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flag Australia's SpIRIT nanosatellite completes initial mission, now studying cosmic gamma-ray bursts.

flag Australia’s SpIRIT nanosatellite, developed by the University of Melbourne with support from the Italian and Australian space agencies, has successfully completed its initial mission phase after over 600 days in orbit and more than 9,000 Earth revolutions. flag Launched in December 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the 1-meter satellite deployed its thermal management system and captured images of itself in space, including a “selfie” showing its solar panels and mission logos. flag It now enters its science phase, using a gamma-ray detector to detect sudden cosmic bursts from dying or colliding stars, providing early warnings to astronomers. flag The mission, expected to last over 1,000 days, marks a major advancement in Australia’s space capabilities and highlights strong international collaboration in space science.

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