ABSTRACT. Gravity has been one of the only constant forces throughout evolution. How gravity is involved in regulating how the human body functions, regenerates and fights disease remains poorly understood. Importantly, Astronauts experience a number of acute and chronic multi-organ health issues in the absence of gravity indicating that gravity is essential for many human biological processes including wound healing. Understanding how gravity as a force can chemically signal in organs and cells is therefore likely to provide completely novel health interventions on earth.

I will describe here our initial work to set up new models to understand how gravity impacts on biological systems. We have partnered with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and Australian engineering company Enable Aerospace to develop these long-term multidisciplinary projects. These range from the development of a new simple animal model for space research, Trichoplax, to engineered modules to examine how human gastrointestinal cells behave and communicate to each other in microgravity. I will describe the infrastructure required to enable these experiments, our initial ground based simulated gravity and short-term real microgravity sounding rocket studies, and potential pathways for Australian microgravity researchers to conduct such experiments.

Through joining strengths with other biomedical researchers in Australia and internationally, as a community we are aiming to build up capacity and capability in space life sciences and biomedical research in Australia to take advantage of the unique opportunities space represents for the advancement of health.

ABSTRACT. In 2018, NASA launched TESS - the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite - an incredible tool designed to identify tens of thousands of potential planets orbiting other stars. To confirm the existence of those planets, and to characterise them once confirmed, requires a colossal global effort - ground based observatory facilities around the planet dedicating thousands of hours to stare at individual stars, looking for the tell-tale periodic wobbles or winks that reveal the presence of their unseen companions.

In the years before the launch of TESS, astronomers were aware of a major problem - there simply were not enough telescopes on the ground to do this follow-up work, with the vast majority of facilities only able to dedicate a scant few hours per year to the task. Would the incredible harvest from TESS be wasted?

To address this problem, a team of Australian researchers decided to build a new facility -- Minerva-Australis. With funding from the Australian Research Council, and partner universities around the globe, funding was obtained in 2015 to construct the southern hemisphere's only dedicated radial velocity exoplanet search facility. Construction began in July 2017, with the full Minerva-Australis array being commissioned in October 2018, just in time to take full advantage of the wealth of data delivered by TESS.

In the seven years since TESS first gathered data, Minerva-Australis has been a key cornerstone of global efforts to confirm the planets sighted by the spacecraft. To date, we have been directly involved in the discovery of 41 new exoplanets from TESS. In addition, our facility has allowed us to characterise many of those alien worlds, demonstrating the importance and benefit of low-cost dedicated observing facilities in our efforts to better understand our place in the cosmos.

ABSTRACT. Sunspots on the Sun provide visible markers of intense magnetic activity that shapes the dynamics of the solar atmosphere. Their darkened surfaces signal the suppression of convection by strong magnetic fields, yet the deeper structures and underlying physical processes remain hidden from direct view. A central question raised in the 1970s–1980s concerned the fate of the heat flux blocked by sunspots. Parker (1979) demonstrated that a considerable fraction of this energy appears to vanish for days or longer across the hemisphere hosting a sunspot. Resolving where this energy is transported remains a fundamental challenge.

Helioseismology provides a powerful means of addressing this problem, transforming acoustic oscillations into diagnostics of subsurface magnetism and energy redistribution. Using high-resolution observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we apply advanced helioseismic techniques to investigate sunspots of varying size, age, complexity, and evolutionary stage. Measurements of wave absorption, phase shifts, and scattering properties reveal new constraints on sunspot morphology, stability, and subsurface magnetic topology. These solar diagnostics serve as a benchmark for stellar applications, enabling us to interpret how magnetism governs the evolution of both the Sun and stars.

ABSTRACT. Skykraft is developing and deploying a Low Earth Orbit constellation to provide persistent, global, real-time Air Traffic Management (ATM) communication and surveillance services. These services extend and enhance the coverage and quality of ATM capabilities available to the aviation industry, transforming safety, efficiency, and environmental performance.

This presentation explores how Skykraft has engineered a space-based infrastructure capable of 24/7 operational service—balancing the technical ambition of a large-scale constellation with the discipline of a clear business case. It will share insights into the design of the spacecraft and constellation architecture, the engineering methods that make mass production feasible, and highlights from Skykraft’s three missions that have validated critical technologies and system concepts. The discussion will also reflect on how purposeful engineering—anchored in a defensible and deliverable business model—can translate national capability into enduring impact.

ABSTRACT. The term non-Earth imaging (NEI) refers to the act of using a sensor in space to capture imagery of another object in space. NEI is a novel concept in the commercial space indsutry contributing to emerging markets of space domain awareness (SDA) and space domain intelligence.

HEO, headquarted in Sydney, Australia, is the fist company in the world to offer NEI data and insight services to both governments and commercial organisations. This presentation focuses on the use-cases, challenges and an exploration of a world where NEI is the norm, similar to Earth observation.

ABSTRACT. This talk discusses Saber’s journey; from the startup days through to national strategic missions of today. It overviews our original strategy as a space R&D company, our approach to solving problems, the path to deployment, then live acceptance of technology onto space operations floors with hard requirements. Saber Astronautics was a startup 18 years ago, incorporated in Australia and the USA with the aim of building new technologies that push the space industry into interplanetary capability. Our thesis was that tackling hard problems will differentiate Saber as well as push the industry itself into maturing new techniques that can someday support a spacefaring civilization. The path to success was built as a bootstrap rather than formal investment, making Saber unique in a country where the size of a VC raise is seen as the metric for success. In bootstrapping, capability is built one step at a time via internal R&D to measurably improve the state of the art, grants to convert R&D into a product, and then contracts with customers for operational deployments. Over the years Saber built a reputation as a trusted innovator, changing paradigms in space operations. A strategy of taking risks, embracing academic rigour, and an avant-garde culture resulted in several “first-capability” technologies produced in live operations. Examples include a beer you can drink in space (2009), machine learning diagnostics (2012), concurrent constellation design (2015), video game mission software for the US Space Force (2018), founding the Pacific Cell for USSF’s Joint Commercial Operations (2021), and the App Store for US Space Force (2024). Saber Astronautics was central to Australia’s space growth, supporting export into the US market via SATCOM, SDA, and Applications marketplaces. Under AUKUS we are now opening our doors to mission management to help Australians enter the US market, which include satellites as well as payloads via arrangements we set up with commercial space station providers for our astronautics program. The result is capability used in live missions of national-strategic importance—The Responsive Space Operations Centre (RSOC) at the Australian Space Agency headquarters is flying 12-tonnes on orbit today, set to double by Q3 2026. Our Space Cockpit Battle Management System (SBMS) software is used by 3000+ operators worldwide and is US Space Force’s pick for SDA for all operations centres and all Deltas. This is disrupting the SDA software market, reducing costs by nearly 70%. This talk will also overview our future work and plans to extend into new areas such as human spaceflight, space station payload management, advanced operations platforms for more automated large scale constellation management, and the applications of AI in streamlining operations both pre and post launch.

