A career in the space industry is no longer a pipe dream for WA high school students as the International Space Centre launches its first Space Boot Camp at The University of Western Australia.
The new centre’s inaugural two-day Space Boot Camp starts tomorrow (Wednesday 19 January) and will introduce Year 9 and 10 students to the realm of possibilities in the local space industry.
They will hear from those at the frontier of the Australian space industry including: ex-NASA scientists Professor Peter Quinn, Head of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research; and Associate Professor Danail Obreschkow, Head of the International Space Centre.
“It’s the perfect time for kids to think about a career in WA’s space sector, as our local space industry is quickly expanding its capabilities while witnessing a world-wide boom of exciting space missions,” Associate Professor Obreschkow said.
“In fact, the Australian Space Agency looks to create another 20,000 space jobs over the next eight years.”
Image: Associate Professor Danail Obreschkow, Head of the International Space Centre.
The group of 60 students will learn about space plant biology, law, rocketry and propulsion, and even designing lunar habitats. The teenagers will also be launching their own rockets with the UWA Aerospace Club.
“As kids, we used to think working in space meant becoming a rocket scientist or an astronaut – but the industry is so much broader than that, and that’s what the students this week have a chance to experience,” Associate Professor Obreschkow said.
“They’ll learn about things like human physiology in space, growing plants to support long-term missions, space debris and whose problem it is, robotics on the ISS and designing their own lunar habitats.
“All of these elements are crucial to our success in space as it becomes an increasingly civil industry. And of course, the students will get the chance to build and launch their own rockets as well, because space is fun!”
Students will also have a chance to quiz the brains of the International Space Centre’s stellar team of experts on the questions everyone wants to know such as: Who owns the moon? How expensive is it to store stuff in space? Are we alone? How does an astronaut go to the toilet?
