Inovor Technologies, a leading supplier of advanced small satellite technology, has delivered an impressive array of work in its relatively short life. At just over 10 years old, the Adelaide-based company has amassed an impressive track record for delivery, building spacecraft for CSIRO, the Department of Defence and the Australian 兔子先生 Agency.
Reflecting on Inovor’s beginnings in 2012, Dr Matt Tetlow, Inovor’s Founder and CEO, said the company’s inception and overall trajectory has been shaped by a lifelong passion for the final frontier.
“For as long as I can remember, space has fascinated me. Both what we don’t know about it, and how we can develop technology to explore and observe it.”
But when Matt graduated from university with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Australia didn’t have the space industry that would enable him to live out his career dreams. After spending some time in missile research and development, Matt saw the opportunity to combine his passion for space with his expertise and created Inovor.
“I started the company as a sole trader doing contract consulting work. Since then, Inovor has grown to a team of 55, making small, agile products at the very edge of technology. I had no idea this is where we would end up, but I am so proud of our team and how far we have come," said Matt.
In what is a very competitive sector, Inovor’s commitment to delivering bespoke turnkey solutions that are wholly designed and assembled in Australia sets the company apart.
“I realised early on that for Inovor to be successful in Australia, we had to have greater control over what we were assembling. We made the decision to redesign our satellite and build all of the parts in house. We've designed everything in the spacecraft from the ground up, including all the power systems, all the pointing systems and all the telemetry command and control systems,” Matt said.
“We write every single line of code in our satellites, we assemble every component, and we have complete visibility of our systems as a result. Because we’re not buying and importing from overseas, we have cultivated a substantial amount of depth and credibility as a company.”
It was this commitment to complete oversight, and the accuracy and assurance it provides, that first drew Lockheed Martin to Inovor.?
“I started the company as a sole trader doing contract consulting work. Since then, Inovor has grown to a team of 55, making small, agile products at the very edge of technology. I had no idea this is where we would end up, but I am so proud of our team and how far we have come," said Matt.
In what is a very competitive sector, Inovor’s commitment to delivering bespoke turnkey solutions that are wholly designed and assembled in Australia sets the company apart.
“I realised early on that for Inovor to be successful in Australia, we had to have greater control over what we were assembling. We made the decision to redesign our satellite and build all of the parts in house. We've designed everything in the spacecraft from the ground up, including all the power systems, all the pointing systems and all the telemetry command and control systems,” Matt said.
“We write every single line of code in our satellites, we assemble every component, and we have complete visibility of our systems as a result. Because we’re not buying and importing from overseas, we have cultivated a substantial amount of depth and credibility as a company.”
It was this commitment to complete oversight, and the accuracy and assurance it provides, that first drew Lockheed Martin to Inovor.?
Five years on, the companies have worked closely together on advanced space domain awareness technologies and explored a variety of hosted mission systems for Lockheed Martin buses.
For Matt, there is a sense of exhilaration that the relationship has continued to evolve beyond the transfer of technology solutions to also incorporate knowledge sharing and, more recently, capability building.
“Inovor is a leading company, but we are small, and there’s a lot we don’t know. And that’s why companies like Lockheed Martin are incredibly important for Australian industry," he said. "It’s a very young sector, and we haven't had decades and decades of space programs in Australia to develop a sovereign capability. Because of this, Lockheed Martin is trusting and has a deep commitment to helping us develop, which is fantastic.”
Matt said in addition to the hands-on support, Lockheed Martin excels at identifying unique strengths within Australian industry and providing companies with substantial and meaningful programs of work.
“Lockheed Martin believes in Inovor, its people and what we can do. And they demonstrate this trust by offering work that will make a big difference to our business"
Matt contiued, "We are now working on a significant project together, which has the potential to deliver a novel piece of technology with global relevance. In the context of the overall program, it’s a relatively small scope of work. But contracts like this make an enormous difference to a small business like Inovor and our local supply chain.”
Looking ahead, Inovor has its sights set on entering the American market
“It has the potential to be a big market for us. And working with Lockheed Martin and having the prime’s support and influence when we enter it will be invaluable," said Matt. "Australia’s space industry is on the cusp of significant growth. It’s an exciting time to be in space, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Inovor and our industry partners."