ABSTRACT. The growing demand for Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity across remote, infrastructure-critical, and space-enabled domains requires communication systems that are both energy-efficient and globally accessible. Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN), including LoRaWAN and Wi-Fi HaLow, provide cost-effective terrestrial coverage but remain constrained by range and scalability. In contrast, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites offer near-global access, making hybrid LPWAN–satellite architectures a promising pathway toward resilient and ubiquitous IoT networks.

This study investigates the interoperability of LPWAN technologies with LEO satellite systems using a hybrid network model that encompasses both direct device-to-satellite links and gateway-mediated backhaul architectures. Through system-level simulations incorporating orbital dynamics, satellite-to-ground channel variations, and large-scale IoT deployments, we evaluate critical performance metrics such as latency, throughput, energy consumption, synchronization stability, and Quality of Service (QoS) under intermittent coverage conditions.

Our findings highlight several fundamental interoperability challenges: protocol heterogeneity across terrestrial and satellite stacks, Doppler-induced frequency shifts, mismatched QoS requirements, bursty traffic patterns under dense device populations, and divergent security and trust frameworks across operators. The results demonstrate that adaptive scheduling, cross-layer optimization, and lightweight security protocols are essential to sustaining reliable service. Furthermore, Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and virtualized gateways emerge as key enablers for dynamic resource allocation, seamless handover, and scalable traffic management across heterogeneous domains.

By presenting a taxonomy of interoperability challenges mapped to validated system-level solutions, this work provides the first comparative analysis of LoRaWAN and Wi-Fi HaLow within a LEO satellite context. The outcomes support the design of scalable and resilient space-IoT architectures, with direct implications for global applications in environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure resilience in underserved and remote regions.

ABSTRACT. A combustion chamber for the Solaris Mk III, hybrid rocket engine was designed and built by the Monash High Powered Rocketry engineering student team (HPR), with testing conducted at Airborne Engineering Ltd. in June, 2025. This engine is designed to launch scientific sounding rockets to an altitude of over 100,000 ft (30,480m) and allows undergraduate students to gain experience working with rocket propulsion systems - the technological backbone of space exploration.

Key design considerations for the Solaris Mk III combustion chamber were the material and geometry selection of the fuel grain, water-cooled 3D-printed nozzle, Helmholtz resonators to counteract combustion instabilities, lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) combustion chamber and the use of liquid-oxygen as the oxidizer of choice. Initial simulations were conducted to predict estimated engine performance metrics, finite-element analysis to model thrust and pressure loadings through the CFRP structure, acoustic simulations to predict combustion instabilities, as well as CFD predicting thermal stresses on the nozzle. The test-firing setup consisted of a load cell to measure thrust, a pressure transducer to record combustion chamber pressure, and thermocouples to measure combustion chamber and nozzle temperatures. This was the first time many of these novel systems were tested at this scale, enabling the validation of prior research conducted at a small scale.

The outcomes of this project include the demonstration of a hybrid rocket engine capable of producing a peak thrust over 12 kN with stable combustion, and a maximum chamber pressure over 6.8 MPa. These results exceeded the expected chamber pressure and met the expected thrust values despite a lower than anticipated oxidizer mass flow rate. This test fire also provided data allowing for further refinement of nozzle design, as well as fuel grain material and geometry selection to optimise its regression rate. The learnings from this project are discussed in relation to possible future advances in hybrid rocket propulsion and serve as a valuable resource for students or industry-led aerospace developments.

ABSTRACT. Flow separation in rocket nozzles, due to its unsteady oscillatory nature, is known to generate intense side loads that can lead to structural damage affecting space flight safety. Recent studies have hypothesised that a screech-like resonance loop can be responsible for such oscillations in the free shock separation (FSS) regime. In this work, we aim to confirm if screech is indeed present in this flow. Five thrust optimised parabolic (TOP) nozzles with different length and area ratios were examined operating in a cold gas condition at a nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) range where FSS was expected to occur. Via spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD) analysis, resonance was observed for both m=0 and m=1 azimuthal modes along with two opposite-travelling waves involved whose characteristics align with the description of the Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability wave and the guided jet mode (GJM). Linear stability analysis (LSA) performed on RANS mean flow fields confirms the existence of these two waves and provides insight into their dispersion relation. A well-validated screech predictive model was employed and accurately predicted the resonance frequencies, combining with the observed waves, suggesting that the screech is active in this flow. Furthermore, the resonance mechanism and behaviour as a function of nozzle contour were also discussed.

ABSTRACT. Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) are highly sought after to manufacture satellite components but can suffer limitations due to their poor thermal conductivity in both the in-plane and through-thickness directions. This low thermal conductivity makes them poor heat dissipators which may lead to overheating of small satellites in orbit. Therefore increasing the thermal energy transfer capacity of CFRP which contributes to heat dissipation on a satellite is vital. The placement of pyrolytic graphite sheets (PGS) in the layup of CFRP increased the overall through-thickness thermal conductivity by 21%. Due to its anisotropy, numerical modelling confirms a much larger potential increase in in-plane thermal conductivity of CFRP specimen with PGS of up to 500W/mK. However, three-point bend tests revealed a significant drop in flexural strength between 51-71% and a reduction in flexural modulus between 68-85% signifying the need for a special adhesive method between CFRP and PGS. Future work will explore implementing PGS reinforced-CFRP as facesheets into a sandwich honeycomb structure to promote in-plane heat conduction. In-plane thermal energy transfer will be assessed through experimental measurements using a dedicated setup. To further promote in-plane thermal conductivity within CFRP, metallic coatings will be explored. Through-thickness thermal conductivity of CFRP will be investigated after adding stitches in the z-direction. The sandwich honeycomb structure as a whole will be investigated in terms of reducing thermal resistance at the interfaces between the honeycomb and facesheets. The aim of this research is to fabricate a multifunctional sandwich honeycomb with CFRP facesheets that has a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, high impact resistance and high thermal conductivity.

