Valiant Space Secures June Orbital Launch with Skykraft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

31 Jan 2022

Australian satellite propulsion company, Valiant Space, will launch a payload into orbit onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission in June 2022. The company has partnered with Skykraft, an Australian space services company, to facilitate the launch through its Skyride rideshare service. 

The Skyride mission will form a critical part of the development process, allowing Valiant to gain valuable spaceflight experience. The primary focus of the mission is on the testing of a new propellant valve developed for Valiant’s flagship thruster, the VS-1. By demonstrating the valve in space, the company will significantly lower the risk of a key component of the thruster.

“We’re very excited for this flight,” said Andrew Uscinski, the CEO and co-founder of Valiant Space. “It’s an important step towards building customer confidence in the VS-1’s performance.”

Valiant was recently awarded $200,000 by the Australian Government as part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative.

The Demonstrator Feasibility grant has helped Valiant to develop its VS-1 in-space thruster for the growing small satellite market. In-space chemical thrusters like the VS-1 are required for a wide range of manoeuvres, including for orbit insertion, orbit maintenance, collision avoidance, and de-orbiting, and are critical for conducting deep space missions.

The space industry has traditionally relied heavily upon carcinogenic propellants for this type of propulsion. However, by using non-toxic and readily available propellants, Valiant aims to greatly improve the safety and reduce logistical complexities associated with launching satellites to space.

Last week, the Valiant Space team completed the final preparations in advance of the flight later this year. The payload was successfully integrated within the Skykraft satellite, clearing the way for environmental testing to commence. This process entails the satellite undergoing a number of tests to ensure it can withstand the rigours of launching to space.

The mission will mark the start of a campaign to build spaceflight heritage on Australia’s first in-space chemical thruster, with additional missions being developed that will see more Valiant hardware launching to space towards the end of 2022 and start of 2023.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Valiant on our shared interests in building and flying the next generation of space technologies that are being developed right here in Australia,” said Retired Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore, Skykraft’s executive chairman.

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