
Space Technology and Industry Institute
The Space Technology and Industry Institute is the engine room for innovation and economic growth in the final frontiers of astrophysics, aerospace, aviation, AI and more.
Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute combines internationally competitive capabilities in astrophysics, aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence to tackle challenges at the forefront of human understanding and imagination.
The new institute will propel innovation and economic growth in a global sector projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2040. It fosters education at every level, from vocational training to PhD.
Our research
The Space Technology and Industry Institute collaborates with future-focussed industry partners to identify needs, design solutions and develop technologies in a range of fields central to the space sector.
Our people
Our team comprises experts in aerospace technology, and next-generation design and manufacturing.
Space science and technology courses
School-leavers, current students and professionals can all find courses to propel them into the next generation of space technology innovators. Explore our range of courses today.
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Space Technology
When you study space technology at Swinburne, you'll explore the most exciting topics in space science, such as: microgravity science, space environment, and space entrepreneurship.
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Micro-credentials
Industry relevant, six-week, micro-credential courses synthesising critical elements of the global space industry ecosystem to support growth of the space workforce.
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Youth Space Innovation Challenge
Secondary students can design and lead an experiment that blasts off to the International Space Station each year through the Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge.
Work with us
We have a talented group of scientists and engineers with a broad range of expertise across space technology – we can work with you to drive innovation and help solve your complex problems.
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Get in touch
Tell us your challenges, ideas or big questions, and we’ll work with you to share our expertise. Call us on +61 3 9214 5177 or email spaceinstitute@swinburne.edu.au.
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Come together
Relevant experts from our team will work with you to create ideas and identify possible solutions to the challenges we are facing.
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Resource
If the project needs funding, that is something we can tackle together with various opportunities to explore.
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Find the solutions
We design and implement a research project to address the issues at hand and deliver innovative, achievable solutions.
Partnerships
The Space Technology and Industry Institute can connect you to the innovative work of Swinburne’s internationally renowned Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing as well as the three Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence that Swinburne is a part of:
Lunacy - 3MT Asia-Pacific WINNER
Congratulations Matthew Shaw, a PhD candidate in the Space Institute whose presentation on the production of metal on the Moon took home both the first place prize and the peoples’ choice award this year in the university competition. Matthew and his presentation ‘Lunacy’ went on to win at the 2021 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final against 7 other finalists from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Well done Matthew.

The 3MT competition challenges PhD candidates to present their thesis in an engaging way to a lay audience in three minutes or less. It takes competitors months to hone their scripts and practice the speech to make sure that it is engaging and informative. Presenters this year spanned many areas of research including engineering in neuroscience, shorebird mapping, movement motivation, archaeology, and many more. All the finalists’ presentations are available to watch on the Swinburne Commons.
Space junk
Professor Alan Duffy, astronomer and director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute discusses how Australia’s helping to fight the snowballing threat of space junk.
In a bid to avoid the Kessler Syndrome, a disastrous chain reaction of colliding debris in orbit, artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in determining a system of space safety.
Swinburne University and partners are engaging in a project called ‘Responsible AI in Space’, a collaboration between space scientists, law and policy experts, the space industry, government and practitioners in the emerging field of AI assurance.
Our latest news
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- Astronomy
NASA’s Webb uncovers new details in Pandora’s Cluster
Astronomers have revealed the latest deep field image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, featuring never-before-seen details in a region of space known as Pandora’s Cluster.
Thursday 16 February 2023 -
- Astronomy
Distant galaxy mirrors the early Milky Way
The Sparkler galaxy provides a snapshot of an infant Milky Way as it grows over cosmic time.
Tuesday 07 February 2023 -
- Astronomy
- Science
- University
Professor Brian Cox honoured at Swinburne
Swinburne has awarded world-renowned scientist Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS an honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his significant contribution as a global leader in communicating the world of astronomy, physics and astrophysics.
Thursday 15 December 2022 -
- Astronomy
Star’s fatal encounter with black hole creates rare luminous flash
Halfway across the observable Universe, Swinburne researchers have aided the discovery of a bright optical flare caused by a supermassive black hole ripping a star apart.
Thursday 01 December 2022 -
- Astronomy
“Cosmic detective” Dr Sara Webb becomes a Superstar of STEM
Swinburne astrophysicist and cosmic detective Dr Sara Webb has been selected as a 2022 Superstar of STEM.
Friday 18 November 2022
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If your organisation would like to collaborate with us to solve a complex problem, or you simply want to contact our team, get in touch by calling +61 3 9214 5177 or emailing spaceinstitute@swinburne.edu.au.