ABSTRACT. High-fidelity modelling of the Earth’s atmosphere and camera systems is critical for accurately simulating satellite image data and assessing the performance of vision algorithms that rely on it. Photorealistic rendering enables exploration of how atmospheric effects (e.g. scattering), image quality (e.g. resolution), and filtering techniques influence onboard processing. Graphics-oriented visual simulation tools, such as Unity and Blender, are increasingly used for algorithm development and hardware-in-the-loop testing, offering flexibility where labelled datasets or physics-based tools are costly or limited. This work reviews the suitability of such tools for modelling the Earth’s atmosphere in the visible spectrum from space, a topic sparsely addressed in the literature. As an initial step toward a broader simulation pipeline for low-Earth-orbit applications, we present a Blender-based atmosphere model. We compare the simulated limb against images from the University of Melbourne’s SpIRIT spacecraft, providing both qualitative and analytic assessment of model fidelity. We also examine the impact of varying key parameters critical to limb-fitting optical navigation. The model will be released open-source with the goal of establishing a community standard for high-fidelity atmospheric simulation in space applications.

ABSTRACT. This presentation focuses on the regulation of darks skies (i.e. how dark skies may be appropriately used for scientific and commercial purposes) and the promotion and protection of indigenous knowledges, especially the knowledges of indigenous women. In particular, it will deliver the results of the first portion of my research project on the protection of dark skies and indigenous knowledges as funded by the Borrin Foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand. See https://www.borrinfoundation.nz/travel-and-learning-award-for-shea-esterling/

Given the situation of Aotearoa New Zealand as one of the most important preserves of dark skies, and the importance of ensuring that Māori can exercise tino rangatiratanga (authority) over their taonga (treasure) under the framework of Te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi, it is critical for an appropriate balance to be struck between access and use of dark skies for scientific and commercial purposes and mātauranga Māori (Māori Indigenous knowledge). This means that the law must be able to effectively protect mātauranga Māori and guarantee that iwi, hapū, and whānau retain control over taonga including astronomical knowledges associated with dark skies, while also ensuring that the dark skies of Aotearoa New Zealand may be appropriately accessed and used for different purposes, including scientific research and commercial developments.

Consequently, my project aims to develop governance for the promotion and protection of dark skies and indigenous rights. To achieve this end, I will be travelling to locations certified as International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia by the non-profit organization DarkSky International for a period of six weeks in total between August and November 2025. These visits will involve conducting interviews with stakeholders (i.e. the individual(s) and/or organization(s) that applied for certification as well as the broader local community) to determine if certification as an IDSP has secured the benefits that DarkSky International articulates. In these interviews, special attention will be paid to the voices and experiences of those who are typically marginalized members of the community including women and Indigenous Peoples and in particular indigenous women who often suffer from double discrimination.

This presentation will deliver the results of the interviews conducted at IDSP sites in Australia during August-September 2025. In turn, it will detail the nature and motivation of the key stakeholders (i.e. rights bearers and duty holders) as well as the social institutions and effects of domestic and international law pertinent to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in the context of the promotion and protection of dark skies and indigenous rights. Further, it will include an evaluation of what has worked well and what could be improved upon in relation to the promotion and protection of dark skies and indigenous rightas part of an effort to minimize or avoid drawbacks and maximize opportunities for success. This presentation will conclude with observations on these successes and challenges, which will inform the development of the governance of dark skies and mātauranga Māori (Māori Indigenous knowledge) in Aotearoa New Zealand in which partnerships between indigenous and non-indigenous stakeholders is prioritised.

ABSTRACT. In recent decades, governments and organizations worldwide have ramped up investments in lunar missions, with numerous initiatives planned for the late 2020s and early 2030s. A key objective of these missions is the identification and extraction of lunar ice, which is a resource critical for sustaining lunar bases by providing water, oxygen, and rocket propellant. This focus is evident in initiatives like the Artemis Program, which aims to explore the Moon's south pole, an area rich in ice deposits, for potential base sites. To examine the potential security implications of lunar ice mining, this study utilizes a model that evaluates the potential trajectory of the nature of competition on the Moon. Given the undefined and evolving landscape of lunar competition, the model focuses on stages and transitions. Stages are a list of traits and aspects that define the nature of competition over a period of time. These aspects can include the capabilities, relationship dynamics, and actors that would be associated with a stage. Transitions are the goals and events that would be necessary to “change the game”. After the transition criteria have been fulfilled, the model advances to the next stage. This dynamic between stages and transition represents the pyramid-ladder model, which this study will use to analyse the topic. Due to the rate of technological advancements and the unpredictability of events, implementing a date of expectation would not be applied in this model. This is why we implement a condition-based situational approach. Using this model, results indicate that lunar ice will play an increasingly strategic role as space competition expands and evolves. Consequently, nations and organizations with ambitions to expand beyond Cislunar space must prioritize securing lunar ice resources to maintain a competitive advantage.

ABSTRACT. The burgeoning global space economy, projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, underpins critical infrastructure worldwide, from financial transactions and logistics to disaster management and national security. While cybersecurity in space is often viewed through a national defense lens, its direct financial implications for commercial, civil, and research sectors are becoming increasingly profound. This presentation will explore the tangible economic impact of current space cybersecurity vulnerabilities, illustrating how incidents like the KA-SAT/Viasat attack and the ROSAT X-ray satellite hack demonstrate the multi-billion-dollar costs associated with fragmented security postures, operational disruptions, and catastrophic system failures.

We will then detail how the proactive adoption and harmonization of global cybersecurity standards and best practices can serve as a powerful economic enabler. Concrete examples will highlight how "security by design" principles, supply chain accreditation schemes, and international interoperability frameworks not only mitigate financial risks but also drive significant cost savings, streamline compliance, and foster market access.

Finally, a strategic roadmap will be proposed, outlining Australia's pivotal role in cultivating a more secure, interoperable, and financially vibrant space ecosystem. This roadmap emphasizes crucial initiatives such as enhanced public-private collaboration, real-time threat intelligence sharing, alignment with emerging international regulations (e.g., EU IRIS², U.S. Space Force), and the development of standardized incident response protocols. The presentation will underscore that robust cybersecurity is not merely a technical imperative but a fundamental economic one, essential for unlocking and sustaining the prosperity of Australia's growing space sector and its contributions to global space endeavors.

