Australia's space industry has reached a new milestone with the country's first home-grown space telescope completing the first part of its initial mission after 600 days in space.

Since its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California in December 2023, SpIRIT has circled the Earth more than 9000 times – travelling a distance comparable to a round trip between Earth and Mars – and has been in orbit for over 600 days.

Principal investigator and University of Melbourne Professor Michele Trenti said SpIRIT's successful commissioning period was a true milestone for Australian technological advancements and 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 cont

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