LONG-TERM NATIONAL PROSPERITY OF A NATION IS BASED ON ITS ABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN INDUSTRIES OF HIGH COMPLEXITY.
2015 - PRESENT
DLR EARTH SENSING IMAGING SPECTROMETER (DESIS)
International commercial space 2.0 hyperspectral instrumentation mission.
Successfully launched 29 June, 2018, and installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in August 2018, the DESIS spectrometer has been operating flawlessly since.
The partners are Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE) & German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
The PPP venture returned the start up investment after two years of operation.
I secured official La Trobe University (LTU) participation, via subcontract from the DLR, to provide mission-critical on-board capability in the form of control systems to manage the mass memory system and surrounding interfaces both HW and SW.
From 2015 until 2018, under my directive as program manager, the La Trobe University team of engineers designed and delivered the required control systems in accordance with European Space Agency ECSS requirements. I then worked with all global partners to ensure technical and managerial compliance throughout the space mission.
Through my identifcation of the TRL 3-5 capability in LTU Engineering Department, we saw the successful delivery of TRL9 sub-systems for the DLR Earth Sensing Imaging Spectrometer (DESIS). The Victorian Minister for Industry and Innovation requested a Press Conference to announce the achievements of LTU as part of securing the HQ of the Australian Space Agency in Melbourne.
Ben Carroll
Then Industry and Employment Minster (2018), now Deputy Premier of Victoria
“[This launch] shows that we are truly demonstrating international leadership in the space industry.”
2006 - 2009
AUSBIRD
AUSBIRD International (AUSBIRD) was a venture established by Australian and German commercialisation partners. The partnership was established in 2005 when Peter secured commitment from relevant German and Australian organisations whilst working and living in Munich Germany. State and Federal Australian Governments were lobbied to support the establishment of AUSBIRD. Eventually, the South Australian Government presented the most attractive package.
AUSBIRD International Pty Ltd was incorporated in Australia to operate worldwide. Shareholders were Euro Pacific Aerospace Pty Ltd, Kayser-Threde GmbH (now OHB GmbH) and the DLR.
The aim was to establish an Australian company/start-up, and industry, to design and manufacture micro-satellites to provide a constellation of at least five and up to twelve for global fire detection and environmental monitoring. The DLR and German Industry Partners would manufacture 80% of the first constellation of satellites with eventual manufacturing of subsequent constellations to be transferred to Australia. $4m AUD was secured from Australian investment partners. Due to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, the investors at the time decided to wind down commercial operations.