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Sydney, Australia – [February 23, 2026] – HEO and UNSW Canberra Space researchers have partnered to perform Australia’s first Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) mission with an active propulsion system, supported by funding from Defence Trailblazer’s Advanced Innovation Fund. The project draws on the expertise developed in domestic missions to-date and will advance national and international space capability and security.
The collaborative project will develop, test, and validate proximity operations capabilities using HEO’s in-orbit satellite Continuum-1 as the operational platform. The project will establish three critical capabilities for Australian space sovereignty: RPO, satellite monitoring, and real-world data for sensor networks – building advanced space capabilities on home soil.
The first Australian mission of its kind, it will develop domestic expertise in fuel-efficient, tactically relevant RPO manoeuvres under realistic propulsion scenarios. This work advances HEO’s capabilities from flyby imaging to proximity operations and builds on the significant space flight heritage of UNSW Canberra Space, including its world-first demonstration of RPO formation flying without active propulsion, carried out in 2021-2023.
The mission will answer key questions about how to perform complex manoeuvres with minimal fuel, as well as optimising lighting conditions and imaging geometry for detailed, close-range satellite inspection. It will provide high-fidelity, real-world data to calibrate Australia's ground-based sensor networks, enabling analysts to accurately infer spacecraft intent, trajectory, and characteristics from observable signatures.
These capabilities are critical for Space Domain Awareness (SDA), the ability to understand what is happening in space and distinguish between routine operations and potential threats.
This mission will provide the validated data and algorithms needed to assess spacecraft behaviour with confidence, providing ground truth that cannot be obtained from simulations or uncooperative targets. This will enable Defence to strengthen training and technology development in support of future SDA operations.
The project is led by Australian company HEO, which delivers on-demand, high frequency imagery and insights through a network of non-Earth imaging sensors. HEO originated as a spin-out through the UNSW Founders flagship accelerator Founders 10x.
"When we acquired Continuum-1 several weeks ago, we committed to establishing a sovereign testbed that would accelerate R&D and serve Australia's national interests," said Dr Will Crowe, CEO and co-founder of HEO.
“This partnership with UNSW Canberra Space delivers on that promise. On the R&D side, it gives us a new RPO capability while providing a dedicated testbed to improve the nation's space security posture. We're committed to building foundational skills Australia has never had before and we’re doing it now."
Expertise in on-orbit operations, SDA algorithms and sensor models will be provided by a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Melrose Brown, Defence Trailblazer Theme Lead for Defence Space Technologies at UNSW. Since 2015, UNSW Canberra Space has designed, built, and operated five satellites across four missions, establishing a nationally significant capability in satellite mission design and in-space operations that have directly supported international SDA exercises.
“Australia needs sovereign capability in SDA and proximity operations, and UNSW Canberra Space has been building that foundation for more than a decade,” said Associate Professor Brown.
“We have on-orbit heritage in satellite formation flying and proximity operations, operate Australia’s largest university-led SDA sensor network, and are rapidly establishing the nation’s first experimental SDA Operations Centre on campus.
“This project brings those capabilities together with HEO’s operational platform to deliver real manoeuvres, real data, and real-world validation — strengthening Australia’s ability to understand and operate confidently in space.”
The project aligns with Australian Defence priorities for resilient space capabilities and greater integration of commercial innovation. It is anticipated to provide immediate value to industry while establishing a sovereign foundation for Defence’s long-term RPO and SDA capability, as well as helping to build an experienced national workforce through exposure to novel proximity operations planning, execution and analysis.
About HEO: HEO is a non-Earth imaging company that delivers high-frequency imagery and insights on the most important assets in space. HEO leverages a distributed network of sensors consisting of Earth observation satellite constellations and own sensors hosted on partner spacecraft to achieve proliferation of sensors across all orbits in the Earth-Moon system. HEO deploys highly autonomous software to monitor and inspect satellites at scale for government, defence, and commercial customers. HEO is headquartered in Australia with offices in the UK and USA.
About the Defence Trailblazer: Defence Trailblazer is a collaborative partnership between Adelaide University and UNSW supported by the Department of Education and over 200 industry partners and associates. Defence Trailblazer is dedicated to advancing Australia’s defence capabilities through innovative research and strategic partnerships. By collaborating with industry, academia, and government, we aim to develop and commercialise breakthrough technologies that address critical national security challenges.
Contact Information: For Defence Trailblazer media inquiries, please contact: Ilsa Stuart, Senior Partnerships Manager, 0402 260 771 istuart@dtb.solutions
Contact Information: For HEO media inquiries, please contact: dane@heospace.com