ABSTRACT. The space capabilities of the major nations have increased significantly during the first quarter of the 21st century. Accordingly, much caution is required in the exercise of this capability, as the history of homo sapiens contains numerous instances of conflict between communities and nations. For example, in the last 100 years, the earth has been engulfed in two world wars, plus, at times, civil wars and military conflicts such as (in a general chronological order) in Spain, China, Korea, Kenya, Vietnam, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine amongst others.

Currently, limited apparent regard is held by some spacefaring nations and corporations towards the ideals contained in the Outer Space Treaty (1967). In light of this behavioural trajectory, it is incumbent on spacefaring parties to define and communicate their respective outer space policies to the wider international community. Such policies may be that of:

1. Cooperation between spacefaring nations and associated corporations (for example, as exists for the implementation and operation of the International Space Station), or

2. Vigorous, non-violent competition between corporations and nations (as exemplified by SpaceX and Blue Origin), or

3. Intense and confrontational rivalry between nations.

Given the history of terrestrial conflict in the past 100 years, the practice of the third policy of “Intense and confrontational rivalry between nations” may lead to serious international space-based conflict. Accordingly, continuous meaningful dialogue with potential and actual protagonists is required. In this scenario, space industry individuals are not exempt from a shared responsibility for the outcome. Significantly, Australia, as a middle power, is well-placed to provide a global leadership voice in this ongoing dialogue.

ABSTRACT. The space industry is increasingly growing and with it, the construction of rocket-related infrastructure (RRI). As a pioneering industry, space must match its technological advancements with equal innovation in cultural competency and ethical practices. However, the impacts of RRI on local populations, particularly Indigenous communities, are frequently overlooked in discussions of inclusivity and cultural diversity within the space sector. It is important for the industry to address the cultural harm caused by land acquisition for RRI. Historically, land acquisition has been a tool of imperial domination, disrupting local populations’ ability to live and practice their cultural traditions on ancestral lands. This practice persists in the space industry, where land is acquired for RRI such as test ranges, spaceports, and return sites, often without proper local consent, leading to significant social, cultural, and ecological harm.

Several RRI sites globally will be investigated, focusing on their ethical challenges and methods for meaningful consultation with local populations. In doing so, this paper will emphasise the importance of authentic community involvement and cultural awareness as an essential component of these processes.

A key case study presented is the Koonibba Test Range in Australia, operated by Southern Launch on the Traditional Lands of the Kokatha/Googatha people. This facility exists near a has caused continuing cultural harm and ongoing disruption without consent from a major stakeholder and Senior Elder who has been maintaining women's cultural sites for over four decades, which are now located within the rocket range. This highlights concerns over consultation practices. Other case studies that will be investigated include Rocket Lab on Māhia Peninsula, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and the proposed space port on Biak Island, Papua.

This paper calls for further research and attention to these issues as an integral part of the space agenda. Suggesting that such education is crucial within sector workplaces, and will aid the development of mechanisms to prevent harmful practices, ensuring that space respects and includes all communities.

ABSTRACT. This paper describes the analysis and comparison of the electron current collection of a cylindrical tether for different variables like plasma density and temperature, plasma ion species, tether material, and applied bias. The plasma is generated by ionizing hydrogen, oxygen, and ambient air in a 50cm × 40 cm plasma chamber. Multiple plasma densities were generated in the range 10^14-10^15 particles per m3 with corresponding plasma temperatures 2.5 - 4.3 eV. EDT materials — aluminum, tungsten, and aracon were used in the experiment to examine the material performance in the generated plasma environment and evaluate the impact on the current collected. Several observations have been made from the data collected. The I-V curves vary due to each ionized plasma, indicating the impact of ion species on the electron current. The OML model overestimates the current for each experiment run analyzed. Aracon sample exhibited superior performance when placed in oxygen and air plasma, whereas aluminium demonstrated higher I-V curves in hydrogen plasma. Plasma bubbles and secondary plasma were observed during the experiment for both positively and negatively biased tether samples. In the positively biased regime, anomalous electron current occurred for certain plasma densities. In the negatively biased regime, the ion current for hydrogen plasma was recorded to be higher than the oxygen and air plasma. It was concluded that the OML does not estimate the current collected correctly and there are much more factors into play.

ABSTRACT. We investigate space weather effects on the orbit of the INSPIRE-II CubeSat, in space between May 2017 and November 2018, for its first 450 days. The time derivative da/dt of the semi-major axis, derived from Two-Line Element data using Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, is compared with 1-day averages of the Dst, Kp and AE geomagnetic indices, in addition to the F10.7 cm solar radio flux, the EUV MgII, and the X-ray flux radiation indices. The duration of the INSPIRE-II mission coincided with the minimum following solar cycle 23. This was a very long minimum period exceeding 800 days without measurable sun spot activity. The radiation indices reflect this low level activity and show statistically homogeneous data for the latter two thirds of the analysis A significant solar flare event occurred approximately 100 days after launch, making the first 150 days not statistically homogeneous with the remaining two thirds of the period analysed. The geomagnetic indices appear statistically homogeneous for the full extent of the analysis period. We present cross correlation analyses between da/dt and the six indices in tranches of thirds, to investigate robustness and statistical homogeneity, and over the full 450-day period. We find robust cross-correlations between da/dt and the geomagnetic indices, with maximum correlations near 0.5 for a lag of zero to a few days, occurring in a very sharp and significant peak that has a similar magnitude for the whole period and the three tranches of 150 days, but strengthens slightly from the first to the third tranche. Cross-correlation functions of da/dt with the solar indices have a qualitatively different shape: a relatively periodic structure with a period near 25-30 days (bracketing the solar rotation period), especially for the 150-day tranches, for which the maximum correlations appear significant only for the entire interval and the first tranche, weakening significantly from the first to the last tranche. These result will be compared to those for the CUAVA-1 CubeSat and interpretations advanced.

ABSTRACT. The Sun emits light in the 100 - 200 nm wavelength range, known as the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). Furthermore, the brightest Solar emission line, Lyman-α (Ly-α), occurs at 121.6 nm. Whilst the Solar VUV is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and thus not observed on the Earth’s surface, it plays a significant role in various physical and chemical processes in our Solar System. Processes include the formation of ozone and photoionisation of nitric oxide to form Earth’s ionospheric D-layer, degradation of polymers, coatings and optical elements on spacecraft, and charging of dust on the surface of the Moon leading to malfunction of various mechanical, thermal, optical and electrical systems. The development of space systems requires testing in high-fidelity simulations of the space environment. The range of currently available VUV sources can only illuminate small areas, have a mismatched spectral distribution or emit low fluxes, making them unsuitable for conducting these tests. At the Space Plasma, Power and Propulsion Laboratory (SP3), we have developed a VUV source based on a mixed-gas, radiofrequency plasma that mimics the Solar spectrum in the 100-170 nm wavelength range. By variation of the gas mixture and pressure, the source can also output quasi-monochromatic Ly-α radiation. In this work, we describe the design and characterisation of the source and outline several testing use-cases ranging from spacecraft applications and dust mitigation to simulating astrophysical phenomena.

