The German Aerospace Centre (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt, DLR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australia’s University of Sydney to collaborate on aerospace-related research and teaching activities.

The University of Sydney’s School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering will conduct activities under the new agreement.

DLR will assist the faculty with the design and development, building and testing, as well as integration and launch of satellite technology over the next three years.

“This experience will help us to launch the MISAD.”

The partnership is also expected to work together on the development of the Multi-Spectral Satellite for Australia and Germany (MISAD), the first Earth observation satellite entirely operated by Australia.

University of Sydney Space Engineering executive director Dittus Warwick Holmes said: “We will be able to take full advantage of DLR's technological experience and competency in operating a small 150kg satellite for Earth observation.

“This experience will help us to launch the MISAD.”

The satellite will include two payloads, a multispectral camera to capture various images of the Australian continent. The images will provide insights on water quality of lakes, rivers and dams for agricultural purposes.

The other payload of the satellite will be the Australian equivalent of the DLR BIROS satellite, which is designed to identify high-temperature events such as forest fires, from space.


Image: Cooperation between DLR and University of Sydney. Photo: courtesy of German Aerospace Centre (DLR).