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Australia's SpIRIT Nanosatellite Completes Testing, Captures First Selfie

10/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

SpIRIT nanosatellite, launched December 2023, became the Australian Space Agency-funded telescope carrying a foreign instrument.
It completed commissioning, testing thermal management and a camera arm.
It has logged over 600 days in orbit, roughly a Mars round trip.
Its first selfie over New Zealand confirmed operational status.
It will detect gamma-ray bursts with the Italian Space Agency's HERMES X-ray prototype.

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Story summary

SpIRIT nanosatellite, launched December 2023, became the Australian Space Agency-funded telescope carrying a foreign instrument.
It completed commissioning, testing thermal management and a camera arm.
It has logged over 600 days in orbit, roughly a Mars round trip.
Its first selfie over New Zealand confirmed operational status.
It will detect gamma-ray bursts with the Italian Space Agency's HERMES X-ray prototype.