ABSTRACT. Positioning applications relying on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals are becoming more ingrained into modern living and the technologies society relies on. The ionosphere located from ~100km altitude upwards is a partially ionised plasma that affects the propagation of the radio waves being transmitted from the GNSS spacecraft to ground receiver stations. Various techniques exist to remove the effect of the ionosphere when the ionosphere is relatively smooth and stable. Regions of low-density plasma in the post-sunset ionosphere referred to as Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) cause amplitude and phase scintillation of the radiowave signals impacting the reliability and accuracy of GNSS applications. Therefore, predicting and understanding unseasonal EPB events is an important focus of ionospheric physics research. The growth of EPBs is controlled by the Generalised Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) Instability. In order to simplify the quantification of the growth rate magnitude, previous research has provided a linearised growth rate of the instability based on many simplifying assumptions. One such assumption is that the ionosphere is latitudinally homogenous over the impacted magnetic field lines. However, the resulting growth rate is regularly used to infer information about the impact of Sporadic E, a localised region of increased plasma density in the E region ionosphere (100-150km altitude). This investigation uses an alternative form of the RT growth rate that invokes fewer assumptions to investigate the impact of variations in the E region ionosphere. Results show that the presence of sporadic E can have both a stabilising or and destabilising impact on the growth rate, depending on the magnetic field mapping and the associated plasma density gradients. This presentation will show different scenarios highlighting multiple differing impacts of non-homogenous E region plasma density, and the ramifications for the predictability of EPBs will be explored.

ABSTRACT. Plasma waves and turbulence are expected to result from the acceleration and heating of the solar wind and from the merging of strongly inhomogeneous coronal outflows into the relatively uniform solar wind near 1 AU. Recent Parker Solar Probe observations show the generation of trains of ion acoustic wave packets with rising (and sometimes falling) tones and a relatively broadband character. Subsequently, plasma theory was used to analytically predict the existence of a cold proton beam instability, explaining qualitatively several aspects of the observations. The instability is a reactive (or fluid-type) instability associated with a beam mode that is favoured when the beam speed is close to the ion acoustic speed and the beam is relatively dense and cold. Here, we take a different approximation of the Fried-Conte dispersion function, namely a Padé approximant, which is exact for generalised Lorentzian (or Kappa) velocity distributions. This introduces Landau damping to the kinetic theory, extending the theoretical framework to include warm beam regimes. Solving the resulting dispersion equation shows that the instability can exist for near solar wind conditions. In addition, two sets of Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations verify the existence of the instability. The simulation properties are then varied to examine the properties of the instability and allow comparison of the growth rates and modes with kinetic theory.

ABSTRACT. The May 2024 geomagnetic storm was the largest storm since November 2003, more than 20 years prior. While sky gazers around the world were blessed with one of the largest aurora shows in modern times, thousands of satellites were manoeuvring to recover their orbital altitudes due to the increased atmospheric drag, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) users across the United States reported experiencing outages due to the storm. Another less intense geomagnetic storm occurred just a few months later in October 2024, which showed marked similarities to the May storm, particularly in terms of the timing of the onset and main phases, and the duration of the recovery phase. In this analysis, these similarities are used to examine the ionospheric responses to these storms as a means of understanding the large-scale ionospheric features observed across the Australian region. The observations analysed include those collected by Australia’s network of ionosondes and GNSS receivers. It is reported that in a myriad of travelling ionospheric disturbances observed over Australia, there were some large stationary plasma density features that had short-lived small-scale plasma turbulence associated with them. Interestingly, the sensitivity of the GNSS signals to the presence of the plasma turbulence appears to be associated with the geometry of the signals’ passage through the ionosphere. However, the several events observed lacked consistency in the direction that showed the highest sensitivity. It is understood that the Perkins instability is responsible for the plasma turbulence that was observed, but the cascading down of energy from longer wavelengths down to the ~6-km wavelengths to which the GNSS observations are sensitive is an important consideration in explaining the observations. Finally, these ionospheric features are discussed in the context of the many applications across Australia that rely on GNSS.

ABSTRACT. Astronauts encounter multiple stressors during spaceflight, including microgravity, radiation, and isolation. Understanding how the body coordinates systemic adaptation under such conditions remains a central challenge for long-duration human space exploration. Equally critical is the development of strategies to monitor astronaut health and design precision therapeutics tailored to the space environment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized carriers of proteins and nucleic acids that mediate intercellular communication under both physiological and pathological conditions, positioning them as promising regulators of systemic stress responses. Our previous work demonstrated that EVs can cross biological barriers and influence neurodevelopment, cancer metastasis and neurodegeneration, establishing them as key mediators of interorgan communication. Building on this foundation, we are extending the framework into space life sciences to test how intercellular communication is modulated when gravity changes and under extreme environments. We hypothesise that EVs play a central role in mediating adaptation to space and aim to translate this knowledge into next-generation tools for astronaut health monitoring and intervention. Our ongoing studies integrate cell, organoid, and rodent models with combined microgravity simulation and radiation exposure experiments, comprehensive space-analog systems, and a forthcoming research rocket mission in which intercellular communication will be analysed under true microgravity. This program establishes a conceptual bridge from stress biology and intercellular communication to astronaut health. By positioning EVs as biomarkers, mediators of adaptation, and potential therapeutic tools, the project aims to advance monitoring strategies and countermeasures critical for safeguarding human health during future space exploration. I will present our journey from ground-based research to spaceflight applications, outlining the rationale, supporting evidence, emerging technology platforms, and the outlook for upcoming suborbital results.

ABSTRACT. INTRODUCTION: Astronauts are exposed to the five spaceflight hazards identified by NASA: Radiation, Isolation and Confinement, Distance from Earth, altered Gravity fields, and Hostile/Closed Environments (RIDGE). These uniquely impair the normal wound-healing process, but the specifics are not well documented. We aimed to systematically review the literature on the mechanisms of disruption of wound healing, frequently affected locations, and therapies that can be used in multiple space exploration distance contexts.

