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After nearly seven years of service, the first satellite launched by UNSW Canberra Space recently re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up, its mission finally over.

While only the size of a shoebox, the magnitude of knowledge and experience gained by all those working on the mission cannot be overstated.

Dubbed the Buccaneer Risk Mitigation Mission, launching the satellite was a collaboration between UNSW Canberra Space and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). It was launched in November 2017 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, as part of NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program.

Teams from UNSW Canberra and DSTG commanded the satellite from Australia and shared daily communication with it. The satellite featured a camera developed by UNSW Canberra and a GPS system designed by UNSW Sydney.

The mission helped Defence to fine-tune the performance of Australia’s over-horizon radar network, which can detect objects hundreds or thousands of kilometres beyond traditional radar limits and is a crucial part of Australia’s defence.

Researchers were also able to collect a huge amount of data from the satellite using the international Falcon Telescope Network, including with the telescope based at UNSW Canberra. The data of the satellite’s movement in Low Earth Orbit greatly benefited the university’s research into situational awareness in space.

However, UNSW Canberra Space acting director Melrose Brown said the mission’s greatest success was the experience UNSW researchers and support staff gained from being involved in it.

“The mission provided great insight into the planning, management and operational techniques required for this kind of endeavour,” Dr Brown said.

“It proved that our people have the knowledge and capability to successfully manage these types of missions.

"It established UNSW Canberra as a key partner for Defence, government and other industry leaders to meet the needs of Australia’s rapidly growing space sector.

“The effects of this mission will continue to help both UNSW Canberra and DSTG in any future missions and collaborations.”

Dr Brown also said the satellite’s re-entry was an opportunity to reflect on the issue of space sustainability.

“The space environment continues to become more and more congested, especially in Low Earth Orbit,” he said.

“More satellites are launched into Low Earth Orbit each year and unfortunately it is not always possible to - and some people simply don’t - follow sustainable mission practices like timely disposal and accurate tracking.

“Without careful management we risk over-polluting the area, which would result in Low Earth Orbit being increasingly difficult to use - meaning missions for communications and Earth observation may become impossible.

“Drag-induced re-entry burn-up is a useful disposal strategy for small satellites as it clears up increasingly congested slots in orbit without needing to conduct a controlled manoeuvre at the end of the satellite’s life.

“F�ǰ� , like Buccaneer, we can usually assume that the satellite will burn up completely because its small size and mass cannot withstand the extreme heating loads of a re-entry trajectory. But this is not always the case for larger satellites, and UNSW Canberra researchers are currently trying to better understand the complexities of re-entering larger satellites.”

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of UNSW Canberra Space and the Buccaneer Risk Mitigation Mission was a significant milestone in establishing the university as a key player in the Australian space sector.

It paved the way for further UNSW-led missions that have resulted in advancements in maritime surveillance and information gathering on how satellite trajectories are affected in orbit.

UNSW Canberra Space will host the in November which will highlight the university’s future priorities in space.

DSTG will launch the Buccaneer Main Mission in early 2025, which would not have been possible without the shoebox-sized satellite that burned up quietly last month, leaving behind a long-lasting legacy.