The highlight of the experience is the simulated Mars mission where the students cooperate to execute a typical Mars surface mission involving role-playing activities dressed as astronauts and work in a simulated mission control center. Interacive software provides problem solving skills amongst the students, including a Martian dust storm that risks the safety of the astronauts.
VSSEC is a fantastic way to teach the Australian youth about the dream of space exploration and science and hopefully they will be inspired them to pursure careers in the space sector and support future government efforts to fund space activites.
Australia is the only nation in the top 25 GDP nations that doesn't have a government-funded space agency (see Senate Report). In fact, despite its well-educated population of over 21 million, Australia doesn't even have a central point of contact for foriegn nations interested in cooperating in space activities!
Not surprinsingly, there is a strong interest in Australia for the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP). Team FredNET already attracted some Australian involvement, and we at White Label Space are also in discussions with many individuals and organizations in Australia who are interested to join our GLXP effort.
See also:
- Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems (now disbanded)
- CSIRO Astronomy (and Space?) Division
- FedSat
- Australian Space Research Institute
National Space Society of Australia - Australia Needs a Space Agency Already! (facebook group promoting a space agency)
- Australian National University Space Activities
- Centre for Hypersonics at the University of Queensland
- Australian Hypersonics Initiative
- Grollo Aerospace (and related info: [1], [2], [3])
- Engineers Australia National Committee in Space Engineering
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