METHODS: A scoping review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted on literature published between 2000 and 2024. A well-defined keyword search strategy was employed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, the NASA Life Science Data Archive, NASA Technical Reports, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS: Our review identified 125 relevant studies. These included 30 studies on general health conditions in space and wound-healing, 38 addressing risk factors associated with the space environment, and 57 studies examining prevention and treatment options. These findings address NASA’s identified gaps in wound care capabilities (ExMC 4.07), contribute to defining the potential list of medical conditions that could arise during deep-space missions (ExMC 4.24, Med07, Med12, Medical-101), and serve as a milestone for developing integrated exploration medical system models for missions to the Moon and Mars (Medical-501).

DISCUSSION: The most frequent location for a wound based on US space mission data is the hand, the most frequent type an abrasion, and the most common cause an extra-vehicular activity. Therapies such as platelet rich plasma, Platelet Exosomal Therapy, Vacuum Assisted Closure, bioprinting, hydrogels, suspended animation, proper nutrition, and incorporation of medicinal plants grown sustainably on-site have all shown promise in mitigating the impacts of space hazards on wounds. The mechanisms of wound-healing disruption must be addressed to effectively care for the health of astronauts, especially as evacuation becomes less feasible as they venture farther away from Earth. Crew members may be faced with ethical dilemmas such as resource allocation and equitable care. The use of innovative solutions from wound care on Earth, astrobotany, and from low-resource environments could provide improved outcomes and allow missions to continue to have success as they further explore our solar system.

ABSTRACT. Astronauts commonly experience malnutrition during space missions, often driven by menu fatigue and reduced palatability, which results in lower calorie intake. With planned long-term missions to the Moon in 2030 and to Mars in 2040, addressing this challenge has become increasingly critical. This study aimed to develop 3D-printed plant-based foods with different textures to assess differences in their sensory perception in immersive simulated Space and Earth environments. Furthermore, a low-cost and portable electronic nose (e-nose) developed by our research group was integrated into the 3D printer to measure the volatile compounds throughout the printing process. Machine learning models were successfully developed using the e-nose outputs as inputs to predict the sensory perception in Space- and Earth-simulated environments. These findings show the potential of combining 3D food printing with a low-cost and portable e-nose to design tailored foods for future Space missions, providing a foundation for improving dietary variety and palatability to combat menu fatigue.

ABSTRACT. Perioperative medicine holistically encompasses the ‘before’, ‘during’ and ‘after’ of a patient’s surgical journey, from initial presentation through diagnosis, planning, management (including procedures/surgery), post-operative care (including critical care if needed) and recovery, rehabilitation, and return to function. In the terrestrial context many of these steps are taken for granted within the health system, but it is far more challenging to deliver an integrated system of care in the space environment. Developing a holistic system to successfully deliver perioperative care in space will need to consider all adjacent issues, such as equipment and supplies, pharmacopoeia, human resources, including skill sets and supportive technologies, ethical considerations, mass, volume and power constraints, telecommunications, telemedicine, and so on. A possible conceptual approach might involve using existing research and data to identify likely surgical scenarios for human space exploration, and then undertaking a process analysis to break this down for each of the 18 perioperative steps. A muti-disciplinary team would assess what is already known, what unknowns exist, and what problems still need to be solved, then move towards creation of checklists and guidelines for the perioperative journey during long-duration spaceflight. Knowledge and solutions could come from the three domains of terrestrial medicine, existing space research/knowledge, and pre-hospital medicine as a space analog. Given that translating the perioperative journey to space will need a combination of medical, science, technology, and engineering solutions, having multi-disciplinary teams engaged in brainstorming and problem- solving will be essential. Potential also exists for some of the final solutions, checklists, and guidelines to be translated back to terrestrial practice in a variety of settings.

ABSTRACT. Over long periods of time, ancestral hominins domesticated themselves through cultural practices such as language, technology, extended child rearing and social cooperation, which not only enhanced their fitness but also led to changes in cognition and physical traits. In the latter, autodomestication led to gracilisation of the human body, which extant humans are still undergoing. Greater reliance on culture-based behaviours led to the relaxation of natural selection, thereby increasing deleterious mutations associated with mental disorders.

This presentation will contend that future space colonists living on the moon and Mars may be susceptible to adverse mental health due to living in artificial environments, altered gravity and body gracilisation (a consequence of relaxed natural selection). It is estimated that stature may decrease by over 0.3 m in four generations while frequency of de novo deleterious mutations will quadruple. Consequently, it is probable space colonists will undergo reduction of the number of cortical neurons and their connections, as well as altered neuro-hormonal regulation, affecting the homeostasis of brain function and emotional stimulation, which will be different from what is experienced on Earth.

ABSTRACT. Advancing space life sciences requires not only bold biological questions but also the hardware that enables experiments beyond Earth. The microgravity of space provides a unique environment to test the requirement for gravity in biological processes, to develop new therapeutics, as well as address the most pressing issues in human health for long term space flights namely managing DNA damage repair to cosmic radiation, and cell and tissue adaptation to microgravity. These problems can only be studied using experiments designed to sustain living systems microgravity.

The key question of this research addresses how gravity is involved in the function and repair of the human gut and the response to cosmic radiation. Platforms for studying the gut in microgravity or simulated microgravity are limited, have unique challenges, and are inaccessible for many, despite astronauts displaying a number of gut-related issues including leaky gut syndrome and microbiome abnormalities while on space missions. The types of research experiments required need to provide new information on how to maintain astronaut gut health on long term space flights.

Here I will introduce Life Labs, a novel Australian-built payload for autonomous biological experiments in microgravity, developed through industry-academia collaboration, and our GASTRONAUT missions in which Life Labs is being used to study gut cells and tissue through launch, microgravity exposure, and re-entry.

I will report on GASTRONAUT-01, our first short-duration microgravity flight in 2024 in collaboration with Enable Aerospace, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC). I will discuss the challenges we faced, things to consider when designing biology-based experimental payloads, how biology and medical researchers can work with engineers, and how we modified our approach for GASTRONAUT-02. These experiences highlight not only technical innovations but also the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding between scientists and engineers to develop new platforms for studying cell life in space.

