Binar-1 and Space Science: Part 2
Now transmitting data from space to Earth, we explore the next steps for Western Australia’s diminutive Binar-1 satellite.
Jess is joined by the Director and Deputy Director of Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre, the largest space science centre in the Southern Hemisphere and the governing centre of the Binar Space Program.
In this special, part two episode, we discuss the historic release of Binar-1 from the International Space Station on 6 October 2021 and how the crew had almost lost hope until a colleague received transmission while driving on a Perth freeway two weeks later.
We then chat about what data the crew will acquire, the purpose of Binars 2–7 and the Binar Prospector, and the broader economic, environmental and social impacts of the program on WA and the world.
- Making contact with Binar-1 [00:47]
- Preparing for Binars-2 to 7 [05:32]
- Heading to the Moon with NASA [08:10]
- Why CubeSats are more sustainable in space orbit [09:32]
- Involving the amateur radio community and other enthusiasts [12:55]
- How Binar-1 can help to diversify WA’s economy [18:48]
- Why nothing inspires quite like space [22:38]
Learn more
- The Future Of: Binar-1 and Space Science, featuring Binar Project Manager Ben Hartig
- Binar Space
- Curtin University: Space hunt begins as WA’s Binar-1 mission takes next giant leap
- Curtin University: Binar-1 to ground control! WA’s first homegrown spacecraft makes contact
Connect with our guests
Professor Phil Bland
Professor Bland is the Director of the Space Science and Technology Centre, and Director of the Desert Fireball Network (DFN). He has research interests in several distinct areas in planetary science: using primitive meteorites to explore the origin and early evolution of the Solar System, and understanding asteroid and cometary impacts.
- Professor Bland’s staff profile
- Professor Bland’s LinkedIn profile
- Reaction to finding his first DFN meteorite
Renae Sayers
Renae Sayers is the Deputy Director and Research Ambassador for the centre, leading engagement strategies and policy advocacy. Through her advocacy for Women in STEM and collaboration with NASA, Sayers was selected by the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program for 2018, advancing empowerment for women leaders, planetary science and outreach.
Questions or suggestions for future topics
Email thefutureof@curtin.edu.au
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Transcript
Binar-1 and Space Science transcript
Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.
Music: OKAY by 13ounce Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Music promoted by Audio Library.
Image of Deployment of the Binar-1 and the BIRDS-2S (MAYA-3 and MAYA-4) from the Kibo. Copyright JAXA/NASA
