SITAEL Australia has continued its South Australian journey today opening its new satellite design office at innovation precinct Lot Fourteen.

The new office will build the company’s Australian capability to design, build and manufacture satellites of up to 300kg locally.

South Australian Space Industry Centre Chief Executive Richard Price welcomed the expansion and said the presence of such an international leader in small satellite technology embodied the mandate of Lot Fourteen to bring together the brightest minds and create a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“We are very pleased to see SITAEL Australia expand their presence in South Australia, with their unique capability to design and manufacture small satellites. Lot Fourteen is the hub of our space economy, which will be further strengthened by this move,” he said.

“Now home to the headquarters of the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat CRC and the future Mission Control and Space Discovery Centre, Lot Fourteen is a major drawcard for prominent players in the space industry looking to invest in South Australia.

“South Australia is now fuelling the growth of our nation’s space sector, creating high-tech jobs and generating interest from interstate and overseas.”

Mark Ramsey, General Manager of SITAEL Australia said Lot Fourteen provided the ideal venue for cooperation and partnerships in space.

“The proximity to other space organisations such as the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat CRC, Inovor Techologies, Myriota and Neumann Space sealed the decision to locate in Lot Fourteen for SITAEL, and we are excited about expanding the company in such an environment,” Mr Ramsey said.

The opening of the new office will also provide an opportunity for the signing of a new cooperation agreement between SITAEL Australia and Inovor Technologies for SITAEL Australia to formally support the $2.5m Defence contract for the Buccanneer satellite bus.

SITAEL is a global leader in the development of next-generation small satellites and satellite electric propulsion technologies, and is headquartered in Italy. SITAEL Australia’s capabilities include design, build and test of small satellites for a broad range of missions including research and development, communications, and earth observation.