Selfie satellite completes mission milestone for Australia

Selfie satellite completes mission milestone for Australia
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Sep 25, 2025

Australia's SpIRIT nanosatellite has completed its first mission phase, marking a major step for the nation's role in the global space industry. Developed by the University of Melbourne with support from the Italian Space Agency (ASI), SpIRIT is the first Australian Space Agency-funded space telescope to host a foreign payload as its primary instrument.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in December 2023, the nanosatellite has orbited Earth more than 9,000 times in 600 days, covering a distance equal to a round trip between Earth and Mars. The mission's initial phase concluded with the successful deployment of its winged thermal system and selfie stick, capturing an in-orbit image adorned with partner emblems.

Professor Michele Trenti, SpIRIT's Principal Investigator, said the achievement underscores Australia's growing space capabilities. "SpIRIT is a complex satellite designed and built in Australia, with many components flying for the first time and hosting a scientific instrument contributed by the Italian Space Agency," he explained. "Now that SpIRIT has completed rigorous testing in space, we are confident it's ready to commence the next phase of its mission, which is truly exciting."

The spacecraft will now transition from testing technology to performing science. Equipped with the HERMES X-ray detector, SpIRIT will scan the cosmos for gamma ray bursts, powerful explosions from dying or colliding stars. These unpredictable signals are critical for astronomers, with SpIRIT serving as an early warning system to alert ground-based observatories.

SpIRIT's winged design, created by the University of Melbourne, helps regulate heat and enhance performance. In its full configuration, the satellite now spans nearly one meter. Expected to stay in orbit for more than 1,000 days, the mission showcases the durability of Australian-built systems.

Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency, welcomed the milestone. "The SpIRIT mission has demonstrated the capability that exists within the Australian space sector - from building the satellite and testing new technologies in orbit and on ground, to hosting international science payloads and successfully completing its initial phase," he said.

Teodoro Valente, President of ASI, emphasized the value of international partnership. "The result confirms the excellence of Italian space science, capable of producing technologically advanced equipment, and at the same time reaffirms the strong strategic value of scientific collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and its Australian counterpart," he said. He noted that ASI's prototype detector, built in Italy under INAF guidance, proved its performance by detecting the Crab gamma pulsar in just 700 seconds of observation.