This is the first of what will be an annual event by the Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG). The winners of the first ever SIG Awards include QuadSAT, Te Pūnaha Ātea Auckland Space Institute, and Martin Coleman.
The categories were: Innovation of the Year, Cooperation of the Year, Educational Project of the Year and Young Engineer of the Year. The categories aim to give recognition to standout individuals and institutions within the membership of SIG. An additional award for Lifetime Achievement was also added for outstanding contribution to the industry.
Helen Weedon, Managing Director, Satcoms Innovation Group, commented: “We created the SIG Awards in order to highlight companies, individuals and institutions that champion some of SIG’s core values. The winners of this years’ awards exemplify innovation, collaboration and a passion for the Satcoms industry. The board of directors found it a difficult task deciding the victors amongst a host of worthy nominations and it was very close. We’d like to thank all who submitted their entries and congratulate the winners. We hope this sets the tone for successful SIG Awards for years to come.”
QuadSAT was named the winner of the Innovation of the Year category for its solution that makes antenna testing available anytime and anywhere. It uses advanced drone technology, coupled with advances in microwave technology to revolutionize antenna testing and will be a valuable tool for ensuring an efficient future for the satellite communications industry.
QuadSAT has also won the Cooperation of the Year award for its work with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF). Thanks to the collaboration, QuadSAT could ensure that its Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) testing solution would comply with industry-wide antenna performance protocol, SOMAP (Satellite Operators’ Minimum Antenna Performance requirements).
James Pester, Shaftesbury School has been named the Young Engineer of the Year award for demonstrating a drive and eagerness to pursue an engineering career after his experience with STEAM activities. He credits a Colem sponsored visit to Airbus in Portsmouth to see how satellites are built signaled the beginning of his new adventure in aerospace.
The SIG Board has selected Te Pūnaha Ātea Auckland Space Institute as the Educational Project of the Year. An educational enrichment program offered to undergraduate students at The University of Auckland, it is a regular competition for students to design, build and operate a satellite. The team has also created a satellite tracking station atop the physics building at The University. This station has been developed largely by undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is now operational using open source code and hardware and can be easily and cheaply replicated.
Additionally, in appreciation of Martin Coleman, who has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement award for his relentless pursuit of improving the space industry for all operators over a period of five decades. His drive, his motivation and his vision has ensured that SIG’s efforts will remain relevant for years into the future.
Find a complete summary of the winners’ achievements here.
