"We have signed a contract to launch six Fleet Space Centauri nanosatellites on our Eris rockets in 2023," said Adam Gilmour, the CEO of Gilmour Space, which is tracking to launch its first commercial payloads to orbit next year.

"It is a great example of how homegrown space companies are scaling and partnering to meet the world's growing demand for innovative small satellite applications and affordable launch," he said.

"This launch is going to involve an Australian-built payload in an Australian-built satellite, on an Australian-built rocket," added Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO of Fleet Space, which is building a global digital nervous system to power the next industrial revolution.

Fleet Space launched Australia's first commercial nanosatellites in 2018 - and its fifth just last week - with their technology already transforming critical industries from energy and utilities to mining.

"Today's announcement is the beginning of an ongoing launch service relationship as we work towards our planned constellation of 140 satellites," she added. "We are building a strong portfolio of launch service partners, and we are very excited to have Gilmour Space as one of them."

Commercialising Space, Down Under
Established well before Australia's two-year-old Space Agency, Gilmour and Fleet were the first New Space start-ups to raise venture capital funding in Australia. The companies were seeded by Sydney-based venture capital firm Blackbird Ventures, which has since invested in subsequent rounds.

Said Blackbird partner, Rick Baker: "Gilmour and Fleet are leading the way forward through great technology and big ambitions. We've been impressed with both companies' traction and see this partnership as a milestone for the maturing space industry in Australia. It's fantastic to see leaders like Adam and Flavia joining forces to scale further and raise our collective ambition."