Australia's first contribution to a space telescope mission flew on board the Endeavour Space Shuttle on mission STS 42 and 67 in 1992 and 1996. 

The Australian Space Office supported the development of an Australian space telescope that was designed to image the Universe in ultraviolet light. 

Before Endeavour, no other space hardware built and designed in Australia had flown on a Space Shuttle, nor had Australia risen to observe the stars from outside our atmosphere. 

Left: The Endeavour Space Telescope in the Space Shuttle Endeavour cargo bay. Image Credit: NASA

The space landscape has changed a lot since then, and Australia continues to push the boundaries of what is possible within the new space race. 

The Australian Space Agency was launched in 2018, with the goal of growing a respected Australian space industry and inspire the next generation of Australian space scientists. 

Taking advantage of a rapidly evolving ecosystem, we've since launched multiple satellites, fostering valuable international partnerships and built local capabilities and a thriving and respected space industry. 

It's time for the Australian astronomy community to look towards the next ambitious milestone - an Australian Space Telescope. 

Right: The September Lunar Eclipse 2025 from over Antarctica taken by the SpIRIT satellite optical imaging payload. Image Credit: Melbourne Space Lab

Space Telescope's don't fly themselves. That's why we are bringing together the experts from the entire Australian space ecosystem to chart the course for our next space mission.

From space instrumentation, ground stations, data science, platform providers, industry and more. Blue Horizon's is an opportuny for our comunities to come together and shape the next decade of Australian Space Based Astronomy.

Left: A SpIRIT satellite selfie in orbit, showing the emblems of all the partners who made the mission possible.