The Australian nanosatellite SpIRIT has captured its first-ever selfie from space, marking a major milestone in its mission to observe cosmic gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy space phenomena.
Launched in December 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, SpIRIT has now completed its commissioning phase, successfully testing all onboard systems — including its thermal management unit and deployable camera arm, which it used to take the striking space selfie.
Images released by the University of Melbourne show the satellite orbiting Earth, confirming that all systems are operating correctly. The images reveal the thermal radiator, electric propulsion system, communication antennas, and solar panels, highlighting the innovative technologies developed for this mission.
According to Professor Michele Trenti, the mission’s lead investigator from the University of Melbourne, SpIRIT is a complex satellite designed and built entirely in Australia, carrying a scientific payload provided by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). He confirmed that SpIRIT is now ready to enter its primary science phase after extensive in-orbit testing.
After more than 600 days in orbit and over 9,000 revolutions around Earth, SpIRIT will now focus on its main objective — detecting gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using the HERMES X-ray detector developed by ASI. These bursts, caused by colliding stars or supernovae, provide crucial data about the universe’s most energetic events.
Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency, praised the mission as proof of Australia’s growing capability in building satellites, testing new technologies, and collaborating on international scientific missions.
SpIRIT has already achieved early success by detecting the Crab pulsar within 700 seconds of observation and is expected to remain in orbit for more than 1,000 additional days as it continues its groundbreaking research.
