Satellite components locally made
A team of academics at Newcastle University has finished designing a component of an Australian satellite, which will be launched in November next year.
The university is developing a magnetometer for inclusion on the satellite, the first Australia has launched in 30 years.
Brian Frasier, from the University's Physics Department says the information gathered by the magnetometer will help predict "space weather" which can cause serious damage to satellites and other space craft.
Professor Frasier says the team has only a few months to create a prototype model, before final construction in the United States.
"So we're working towards producing a prototype model of the magnetometer by September/October this year," he said.
"We have to have a flight model, which is the final model, delivered by February next year so it can be integrated into the space craft platform and connected up, tested etc."