Adelaide is poised to leave a lasting imprint on space exploration as Fleet Space Technologies unveils the SPIDER device adorned with a design by a South Australian student, Vatsal Thakkar. The winning artwork has been 3D printed onto the shell of the Seismic Payload for Interplanetary Discovery, Exploration, and Research, or SPIDER, a compact yet capable instrument built for a Moon mission that aims to unlock hidden details about the lunar surface.
Adelaide takes the global stage
The announcement arrived during Fleet Space’s Horizon Global Summit, marking the company’s 10th anniversary with the opening of a new 5,300 square metre global headquarters and advanced manufacturing facility at Adelaide Airport’s Catalyst Park. The gathering underscored Australia’s growing presence in the space economy, with international partners and researchers sharing the stage alongside Fleet Space’s ongoing collaborations, including work with NASA. Yet it was the SA student who connected the celebration to South Australia, turning a local competition into a worldwide moment for the region.
The winning design and SPIDER’s shell
Vatsal Thakkar’s artwork blends motifs from biology, chemistry and astronomy, reflecting the interdisciplinary spirit needed for interplanetary science. The design has been 3D printed onto one side of the SPIDER device, turning a piece of art into a functional component of a spacecraft instrument intended for lunar deployment. The artwork’s presence on the shell also serves as a tangible symbol of how young minds can contribute to real missions that push the boundaries of exploration.
A mission with a bold path to the Moon
SPIDER is part of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2. The mission plan envisions a two-stage journey: the Elytra orbital vehicle will deploy the Blue Ghost lander into lunar orbit, followed by the transfer of SPIDER to the Moon’s surface. Once on the Moon, SPIDER will gather seismic data to map the lunar interior and search for ice resources that could be crucial for sustained exploration. The broader mission plan also includes surveying the asteroid Apophis as it makes a close approach to Earth in 2029, coming within about 32,000 kilometres of the planet.
Why this matters for South Australia
The SPIDER project is more than a single payload; it embodies a pivotal moment for the state’s space industry. Fleet Space’s new headquarters, the 10th anniversary celebration, and the Horizon Global Summit together highlight SA as a growing hub for space hardware engineering, digital manufacturing, and international partnerships. As part of the prize, Vatsal and his school received a custom model SPIDER featuring his design, and he, along with 20 guests, was granted a tour of Fleet Space’s new Adelaide headquarters. The story of SA students reaching space shows how local talent can become part of global missions.
What comes next for the Moon-bound SPIDER
With SPIDER selected to travel to the Moon’s South Pole in 2026, researchers hope the data gathered from lunar quakes will enrich our understanding of the Moon's crust, its potential ice reservoirs, and how future crews might live and work there. The mission also demonstrates how small teams and student ideas can influence real-world spacecraft and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists in South Australia and beyond.
Looking ahead
As the countdown to launch begins, Adelaide holds a unique place in space history. A local student's artistry now flies to the Moon, carried on a device designed to unlock planetary secrets. The SPIDER program shows how art and science can travel together, turning a regional initiative into a global story that elevates SA on the world stage and fuels ambition for future generations of Australian space explorers.
