Fleet Space Technologies will launch their fifth nanosatellite, ​Centauri 3, in mid-March aboard Rocket Lab’s ​“They Go Up So Fast” mission, taking off from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula.

Myriota will also be along for the ride with their own Internet of Things (IoT) nanosatellite.

The Centauri 3, which is roughly the size of a shoebox and weighs just under 10kg, is Fleet Space’s most advanced commercial nanosatellite to go into orbit and will be part of a constellation of 140 to provide global satellite connectivity for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

The ​6U ​nanosatellite will join Fleet Space’s constellation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at ​550 km​, which is powering a global network of connected devices used in the resource and mining industries.

Fleet Space CEO Flavia Tata Nardini said critical mining infrastructure is often challenged by asset remoteness but still requires secure two-way communications and the ability to be managed remotely.

“Fleet Space has worked for many years to create these world-first features that underpin the real internet from space for things, putting the company as a leader in critical infrastructure IoT management around the world,” she said.

The deployed satellites will also support Fleet Space’s SEVEN SISTERS moon mission in 2023, which was announced last year and will join the search for abundant, accessible water in support of NASA’s Artemis Program.

Myriota’s new satellite brings the company closer to near-real time connectivity.

It will support Myriota’s global utilities, transport and logistics, supply chain, agriculture, mining and defence customers, which include Zepiro, Goanna Ag and Yabby.

The satellite will improve Myriota’s existing service, which provides access to data from anywhere on Earth and is known for its long battery life and direct-to-orbit connectivity.

The company is backed by investors including Boeing HorizonX Ventures, Singtel Innov8 Ventures, In-Q-Tel and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“Myriota continues to execute on its mission to make data accessible for industries with previously unconnectable assets – located anywhere on Earth,” Myriota CTO and Co-founder Dr David Haley said.

“The launch with Rocket Lab marks the arrival of a new generation of Myriota satellite, expanding our constellation to serve our growing, global customer base.”

The South Australian space ecosystem has grown in recent years, with collaborations with NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the establishment of the SmartSat CRC and Andy Thomas Space Foundation, and the presence of numerous successful startups such as the Inovor, Lux Aerobot, and Southern Launch.