A roadside assist service, but for space? Space Machines Company (SMC) is pioneering on-orbit satellite servicing with technology to monitor, maintain, and safeguard orbiting infrastructure.
Space exploration has grown sizeably in recent years through increasing investments and a race to expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth.
Satellites, once a tool of governments and research institutions, are now pivotal to an array of sectors, from communications to weather forecasting, navigation, and even global financial systems.
However, as the number of satellites in orbit increases, so does the need for their protection and maintenance. Space Machines Company (SMC) is at the forefront of addressing these concerns, offering solutions to monitor, maintain, and safeguard satellites, ensuring their continuous functionality for the modern world.
Space Machines Company is an Australian-based company specialising in building advanced systems for space, both hardware and software.
Established in 2019, the company focuses on leading the transformation of space operations through its Orbitside Assist capability. This is crucial for services that billions of people depend on, such as GPS, communication, and banking apps.
“How do we protect the satellites we have? How do we understand what might have gone wrong with them? How do we make sure there’s not a lot of debris being created in space? We build space systems that focus on making sure that the satellites we have that service are safeguarded,” said Space Machines Company CEO and co-founder, Rajat Kulshrestha.
The goal of SMC’s primary products is to ensure the safety and longevity of satellites in orbit, which can be crucial to maintaining global infrastructure.
SMC operates from Sydney, where its manufacturing takes place; Adelaide for Mission Control and government operations; and Bangalore, India, for component manufacturing.
Orbit Side Assistance and Optimus
At the heart of SMC’s product offerings is the “OrbitSide Assist” system.
With space infrastructure investment soaring – $53 billion in the past year alone –understanding satellite risks, whether due to internal issues, damage, or security concerns, is crucial.
As satellites become increasingly integral to services such as GPS, telecommunications, and financial transactions, any malfunction or disruption of these systems can have catastrophic consequences.
“OrbitSide Assist was created to fill the gap that exists in satellite maintenance today”, said Kulshrestha.
“It is our solution that helps customers gain a better understanding of what’s happening around their satellites. It’s essentially like roadside assistance, but for space.”
Traditionally, satellite repair and maintenance are long-term, time-consuming and expensive processes. If something goes wrong with a satellite, the only option has been to either send a team to investigate (which could take months or even years) or launch a new satellite, which comes at a tremendous cost.
SMC’s OrbitSide Assist provides insights into satellite conditions, helping customers quickly assess and act on potential problems. It enables fast, effective support for satellites, even when they’re hundreds of kilometres away.
In the evolution of this technology, SMC developed the Optimus spacecraft. Optimus was designed to reach satellites in orbit, carry out inspections, and potentially conduct repairs.
“We started building Optimus five years ago with the goal of creating a spacecraft that was highly capable, cost-effective, and offered rapid access to satellite,” added Kulshrestha.
“Our first mission taught us a lot about building large satellites. The original Optimus was the largest satellite ever designed and built in Australia. Based on that experience, we’re now developing a new variant, the Optimus Viper, which is leaner, more optimised, and set to fly next year on an Indian SSL rocket.”
These spacecraft are designed to help governments and commercial satellite operators monitor satellite health, inspect potential threats such as space debris, and respond swiftly to issues that might otherwise disrupt services for long periods.
Space Maitri
SMC’s commitment to sustainability in space is not limited to satellite maintenance and debris management; it extends to a collaborative mission that enhance global space cooperation.
One such initiative is “Space Maitri,” a mission that SMC proposed and is supported by the Australian Government. In April 2024, $8.5 million through the Australian Space Agency’s International Space Investment India Projects program.
It is a collaboration between India and Australia, which focuses on ensuring the sustainability of space through debris management and collaboration underscored by data-sharing and supply chain development.
“SMC won the largest part of that grant,” said Kulshrestha.
“Space Maitri is a mission where we will be flying one of our Optimus Viper satellites aboard a dedicated Indian rocket, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
“This initiative aims to promote sustainability in space by sharing data on space debris behaviour and exploring ways to manage and remove it in the future. It also focuses on improving data-sharing between India and Australia and fostering collaboration within the supply chains and manufacturing ecosystems of both countries.”
Maitri is crucial in this perspective, allowing Australian companies to learn how to work alongside Indian partners and the Indian government, especially given India’s space heritage and sector growth.
“Space Maitri involves a 200-kilogram spacecraft that will be launched atop the SSLV rocket,” explained Kulshrestha.
“Once in orbit, it will release an object and then capture it back, demonstrating the potential to retrieve space debris and reduce the creation of additional debris. The spacecraft will also inspect other pieces of debris to better understand their behaviour, and through this, explore techniques that could be applied to remove them.”
Safe and sustainable manufacturing
SMC’s manufacturing operations are largely based in Sydney, where the company produces its spacecraft and components. However, it has expanded its supply chain to various parts of Australia, including Adelaide and Queensland, where specific manufacturing processes like propulsion systems are handled.
Additionally, SMC works closely with international partners, such as suppliers in India and Europe, to bolster its manufacturing capabilities.
With a team of 45 employees, SMC is currently focused on producing three spacecraft for launch in the coming years, with plans to scale up production to 20 units annually by 2027.
By focusing on efficient manufacturing techniques, such as the use of 3D printing and CNC machinery, SMC aims to reduce costs while maintaining high standards of reliability and quality.
The company’s focus on sustainability permeates its production processes. Through careful sourcing of materials, minimising waste, and reusing test equipment, SMC is working toward making its manufacturing operations as environmentally responsible as possible.
“We focus on streamlining multiple tests and production processes into a single shift, reducing the need for repetition,” said Kulshrestha.
“These small efficiencies improve sustainability and resource use, and we collaborate with vendors to ensure they apply these principles practically when purchasing equipment.”
However, according to SMC, the most important factor is safety.
“We ensure that anything we send into space won’t create dangerous situations, either during re-entry or if something goes wrong,” added Kulshrestha.
“We invest significant effort in modelling to account for factors like spacecraft strength, stress, and the limits of components, such as tanks’ exposure to pressure and temperature.
“We follow strict safety guidelines to maintain sustainability and, operationally, ensure the spacecraft can safely deorbit without contributing to space debris.”
The road ahead
Looking forward, SMC’s immediate focus is on completing the upcoming Space Maitri mission, as well as the deployment of additional Optimus spacecraft.
SMC’s ability to provide “on-demand” satellite servicing will reshape the way the aerospace industry operates. It promises a future where satellite operators will not have to wait months or even years for satellite repairs, potentially saving billions of dollars and preventing critical infrastructure failures.
“Our key focus is building sovereign capability in Australia by emphasising what we excel at,” concluded Kulshrestha.
“While we may not compete on labour costs, we can lead in developing innovative, high-value technology. Our goal is to combine international supply chains with Australia’s manufacturing expertise and innovation, creating circular supply chains.
“Beyond building spacecraft and serving customers, our team is driven by showcasing the capabilities of Australian manufacturers to the world.”
SMC is not just solving current problems in satellite servicing but also laying the groundwork for the next generation of space exploration and satellite maintenance.