Students pitch NASA through Powerhouse program

Western Sydney high school students were recently given the opportunity to collaborate with NASA on a space mission.

NASA Deputy Administrator Pamela Melroy joined students participating in the Powerhouse: Future Space program to launch a student-designed experiment, which will be conducted on the International Space Station in 2024.

As part of the Lang Walker Family Academy In-Schools Program, Powerhouse: Future Space — in collaboration with Magnitude.io and the NSW Department of Education — is in its second year of a three-year program. It has been providing students from Western Sydney and regional areas with ground-breaking technology, advanced educational opportunities, and exposure to international scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.

The 2022 mission ‘Carbon Farmer’ used scientific inquiry to teach students about importance of the carbon cycle on Earth and in space. This year, students will use NASA-inspired design thinking techniques to plan their own space and Earth-based experiment between February and August and pitch their ideas to a panel of experts during the 2023 Sydney Science Festival. The winning design will be selected for ground trials and active experiments on the International Space Station in early 2024.

The esteemed guest for the launch event, Melroy was one of only two female commanders of NASA space shuttle missions. She went on three space shuttle assembly missions in 2000, 2002 and 2007 to help build the International Space Station. She is also a pioneer for the Australian Space Agency, having spent a significant amount of time in Australia, inspiring the future of space undertaking. Powerhouse connected 150 students from Hurlstone Agricultural High School, East Hills Girls Technology High School, Arthur Phillip High School, Jamison High School, Seven Hills High School and Casula High School with the distinguished leader to hear her inspiring recollections from an outstanding STEM career. Melroy also offered advice to students on their experiment proposals for the mission, followed by Q&A.

“We are thrilled to be a participating school in the Powerhouse: Future Space program and supporting the launch of the 2023 mission. It has been a rewarding journey to see Future Space students applying their learnings from the world-class immersive STEM education program to prepare an actual space mission on the International Space Station,” said Christine Castle, Principal of Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

Image caption: Pamela Melroy. Image credit: Andy Roberts.