.workable.com/spacemachines/… ■ Principal Electrical Power System Engineer apply.workable.com/spacemachines/… ■ Avionics Lead (Power and Data) apply.workable.com/spacemachines/… ■ Astrodynamics Engineer apply.workable.com/spacemachines/… 🚀Become a Space Machinist! The engineers joining us now will shape systems that are already progressing towards launch. This is work that defines what comes next in space operations. We are industrialising orbital servicing at a scale that brings cost down 10x and makes rapid response capabilities genuinely accessible. As we scale to 30+ vehicles annually, you will be part of the team building the spacecraft and software that enable this transformation. These are full-time, permanent positions based at our UTS Tech Lab facility in Sydney. Explore the full details: apply.workable.com/spacemachines/ #SpaceSustainability #SpaceEngineering #DefenceSpace #Hiring

Planning to attend the SmallSat Symposium in Mountain View (Feb 10-12)? 🇺🇸 Our President of USA Operations, Johanne Lecomte, will be there to explore how Space Machines Company can support your mission objectives. Whether you're looking to enhance satellite protection through in-orbit inspection and monitoring with 🛰️ Optimus Viper, streamline your operations with 🖥️ Solstice OS's AI-driven tasking and autonomous threat response capabilities, or accelerate your spacecraft integration with our 🔥 Scintilla propulsion system, we would welcome the conversation. The space domain is getting more contested and congested. Let's discuss how we can help you stay ahead. DM Johanne Lecomte to schedule time at the conference. #SmallsatSymposium #SpaceTech #SatelliteProtection

Space Machines Company has secured a $2.9 million contract with Defence's Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) to develop the Space Threat Analysis and Response System (STARS). Space has gone from uncontested to contested in less than a decade. The infrastructure we depend on is now infrastructure we have to protect. Allied satellites are being tracked, approached, and probed; with adversaries gathering intelligence and positioning for potential interference with the systems underpinning communications, navigation, and economic activity. Upon completion, STARS capability will integrate into our Solstice OS platform to coordinate fleets of Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicles and translate awareness into action. By developing this sovereign capability in Australia, we are contributing to the resilience of the allied space defence industrial base and advancing the priorities outlined in the National Defence Strategy. See more detail in our announcement here: …pltt28.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/News%20Article… Read the full announcement from the Australian Department of Defence here: defence.gov.au/news-events/re… #SpaceDefence #SpaceDomainAwareness #AustralianSpaceTech #DefenceInnovation

🛰️ After a year of working hard, the Space Machines Company team is taking a well-earned break. As we celebrate Christmas and the holiday season, we are handing operations over to the ultimate logistics expert for his annual mission. 🎅🏻 Thank you 🙏 to everyone who has been part of our journey this year; our team, partners, customers, and supporters who believe in what we are building. 🎄 Wishing everyone a wonderful festive season and we look forward to sharing exciting Optimus Viper updates when we return in 2026! 🚀

🎙️ Hear our Co-Founders George and Raj on The Spacepower Podcast We are excited to share our recent appearance on The Spacepower Podcast with Bill Woolf, President and CEO of the Space Force Association, an organisation to which Space Machines Company are now proudly members! Co-Founders Rajat Kulshrestha and George Freney discussed how SMC is building the infrastructure for sustainable space operations through our Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicles and proximity operations capabilities. Key topics covered: ▪️ Australia's growing role as a trusted Five Eyes partner in space operations ▪️ How proximity operations transform space from observation to action ▪️ Our approach to manufacturing spacecraft at scale (targeting 100+ vehicles annually) ▪️ The upcoming Space MAITRI mission. The conversation explored how distributed, cost-effective space capabilities strengthen allied space architecture, enable the persistent custody needed for space superiority and how SMC is building the platform to provide these capabilities. 📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=DgpnrV… 🎧 Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0NqI9B… #SpaceSustainability #SpaceSecurity #AustralianSpace #SpacePower

🚀 SMC is heading to the Space Force Association Spacepower Conference! Our president of USA operations, Johanne Lecomte is heading to Orlando. Looking forward to connecting with Defense and security professionals to discuss our orbital servicing capabilities, space domain awareness solutions, and how we are enabling rapid response to any orbit. Attending the conference? Reach out to Johanne (via LinkedIn DM) to arrange a meeting and discover how our Orbitside Assist service delivers rapid on-orbit response for space assets at risk. #Spacepower

Why UTS Tech Lab is the perfect launchpad for our mission 🚀 Our home at UTS Tech Lab gives us more than just office space. We have access to cutting-edge facilities for testing and rapid prototyping, helping us iterate quickly and reducing the cost and time required to produce Optimus Viper. We can also collaborate with academics at University of Technology Sydney who bring deep functional expertise, and work alongside other innovative space-tech companies. The talent pipeline is also exceptional, with several graduate UTS students and interns joining our team. Most recently, UTS Tech Lab co-developed our new Accelerated Integration and Test facility, OF-01 🛠️ This partnership strengthens our capability to scale spacecraft production, and it is fundamental to achieving our mission of safeguarding space for everyone 🛰️ #TechStartup #DeepTech #SpaceTech #MadeInAustralia

