The award recognised Associate Professor Spitler’s dedication to leveraging the astronomical instrumentation expertise of Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO), to support and grow Australia’s domestic space industry.
Through collaboration and aligning with industry needs, Associate Professor Spitler has successfully positioned AAO as a key player in the space sector. Under his leadership of space projects, AAO technology is headed to the moon via Project LUNA (Laser measurement Unit for Navigation Assistance) and a space-bound AAO thermal image payload to take unique images of Earth .
“I’m very honoured to receive this award, and grateful to my dedicated colleagues at AAO and Macquarie University, and our inspiring and committed industry partners who have worked together to help turn our space project plans into reality,” says Associate Professor Spitler.
“I am thrilled that we have been able to show that fundamental research-driven innovation has real-world applications in the space sector.”
Executive Dean of Macquarie University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Samuel Muller, said the award comes as AAO celebrates half a century of engineering excellence in astronomical instrumentation, software and research.
“We’re very proud of Lee’s achievements heading Space Projects at AAO. Together with our academics, engineers and technicians, he’s helping AAO move to a new phase, as we adapt some of the remarkable capabilities we developed for ground-based telescopes to boost the space sector, allowing humanity to reach beyond our planet and move closer to the stars we have observed for so long,” says Professor Muller.
The Australian Space Awards, held at the close of Space Centre Australia’s annual Space Summit and Exhibition, celebrate individuals and organisations driving the development of Australia's space economy.
The Space Scientist of the Year award acknowledges scientists who have delivered outstanding work while supporting the strengthening of Australia's space economy through their participation in the space industry.
