Binar 2-4 Spacecraft

Test CubeSat technologies for deep space missions.

A series of 1U CubeSats which will include - UHF radio link for student activities and experiments. Operation of student payloads will take place from high schools with ground stations built by students. Schools will be encouraged to constantly operate a downlink only station and (with support from a licensed amateur) uplink from their station or from the university ground station.

The Binar team will support students who pursue an amateur license and start clubs at their schools.

• Exploration of the operation of an Australian built constellation.
• Additional validation of the Binar platform demonstrating a resilient system in a space environment.
• Upgrade to the existing bus with more advanced communications.
• Demonstrating tracking surface assets from a 1U with RF beacons.
• Exploration of radiation shielding.
• Operation of robotic elements from Fugro SpAARC facility, including software emulating hardware.
• Testing of onboard digital twins.

The complete development of Binar-2, 3, and 4 was scheduled to take two years following the launch of Binar-1. However, due to chip shortages and knowledge loss due to the departure of engineers and graduating students, the launch was moved to 2024.