Initial Earth Works at AGN-West. Photo is courtesy of Capricorn Space.

The first Capricorn Space site in the Australian Ground Network (AGN) is now under development — civil work at the Western Australian site near Geraldton commenced on December 3, 2018, with a formal ground breaking ceremony being conducted on December 7, 2018.

Once operational, this site will support the satellite industry by providing Ground Segment as a Service at a strategically important location in the southern hemisphere with the attraction of improving time to market for many time sensitive applications.

The development of the AGN-West by Capricorn Space will assist to further Western Australia as a center for space excellence and increase Australia's standing within the international space community.

The ground breaking ceremony at AGN-West on December 7, 2018. Photo is courtesy of Capricorn Space.

Executive Comment

CEO Mark Thompson said that celebrating the turning the first soil at this site represents a major milestone in what has been an extraordinary first year for Capricorn Space. Our company started operation with a blank slate early in 2018 and, since then, have received the ACMA licenses, secured land in the west of Australia, obtained local Council Development Approval and commenced initial site works at our site at Mingenew in Western Australia (Australian Ground Network – West).

With the site works completed, the company now enters the construction phase with an in-service date for the first two antennas of mid-2019. Capricorn Space is actively engaging local contractors and will seek additional personnel as the firm transitions to the operational phase.

In parallel with the development of the site, the company has also selected and contracted an infrastructure partner for the supply of the first S-/X-Band antenna systems and is negotiating with a number of third parties to host additional antennas at the AGN-W site. Further announcements on these activities will be made early in the new year.