HEX20 is an Australian space company that specializes in providing cost-effective platforms, advanced sensor technologies, and customized hardware for the SmallSat and CubeSat markets. The company aims to design and develop state-of-the-art, scalable platforms and subsystems for small satellites. Their products are derived from flight heritage programs, focusing on creating intelligent, reliable, cost-effective, and readily accessible qualified hardware platforms for academic, commercial, and defense applications.
The founders of HEX20 were childhood friends and brothers who grew up in a small southern Indian city, where they were first introduced to space by watching sounding rockets being launched from the nearby launching station. They established the commercial space venture in South Australia by combining their passion for space and complementary expertise.
HEX20 got featured in “The List of Top 100 Innovators” in Australia, published by “The Australian Business Review” in July 2022.
Innovation takes many forms, but its proponents share a common goal — driving Australia forward and inspiring the rest of the nation to achieve continued success. Amid an increasingly uncertain economic, environmental and geopolitical landscape these are the future makers who are hiring the next generation of talent and building the foundations for what our country can — and should — become. David Swan, editor, The List: Innovators 2022
HEX20 has experienced significant growth due to its close collaboration with various organizations, including Universities, the South Australian Space Industry Association, SmartSat CRC, and other South Australian Government Agencies. The company is also establishing a presence in the Asia Pacific region by partnering with startups, universities, and agencies, such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – Singapore, Skyroot Aerospace – India, Dhruva Space – India, Azista Aerospace – India, Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology – India, K-Space (Kerala) India, National Central University – Taiwan, UAE Space Agency – UAE, and The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) – India.
During the Bengaluru Space Expo 2022, HEX20 entered into a memorandum of understanding with Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian commercial launch service provider. This agreement aims for HEX20 to supply launch services, spacecraft avionics, and components.
ISRO praised Australia’s initiative to work with Indian space organisations, and acknowledged the time, effort, and focus that Australian companies have put into strengthening the space connection with India, and it’s amazing to see so many business relationships emerging in the high technology sphere among the space agencies of both nations.
HEX20’s satellite platforms are designed with reliability as the cornerstone. The platform design achieves a balance between flexibility, performance, and reliability, allowing the team to focus on the mission and payload, ultimately reducing time-to-orbit. The company offers a range of payload space, computing, power, avionics, pointing accuracy, and communication options that can be customized to fit the specific mission application.
HEX20 is building a 3U platform for National Central University – Taiwan to fly an AIS Payload. 3U & 6U – HEX20 Tech Demo Missions with an EW Signals Intelligence Payload. For the Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission, the company will build two 12U satellites to demonstrate optical interlink between satellites.
Hex20 is working with UAE Space Agency to develop custom hardware and software for their upcoming space missions.
