The Australian National University

The Australian National University is Australia’s national research university in Canberra. Its School of Engineering offers Aerospace Systems Engineering and conducts research in space systems, advanced propulsion, aerospace structures and control, Earth observation, planetary entry, uncrewed aircraft, and spacecraft plasma propulsion through its Aerospace Cluster, ANU InSpace, and associated research groups. Its Quantum Optical Ground Station at Mount Stromlo supports research in laser and quantum communications using a 70 cm telescope and adaptive optics. In June 2025, the station participated with the Anglo-Australian Telescope in receiving laser light from NASA’s Psyche spacecraft. ANU subsequently reported reception of video from Orion during Artemis II in April 2026, demonstrating the ground station’s role in testing lunar-distance optical communications.