Aiming for the Stars at Space Camp
A career in space may seem light years away for many people – but not for the budding astronauts at the ϳԹn Space School.
This week, 24 bright young minds from around the state are getting the chance to share their own space odyssey with Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
The session with Katherine is one of the highlights of an elite 4-day space camp at Hamilton Secondary College which aims to inspire the next generation of scientists to take their own giant leap into a space career.
The Year 10 students from 18 public and private schools have been selected from a pool of applicants who have demonstrated talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Several Space Academy students from Hamilton Secondary College will also attend.
Katherine is the first astronaut to represent Australia and is a space systems engineer for the Adelaide-based Australian Space Agency. She is one of around 100 fully qualified active astronauts in the world and is qualified for missions to the International Space Station.
Katherine, who holds four degrees across science, space and aeronautical engineering, says there are great career opportunities linked to human spaceflight, space station facilities, earth observation missions, robotic space vehicles and many other facets of the space industry.
“Seven out of 10 young people would go to space if they could, so I think there is a bridge to be built to inspire kids to remain passionate and engaged in science as they progress through high school,” Katherine said.
In addition to meeting Katherine, the students have this week:
- Built and launched model rockets
- Visited the Adelaide University Moon Lab
- Learnt about career opportunities with the Australian Space Agency
- Visited testing facilities at the Royal Australian Airforce Base at Edinburgh
- Held “Mars Lab” activities and a Planetarium session at the Space School.
Hamilton Secondary College Principal Peta Kourbelis said the next generation of space explorers could emerge from the Space School program, which was established in 1997.
“These students are deeply passionate about careers in STEM and space. To get to meet Katherine is a very tangible example of what they can achieve. She’s an incredible role model who lives down the road from them", Kourbelis said.
