Built and operated by a consortium led by the University of Melbourne and supported by the Australian Space Agency, SpIRIT, short for Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal satellite, was designed to showcase a suite of novel Australian technologies in orbit.
Backed by nearly $7 million in government funding, including through the Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission Grants program, the spacecraft is regarded as a trailblazer for Australia’s rapidly growing space sector.
Launched in December 2023, SpIRIT has since lapped the Earth more than 9,000 times, covering a distance equivalent to a round trip to Mars. It has now been in orbit for more than 600 days and is expected to remain in service for over 1,000 days in total.
With its commissioning checks complete, the nanosatellite is shifting focus from proving its flight systems and technology to conducting scientific observations.
Milestone for local capability
Principal investigator Professor Michele Trenti, from the University of Melbourne, said SpIRIT’s progress marks a significant achievement for Australia’s space industry.
“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,” Trenti said.
Orbiting more than 500 kilometres above Earth, the satellite is powered by solar panels that feed a range of systems – from scientific instruments and high-resolution cameras (including a selfie stick) to guidance and communication systems, artificial intelligence-enabled onboard computers and an electric propulsion unit.
Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo praised the milestone as proof of what local industry can deliver.
“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,” Palermo said.
“I commend the team and our colleagues at the Italian Space Agency on their persistent long-duration operations in space. SpIRIT is a great example of the mutual benefit that comes from collaborating in space.”
As well as the University of Melbourne, SpIRIT brought together Inovor Technologies, Neumann Space, SITAEL Australia and Nova Systems. The spacecraft is also the first Australian-built satellite to host an international payload, carrying the Italian Space Agency’s HERMES Pathfinder, an advanced X-ray detector designed to pinpoint high-energy gamma ray bursts, colossal explosions linked to the collision or collapse of stars into black holes.
Italian Space Agency president Teodoro Valente said the mission highlights the value of international partnerships.
“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,” Valente said.
With its commissioning phase now behind it, SpIRIT is set to embark on its next challenge: probing some of the most violent and mysterious phenomena in the universe.