Skykraft launches second Air Traffic Management satellite stack

Canberra-based Skykraft has launched another prototype Air Traffic Management satellite stack. The payload was put into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

This is the second launch for 2023, and part of a program of planned launches supporting Skykraft’s collaboration with Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) on a space-based solution to not only track aircraft but also provide global communications between pilots and air traffic controllers, regardless of aircraft location.

Skykraft’s Air Traffic Management technology paves the way for a new era of services that will transform how the aviation industry operates, improving safety, reducing fuel costs and contributing significantly to reducing the environmental impact of air transport.

The launch showcased Skykraft’s in-house advanced manufacturing capabilities, which have passed the rigorous quality requirements for integration onto the SpaceX Transporter-8 Mission. Skykraft’s in-house manufacturing is part of a commitment to minimise capital costs while maximising performance, to drive competitive pricing in space-based services such as Air Traffic Management (ATM).

The company’s ATM constellation will grow consistently over the coming years to provide redundant global coverage, with an average of more than 7 satellites within range of an aircraft at any time, anywhere in the world.