Australia’s mission to put a lunar rover on the Moon is boosting space and STEM training across the nation, from primary and secondary school students to tertiary undergraduates and early-stage professionals.
AROSE CEO Leanne Cunnold said the organisation had been inundated with enquiries since winning the Stage 1 bid to design a lunar rover for a future NASA mission to the Moon.
“There has been a huge response to AROSE’s national education and training programs across all states and student levels, demonstrating a strong demand for specialist STEM programs in Australia,” Ms Cunnold said.
“The Trailblazer lunar rover mission is already inspiring students to pursue studies and careers in space and STEM. Importantly, the skills they acquire are applicable across industries, not just the space sector.”
In parallel with the lunar rover design work being undertaken by the AROSE Consortium for the Australian Space Agency, multiple rover designs are being created across school and tertiary levels.
“This makes the work by students even more relevant and inspiring,” Ms Cunnold said.
The Trailblazer lunar rover mission is already inspiring students to pursue studies and careers in space and STEM. Importantly, the skills they acquire are applicable across industries, not just the space sector.”
AROSE CEO Leanne Cunnold
- Milo Mission Academy – an internationally accredited 12-week virtual space mission training program focussed on a lunar robotics mission available to tertiary level students and early-stage graduates in Australia and New Zealand;
- Australian Virtual Astronaut (AVA) challenge – national rover design scenario available to primary and secondary school students;
- Joseph Banks Secondary College – has established the Western Australian Space Science Education Centre, a purpose-built facility with specialist facilities and technology to provide students with space science and mission control learning opportunities.
AROSE Director Space & Resources Michelle Keegan said this year’s inaugural Milo Mission Academy proved extremely popular, attracting 225 participants from all states and territories (60% male, 40% female, including 3% Indigenous), as well as sponsors and mentors from across Australia and New Zealand. The workforce readiness course is attracting early-stage graduates from multiple sectors including mining and defence, as well as those interested in a career in the space sector.
“Having worked with the team at the Milo Space Science Institute over the past two years, I’m incredibly proud we have now brought this important program to life in Australia,” Ms Keegan said.
“Many participants never thought this opportunity was going to be a part of what they could do in their lifetime, and certainly not in Australia. They’d seen it overseas, but they hadn’t seen these opportunities here. It’s a fantastic bridge between university and the workforce.”
To help design and deliver its national STEM program, AROSE has in place a secondee from Joseph Banks Secondary College, a nationally recognised STEM school of excellence.
Joseph Banks Secondary College Associate Principal and Director of the Western Australian Space Science Education Centre Liz Smith said AROSE’s approach to STEM focuses on both the ‘big idea’ and on developing students’ skills and work capabilities.
“The fast pace of technology, automation and digitisation means STEM students need to be open to continual learning of concepts and skills, and to be comfortable with a potentially non-linear career pathway,” Ms Smith said. “An approach which develops both concepts and skills is a sound strategy to engage students in STEM.”
Australian Government funding for Stage 1 of the Trailblazer mission also enabled AROSE to sponsor an intern at Fugro SpAARC, the central command facility for the mission once the lunar rover lands on the Moon. Located in the Perth CBD, SpAARC is also where much of the design work for the lunar rover mission is being undertaken.
The first AROSE intern at Fugro SpAARC Lorian Marshall said the internship had helped her discover where she wants to go with her career.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to work on the Trailblazer lunar rover mission,” Ms Marshall said. “I grew up thinking that if you wanted to work in space you had to go to NASA, so it’s really cool to have a backyard space program in Australia that can get you into the industry and you can find a pathway for yourself.”
Ms Marshall, a fourth-year undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering and Synthetic Chemistry at The University of Western Australia, is part of the mechanical and software development teams responsible for the design of the rover’s imaging systems that will provide visuals on its interactions with the lunar soil.
Ms Marshall said it’s important STEM is accessible and fun in schools.
“Being able to say, ‘Hey look, that’s my country’s rover there on the Moon’, is something really great for kids and future generations. I hope this mission is not just a one-time thing for Australia.”
Ms Cunnold said robotics, automation and digital intelligence will radically transform the employment marketplace in the coming years and that students need to gain the appropriate skills to make them ‘future-proof’ in the workforce.
“Through a range of outreach activities, AROSE aims to develop awareness of STEM pathways and increase interest in STEM related careers. We believe a focus on space is a great way to inspire students into STEM fields,” Ms Cunnold said.
“We aim to map the student STEM journey, from primary school to workforce, and develop links between industry and education. By partnering with STEM organisations to promote a range of quality STEM activities across Australia our goal is to make STEM accessible to all.”
Applications for the next semester of the Milo Mission Academy will be open soon. For more information visit: https://www.milomissionacademy.org/arose-australia
