News
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Loris camera & AI system update: first light & first paper!
Commissioning activities on SpIRIT are progressing positively, with all University of Melbourne systems staying healthy after more than 135 days in space. Today, we are very pleased to share that a scientific paper on the Loris camera and Artificial Intelligence system has been accepted for publication and presentation at the AI4Space Workshop at the 2024 Conference on Computer Vision and …
16 April, 2024 -
Commissioning update: Cryocooler is up & running!
The SpIRIT team resumed payload commissioning activities at full capacity after a brief recharging break, and we are very pleased to report that a significant milestone has been achieved for the satellite Thermal Management Integrated System (TheMIS). TheMIS passed all detailed functional tests and now we can report in-orbit demonstration of the Stirling cycle cryocooler. The plot below shows temperatures …
12 January, 2024 -
All MSL payloads are operational!
Another important milestone for the Melbourne Space Laboratory has been achieved during SpIRIT commissioning with a successful initial verification of TheMIS. The TheMIS ICU passed functional testing and TheMIS was used to record temperatures across the payload suite. This is providing valuable feedback to execute the next steps in our payload commissioning activities. It also marks a fantastic achievement for …
22 December, 2023 -
SpIRIT in-orbit: almost two weeks!
Incredible to realize that SpIRIT has been in orbit for almost two weeks. We are pleased to announce that payload commissioning activities are progressing ahead of schedule. The University of Melbourne Instrument Control Unit (PMS), multi-camera and AI subsystem (Loris), and the low-latency communication subsystem (Mercury), as well as the Italian Space Agency gamma/x-ray detector HERMES have all shown nominal …
15 December, 2023 -
SpIRIT successfully launched
We are excited to announce SpIRIT is in orbit! https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/december/lift-off!-spirit-nanosatellite-launches-aboard-spacex-rocket SpIRIT Launch Media Release
2 December, 2023 -
SpIRIT is in orbit!
SpIRIT was launched from Vandenberg Space Base in California at 18:19 December 1st UTC 2023, and successfully deployed into its orbit an hour and twenty two minutes later!!
2 December, 2023 -
SpIRIT delivered for launch
All tests are nominal and SpIRIT is ready for launch! SpIRIT, the first Australian Space Agency funded satellite, has been fully tested and has left Melbourne for the Netherlands on the first step in its journey to space. In the Netherlands, SpIRIT was inserted into its dispenser pod and is ready for the next hop to California where it will …
10 October, 2023 -
SpIRIT booked for launch in early 2023!!
Render image of the SpIRIT nanosatellite in orbit with solar arrays and radiators deployed. Image: Melbourne Space Laboratory The SpIRIT spacecraft, the first selected for funding by the Australia Space Agency, has been booked with launch service provider ISISPACE to blast off on the Falcon 9 Transporter 8 rocket in April 2023. The spacecraft is being designed and built by a consortium …
22 July, 2022
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