ABSTRACT. As humanity expands its presence in space with long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, maintaining astronaut health is a critical concern. A significant challenge for space medicine is the impact of heavy ionising radiation on the stability and efficacy of pharmaceuticals. The unique space radiation environment, particularly Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) and Solar Particle Events (SPEs), poses a severe threat to drugs. This radiation can cause direct ionisation, breaking chemical bonds, and indirect ionisation, generating free radicals that degrade active pharmaceutical ingredients. This degradation can reduce drug potency, create harmful byproducts, and compromise the entire on-board medical formulary. To address these challenges, dedicated research in space pharmacology is essential. Current studies focus on understanding how pharmaceutical compounds and their formulations, including tablets and liquid solutions, are affected by different types of radiation, dose rates, and cumulative exposure. A major hurdle is the difficulty of accurately replicating the complex space radiation environment on Earth for ground-based testing. Efforts are underway to develop specialised instruments and facilities that can simulate these conditions, enabling researchers to conduct stability studies and identify at-risk medications. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a safe and effective pharmaceutical formulary for future deep space missions. This involves creating more resilient drug formulations, designing protective packaging, and exploring novel methods for on-demand drug manufacturing in space. By systematically investigating the effects of the space environment on medicines, the scientific community can ensure that astronauts have access to reliable treatments, which is fundamental to the success and safety of future space exploration.

ABSTRACT. INTRODUCTION: The NASA Human Research Roadmap identified several medical risks during spaceflight that may require surgical intervention. Communication latencies make remote robotic surgical approaches currently impractical, but the incorporation of large language models (LLMs) into surgical automation may allow this technology to be implemented in future space missions. This narrative review aims to evaluate the latest advancements in LLM-integrated robotic surgery and identify gaps where further research is required. METHODS: This narrative review explored the implementation of large language models into robotic surgery, and was conducted on published literature between 2000 and 2025 by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Google Scholar. A well-defined search strategy was developed using keywords, such as “robotic surgery,” “natural language processing,” “artificial intelligence,” “machine learning,” “large-language models,” “space medicine,” “clinical decision support,” and “autonomous surgery”. Studies were selected based on their relevance to robotic surgical automation, integration of large language models or natural language interfaces, and inclusion of empirical data or simulation results. Studies lacking technical detail, relying solely on theoretical discussion, or not involving LLM-based decision support or control systems were excluded. The selected literature was then synthesized to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in LLM-integrated robotic surgery and knowledge gaps that warrant further research. RESULTS: Our review identified 12 relevant studies. These demonstrated that LLM integration in automated robotics has significantly advanced robotic surgery. This may have particular applicability in aerospace medicine when access to specialized surgeons is limited. LLM frameworks such as SuFIA enable natural language communication, allowing for more intuitive human-robot interaction, which is especially useful in astronaut crews that lack surgical training. Overall, some studies have found a system accuracy of about 94.2%, with errors likely due to LLM ‘hallucinations’, which can misinterpret voice commands. Furthermore, recent research in LLM error detection and correction can further facilitate this real-time surgeon-robot collaboration, as immediate expert consultation will likely not be possible in long-distance space travel. DISCUSSION: Significant knowledge gaps still exist in making LLM-automated robotic surgery adaptable and reliable, which limits its applicability in space and other isolated environments where specialized medical expertise is limited. LLMs can reduce the cognitive load on astronauts and assist in decision-making and execution of surgical instructions, enhancing procedural precision and safety. However, current planning and re-planning phases for LLM-based robotic architectures may average 25 seconds or more, which may be too slow for time-sensitive surgical emergencies. Thus, developing and integrating separate predictive models, adaptive control algorithms, and advanced segmentation and tokenization techniques would allow for anticipation of surgical complications, behavior modification, and surgical instrument guidance, and make this a safer technology to use in the space environment by individuals without formal medical education. Future steps in this investigation include conducting a systematic review to obtain a more robust understanding of the current state of LLM-integration into robotic surgery, and identifying best test scenarios to begin examining the practical application of this technology in extreme environments.

ABSTRACT. For over a decade, it has been known that GNSS is essential to all critical infrastructure sectors of the economy. Vulnerability of GNSS systems is thus a serious issue, with serious economic consequences if not addressed. Historically, significant effort has been invested in research into jamming and spoofing of GNSS systems, as the low signal levels received from the satellites are easily overcome by attacks of this kind. This research has led to receivers being made more resilient to this kind of attack, but it only deals with one channel: the satellite to receiver channel.

The critical infrastructure that relies on GNSS uses GNSS-enabled systems that have many communications channels and many storage locations, each of which is vulnerable to attack, generally in ways that are not addressed by the body of research dedicated to jamming and spoofing.

This paper reports on a study that examines many of these GNSS-enabled systems, identifying where vulnerabilities lie. The study is as comprehensive in the coverage of these systems at block diagram level. It then drills down in one system to demonstrate how cyber security discipline can be brought to analyse these systems for vulnerability to attack. Although the type of attack can be described in language common to many cyber physical systems, the methodology of how such attacks can succeed relies on GNSS subject matter expertise.

The system chosen as the exemplar is Australia’s Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS): SouthPAN. Each of the well-known types of cyber attack are examined and evaluated in terms of whether they apply in such a case. Several vulnerabilities are identified which have not before been discussed in the public domain. The resulting implications for other GNSS-enabled systems are then discussed.

ABSTRACT. Satellite communication systems continue to play a critical role as they have also become easier targets for cyberattacks that threaten national security and basic infrastructure. Conventional cybersecurity methods, engineered for networks on Earth, fall short in meeting the challenges that are encountered while operating in space, like high delays, limited computing power, or unsteady network access. This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML) and anomaly detection (AD), can produce real-time intrusion detection systems (IDS) for secure space communication. The article describes the structure of satellite networks, mentioning the type of links it includes, starting from the most basic parts. It discloses a variety of substantial threat vectors, like spoofing or malware. A prominent concern with the limitation of publicly accessible satellite cybersecurity data sets was addressed by pointing out the importance of producing synthetic data using network simulators like NS-3 and OMNeT++. Simulators use satellites for interstellar, earth-to-satellite communication. The realistic training system tests against cyber-attacks and verifies against threats on Earth. A comparative review of AI techniques, including supervised learning, deep neural networks (CNNs, RNNs), and unsupervised anomaly detection methods, is presented. The paper also addresses challenges related to onboard deployment, model generalisation in space contexts, and the high cost of false positives in mission-critical systems. Case studies and simulation results from proxy datasets (e.g., CICIDS, IoT-2023) and synthetic scenarios reinforce the applicability of AI in detecting subtle anomalies. The study created a step-by-step guide for frameworks of space-specific IDS using federated learning. Experts insist that creating a synthetic dataset and collaborating across agencies will protect space from attacks. People are starting to notice the possibility of hacking space systems.

