Michael Dinn OAM

Michael Dinn OAM has displayed a remarkable commitment to advancing the field of space tracking in support of space exploration.

He was Deputy Director then Director of the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex at Tidbinbilla, and Deputy Director at the Honeysuckle Creek Manned Spaceflight Tracking Station, near Namadgi National Park, during the Apollo missions.  

He is the last surviving tracking station Director or Deputy Director of an Australian station to be involved in the moon landings.  

For his incredible work, Michael was awarded the Medal of the Order for service to engineering, particularly deep space tracking and exploration.  

“The highlight of my career was the lunar landing project Apollo, particularly Apollo 11,” he says.

“The television footage of Armstrong’s first step on the moon was sent from Honeysuckle Creek to the world, as well as the Voyager spacecraft encounters with Uranus and Neptune in the 1980s.  

“The recognition of my role in enhancing the significance of Australia in worldwide space communications and the recognition of the work of the teams I led means a lot to me. Teamwork was fundamental and vital.”  

More than anything however, Michael says he hopes his recognition can serve as a reminder of the role our country plays and has played in the field of space exploration and scientific discovery.

“It will demonstrate the significance and importance of Canberra’s and Australia’s role in space engineering and science,” he says.  

“I hope my recognition may provide an opportunity to alert the public of Australia’s space role, in the past, the present, and the future.”