UniSA researcher launches space startup
By Samantha Dawes
SCIENCE UniSA researcher and founder of satellite networking startup Mesh in Space Yee Wei Law.In a world where cyberattacks are becoming more frequent, more malicious and more catastrophic, UniSA academic Dr Yee Wei Law sees space as the latest frontier – and he wants to do something about it.
A senior lecturer in the emerging field of cyber engineering, Dr Law is channelling his expertise into a practical approach.
Dr Law says he founded startup Mesh in Space to help safeguard Australia against cyberattacks and bolster attack-resilient satellites.
“At Mesh in Space we are dedicating ourselves to building a mission-ready communication software suite for mesh-networked satellite constellations focusing on cybersecurity,” Dr Law says.
The aim is to deepen Australia’s defensive technology as thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites are launched into the skies.
While satellites have been around for decades, Dr Law says that multiplying constellations of smaller versions is a relatively new approach.
“Twenty years ago, I worked on wireless sensor mesh networks,” Dr Law says. “Now, satellite constellations are basically wireless sensor mesh networks in space.
“The benefits of deploying satellites in low Earth orbits (LEOs) are well documented. LEOs enable high-resolution space-borne imaging, which benefits Earth observation, precision agriculture and disaster response.
“In Australian defence, LEO satellites are key to command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
“We see our work as interstitial to networking, security and artificial intelligence; we aspire to bring this perspective and our research contributions to the space sector.”
(L-R) Kelly Yeoh of Blue Dwarf Space, Yee Wei Law of Mesh in Space, Austin Lovell of Up&Up at the launch of this year’s Venture Catalyst Space program.Mesh in Space has been selected as part of UniSA’s space program, facilitated by the Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC).
The program, called Venture Catalyst Space, attracts founders from across the globe. Collectively, the alumni have created 90 jobs and raised $11 million in additional investment and grants.
ICC director Jasmine Vreugdenburg says she is pleased to finally welcome back overseas startups after 2021, when the program was offered virtually to those who couldn’t enter Australia.
“The program was still a huge success, with two of our 2021 overseas participants now in the process of opening offices in Adelaide,” she says.
“However, to be able to have these startups come to Adelaide and actually experience our burgeoning space sector firsthand is a wonderful thing.”
Dr Law says he is keen to immerse himself further in the space startup ecosystem.
“We hope to take advantage of the opportunity to be part of the network of space startup founders and pioneers and to learn the tools of the trade,” Dr Law says.
“We also hope to elicit feedback from industry experts about our business strategies and offerings, and to raise our profile as a group of energetic researchers-turned-entrepreneurs.”
Dr Law will complete the program with his Mesh in Space co-founders Joshua Davis and Andrew Du – who are both UniSA alumni – and UniSA lecturer in networking Dr Ronald Mulinde.
Find out more about the space recruits joining the Venture Catalyst Space program on the ICC website.
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