ABSTRACT. Predicting dynamic coupling forces and torques between spacecraft bases and manipulator arms remains one of the most challenging problems in space robotics. Traditional analytical methods, though mathematically sound, often demand computational resources that simply aren't available for real-time applications. On the flip side, conventional neural networks might be fast, but they frequently ignore the physical laws that govern these systems—a potentially dangerous oversight in space operations.

This research presents a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) framework specifically developed for coupling dynamics prediction in free-floating space manipulators. The PINN architecture weaves together data-driven learning with physics-based constraints, ensuring momentum conservation whilst keeping computational demands reasonable.

What's particularly interesting is how physics-informed constraints dramatically improve generalisation capabilities compared to standard neural networks, especially when extrapolating beyond training conditions. This work offers a practical solution for real-time space manipulator control applications, potentially enabling more sophisticated autonomous operations in space environments.

ABSTRACT. Climate change is increasingly intensifying the frequency and severity of weather and climate extremes worldwide, leading to profound social and economic disruptions and posing critical challenges to the sustainable development of human societies. At the same time, the recent curtailment in climate data collection and sharing has raised serious concerns regarding the resilience of early warning systems and the provision of comprehensive climate services. Addressing these challenges requires the generation of high-quality datasets, the advancement of methodological frameworks, and the development of innovative applications to strengthen our capacity to respond to climate change and manage meteorological hazards.

Modern weather and climate monitoring relies on a global network of Earth observation systems, comprising in-situ and satellite-based systems. Among these, satellite Earth observing techniques provide unparalleled global coverage and comprehensive capabilities, enabling the monitoring of essential climate variables and the detailed tracking of extreme events. Originally designed for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have evolved into powerful tools for atmospheric monitoring. Decades of development have positioned GNSS as a significant complement to dedicated Earth observation satellites, contributing to the monitoring of key variables like precipitable water vapour, zenith total delay, refractivity, and bending angle. These diverse data streams offer distinct benefits to deepen our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and to enhance the monitoring of high-impact weather and climate extremes.

This presentation is structured into three parts. First, we provide a comprehensive review of our data processing platforms and introduce the first GNSS climate data record we have developed, including the determination of maximum, minimum, diurnal, monthly, and annual mean values, as well as the analysis of their behaviours across diverse climatic zones. Second, we showcase advanced methods that leverage GNSS atmospheric parameters for the early warning of weather and climate extremes. Finally, we present current barriers and future opportunities. Collectively, these developments highlight the reliability and accuracy of GNSS-based climate analysis and risk assessment, while underscoring the transformative potential of GNSS as a complementary satellite Earth observing technique to advance atmospheric monitoring, address climate change challenges, and support sustainable strategies and risk-informed decision-making.

ABSTRACT. Neuromorphic Computing is a paradigm which shifts away from the traditional Von-Neumann architecture, rather taking inspiration in design from the building blocks and connections of the human brain. From these building blocks of Neurons and Synapses, large arrays of connections can be constructed and formed into a neural network. These provide a basis for the Spiking Neural Network, a third generation design, where voltage spike to and from Neurons along Synapses convey the weights and biases associated with the connection. Storing these values within the connection itself removes the memory bottleneck which affects traditional Artificial Neural Networks. As the line between memory and computation is blurred the need for in-memory processing across these connections becomes prevalent, giving rise to the development of Neuromorphic Processors capable of running next generation Spiking Neural Networks.

This paper presents a survey of current Neuromorphic Processors, as well as an introduction to their fundamental building blocks. Methodologies and implementations of this technology across multiple domains are assessed; with special consideration to research within the space domain and how the effects of radiation change the performance characteristics.

Finally, this paper outlines the potential future directions for research and development of Neuromorphic Processors, emphasising requirements to unlock the full potential in this next generation computational paradigm.

ABSTRACT. Timely and accurate crop production data is essential for decision-makers at both regional and national scales. These insights are critical for stakeholders, including institutions responding to droughts and food crises, as well as commodity market actors, who depend on early information about agricultural productivity to anticipate challenges and allocate resources effectively. However, in data-scarce regions such as parts of Africa and conflict zones like Ukraine, the lack of reliable yield datasets for model calibration poses a significant challenge to the applicability of conventional AI-based yield prediction methods, making accurate crop yield estimation in these environments difficult. This study focuses on maize and wheat yield estimations at regional scales in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Ukraine, using two distinct methodologies. The first is a calibration-free approach that integrates satellite imagery with crop model simulations to generate high-resolution (pixel-scale) yield maps. By monitoring crop growth through remote sensing data and aligning it with simulated growth trajectories, this method avoids the need for yield training data, making it suitable for regions with minimal data availability. The second approach employs machine learning, using official regional-scale yield data to train models for yield mapping where such data is accessible. The accuracy of both methods was evaluated against available official yield datasets, providing a comprehensive understanding of their performance. Results demonstrate that the calibration-free approach is highly effective in data-scarce regions, producing reliable yield estimates despite the lack of local calibration data. Meanwhile, the machine learning approach proved effective in areas where regional-scale yield datasets were available for training. This research, conducted as part of NASA Harvest projects in collaboration with CIMMYT/CGIAR, Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture, contributes actionable yield estimates that inform food security policies and resource allocation strategies. By addressing the unique challenges of data-sparse environments, this study underscores the transformative role of Earth observation technologies in enhancing agricultural monitoring and yield prediction. It highlights the critical potential of satellite data in mitigating global food security challenges in the context of intensifying climate impacts, resource limitations, and geopolitical instability.

ABSTRACT. We present a novel approach to real-time antenna tracking between a stationary satellite relay station and a Martian/Lunar rover using a ring of directional antennas, guided by the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). The system predicts the Angle of Arrival (AoA) of an incoming signal in a GPS-denied environment where Earth-based localisation technology is not available. This angle is used to position a separate highly directional antenna carrying communication data on the 900MHz radio band. This method allows for greater range and throughput than traditional omnidirectional antenna systems, ensuring reliable local communications required for the transmission of high-quality video feeds and real-time data from the rover. A machine learning approach allows for a learnt real-time correction to an algorithmically predicted AoA ensuring accurate and robust positioning. The base system is tested on a hardware implementation with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) and multi-path simulations showing how an adaptive feedback-based training policy allows the system to learn from environmental changes and improve signal tracking robustness over the course of its operation. The theoretical system bound on localisation accuracy, as well as data throughput and transient tracking response are evaluated as performance metrics, showing promising results for use in space contexts.