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Three Australian astronauts took questions from 100 excited schoolchildren at AusSpace25, the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition.
No topic was off-limits when they met Eric Philips, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, and Dr Paul Scully-Power at the nation’s premier space industry event, now in its fourth year.
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The moment is thought to be the first time in history that so many Australian astronauts have gathered together.
In total, the two-day summit and exhibition featured over 60 speakers at a leadership forum designed to share real-world insights and inspire the next generation of space leaders.
These lucky children also had the opportunity to tour the exhibition and speak with partners about the transformative impact of Australia’s space development. The experience offered them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the full potential of space exploration.
Later, a Q&A session was hosted with the astronauts, with Eric Philips having only returned to Earth in April.
The session provided children a rare opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of spaceflight, shared directly from the astronauts themselves.
The Q&A captivated the young audience, exposing them to key topics surrounding space innovation, Australia’s growing space capabilities, and practical tips on how they could shape the future of the industry.
The children later hosted a podcast to broadcast their learnings from the sessions.
Education, mentorship, and industry engagement such as this are essential in inspiring the next generation of Australians to pursue careers in space.
One of the summit’s speakers, Dr Joni Sytsma, chief technology officer at the University of Southern Queensland iLAuNCH Program, stressed the importance of engaging in education initiatives to build a sustainable workforce.
She called for increased investment in “scholarships and subsidised education programs” to create “a thriving ecosystem so that new graduates do not have to face the typical Australian dilemma of either going overseas to pursue a career in advanced technology or staying home and moving into the minerals or business sectors.”
Currently, Australia is facing a significant skills shortage across the space industry, with the South Australia Space Industry Skills Demand Study reporting significant staff shortages across the state’s space workforce.
The study found that 28 per cent of required positions were left unfilled, with organisations struggling to employ skilled people both nationwide and internationally.
The skills shortage witnessed across Australia reinforces the importance of interactive workshops, career exploration events, and collaborations with industry leaders for Australia’s youth.
Programs such as AusSpace25 and the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition not only spark interest in children but also guide them toward educational pathways that lead to space-related careers.
AusSpace25, the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition, featured a range of sessions analysing the current state of Australia’s space industry. The event was centred around two key topics: defence space and commercial space.
The defence space stream included discussions on international partnerships, hypersonics, and launch site collaboration, while the commercial space stream covered topics including diversity, inspiration, and growth.
To learn more about the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition, click here.