⚡ Rigorous shock testing for critical flight hardware Following vibration testing, our team has now completed shock testing of solenoid valves at the National Space Test Facility at ANU Institute for Space | InSpace Mount Stromlo, working alongside Eduardo Trifoni. It was a pleasure to have these tests observed by Arvind Ramana, Pete Hunter, Jo Matthews and Gillian Altham as part of certification for the Space MAITRI mission. This work directly supports flight readiness for Optimus Viper to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations in low Earth orbit. Shock testing validates whether these flow control components can withstand the extreme acceleration events experienced during stage separation, payload deployment, and other dynamic mission phases. 🚀 This systematic qualification approach ensures every element of our Scintilla propulsion system meets the demanding requirements of spaceflight environments. By methodically testing and validating components before integration, we de-risk our development pathway whilst maintaining the cost efficiency that enables our distributed orbital response model. 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼 The collaboration with ANU InSpace and access to world-class facilities in Australia continues to accelerate our ability to deliver reliable, affordable space capabilities. These partnerships exemplify the ecosystem approach needed to build sovereign space capabilities at scale. From individual components to integrated systems, each test advances our mission to safeguard space for everyone. 🦾 The Space MAITRI project received grant funding from the Australian Government via the Australian Space Agency. #PropulsionDevelopment #SpaceMaitri #SpaceHardware #FlightQualification

🚀 "Space Machinists" are synced up, and ready to sprint together! All of Space Machines Company came together for our company day. This included our Indian and American colleagues joining remotely, to refine our ways of working and unite around our shared vision of safeguarding space for everyone. 🌏 We heard from our founders and Senior Leadership Team about the exciting path ahead as we scale towards producing 20 spacecraft annually at our OF-01 facility at UTS Tech Lab. Through collaborative 🤝 workshops, we explored how to better embrace our curiosity and accelerate the sharing of lessons learnt from every challenge we face and overcome. 🦾 The day reinforced what makes SMC special: our ability to bridge deep technical expertise with commercial pragmatism ⚡, our commitment to sustainable space operations, and our dedication to pioneering Australia's role in orbital servicing and space security. ⭐ With this highly capable crew aligned and energised, we're ready to deliver on our ambitious roadmap from Space MAITRI Mission through to our operational network of Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicles supported by Solstice OS. 🛰️ If you are interested in joining our team, check out our job openings at apply.workable.com/spacemachines/ #SpaceTechnology #TeamAlignment #SpaceSustainability #AustralianSpace

🚀 Inspiring curiosity about space, one conversation at a time Our CEO Rajat Kulshrestha and Head of Marketing Sharmila Fernando, alongside engineers WEI TING C. and Andrew Jones, recently participated in the Sydney Science Festival's "Meet a Scientist" program for Powerhouse Museum Parramatta. The festival brought together 👩‍🚀 astronauts, space scientists and creatives for a full day of hands-on science experiences. Our team shared SMC's work in building the 🛰️ Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicle, the Scintilla engine, and answered questions from curious minds of all ages. This is what we are here for - sparking wonder about space 🌌 and showing young Australians the exciting opportunities waiting in our growing space sector! Every curious question today could lead to tomorrow's breakthrough. 🌟 Thank you to the Powerhouse Museum and the City of Parramatta for creating such meaningful opportunities to connect science with the community! 🌏✨ #SpaceEducation #STEM #AustralianSpace #SydneyScienceFestival

Our satellites are under attack. Every week. Right now. UK Space Command recently confirmed what we've known for months: hostile nations are actively stalking allied defence satellites with inspector spacecraft designed to jam, intercept, and destroy. Over 200 anti-satellite weapons publicly acknowledged in orbit (the real number is classified and far higher). This isn't future planning - it's today's reality. Traditional defenses? Obsolete. When an adversary parks a weapon next to your satellite, encryption won't save you. At Space Machines Company, we are deploying distributed rapid-response spacecraft that flip the script: ▪️Turn every hunter into the hunted ▪️Document hostile actions with undeniable evidence ▪️Create defensive swarms that multiply adversary targeting problems ▪️Deploy electronic countermeasures that actively degrade their intelligence The economics have changed. When defenders cost less than attackers, when you can deploy 10 for the price of 1, deterrence becomes sustainable. Allied space commanders from UK, France, and Canada are sounding the alarm. The question isn't IF we need responsive space capabilities - it's whether we'll build them before it's too late. Read the full analysis on why distributed forward deployed capability is the answer to persistent space threats, below. linkedin.com/pulse/escalati… #SpaceSecurity #DefenceTechnology #SpaceDomain #AlliedDefence