launch a payload of 10 kg into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 300 km. It was designed to incorporate a rapid setup and launch capability that would provide the payload with the option of polar or equatorial orbit profiles. Zuni rockets The Australian Government has donated its Zuni rockets to the ASRI for use for student experiments which are launched from the Woomera launching range. Every year, a few Zunis are launched there. ASRI has also designed and constructed custom nosecones and payload recovery mechanisms for the Zuni. With a payload of 20 kg, the Zuni has an approximate range of 5.9 km, which it attains in about 40 seconds, experiencing 55 g and 491 m/s (Mach 1.4) during the flight. Satellites The discontinued Australis Microsatellite program aimed to develop a low-cost, autonomous satellite that could be used for a variety of applications such as low Earth orbit communications, remote sensing and small scale science experiments. JAESAT (Joint Australian Engineering Satellite) is a collaboration between ASRI, the Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems, the Queensland University of Technology and Ukrainian Youth Aerospace Association, Suzirya, that began in 1997. The project was put on hold in 2000 when CRCSS withdrew funds due to cost and schedule over-runs with a joint American-Australian venture, FedSat. Hypersonics The Centre for Hypersonics at the University of Queensland (UQ) performs extensive research into developing the science behind scramjet propulsion. The hypersonics project, currently on hold is a joint effort between ASRI and UQ to develop a free-flight scramjet engine. See also Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation National Space Program Australian Space Agency References External links ASRI website International project JAESAT Suzirya Australia in Space Aerospaceguide.net Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems Space organizations Space agencies Research institutes in Australia Non-profit organisations based in Queensland Space programme of Australia