News

Currently there is an estimated 9,000 metric tonnes of space debris orbiting Earth, travelling at speeds of 27,000 kilometres per hour and posing a risk to the long-term safety of space activities.

A local startup is harnessing artificial intelligence to help identify space debris and remove it, thanks to a $100,000 Seed-Start grant.

Local company Paladin Space is developing a world-leading, reusable space debris remover that will reduce the risk posed to spacecraft by debris including defunct satellites, rocket parts and smaller items floating in the Earth’s orbit.

The product is expected to benefit commercial satellite owners, the defence industry, and government space agencies.

Founder of Paladin Space and former graduate of UniSA’s Venture Catalyst Space Program Harrison Box will work with the Australian Institute for Machine Learning to develop new image processing techniques to help identify space debris using artificial intelligence.

The $100,000 Seed-Start grant will also help to refine Paladin’s novel capture design technology and finalise a prototype for demonstration by mid-2025, accelerating the pathway to market and attracting further investment.

Sponsored by the South Australian Government, Paladin Space will join eight other startups on a delegation to the US from 27 October to 2 November. Hosted by Tribe Global Ventures, Paladin Space will have the opportunity to pursue significant business development opportunities, including meeting with Space X and NASA to pitch its debris removal technology.

South Australia is positioning as a leading incubator for space technology, and Paladin Space is a valued member of our space sector ecosystem.

The Seed-Start program is part of the government’s Research and Innovation Fund, providing grant funding for high-growth potential businesses to support the commercialisation of a unique product or service.