Supported by the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO, the program gives students a 10-week opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) in California and the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space.
Their work will range from biological testing of UV-resistant space organisms to analysing Jupiter’s atmosphere and developing software within NASA’s Flight Software Framework.
Now in its third year, the National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) has expanded beyond NASA/JPL to include placements at RAL Space. Six students will head to California, while two will travel to the UK, departing Melbourne on 4 September.
Those heading to RAL Space are Chloe Radoll, an Anaiwan woman from Tamworth studying at the University of Technology Sydney, and Mitchell Cooper, a Boandik man from Sydney studying at the University of Sydney.
The NASA/JPL cohort includes Anneliese Joy, a Boandik woman from Sydney studying at the Australian National University (ANU); Jackson Hillier, a Tyerrernotepanner man from LaTrobe, Tasmania, studying at Griffith University; Keira Moran, a Yuin woman from La Perouse studying at UNSW; Kirrin Maynard, a Worimi man from Newcastle studying at the University of Newcastle; Madison Wright, a Nyul Nyul woman from Broome studying at ANU; and Matthew Lloyd, a Tharawal man from Canberra studying at ANU.
Professor Christopher Lawrence, NISA lead and associate dean (Indigenous) at Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology, said the program’s expansion to the UK highlighted its rapid growth.
“By partnering with RAL, NASA/JPL, the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO, we are creating pathways for First Nations students to pursue international careers in STEM while bringing Indigenous knowledge and perspectives to the global stage,” Lawrence said.
“I hope one day to see the world’s first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander astronaut, and NISA is helping pave that path.”
Ahead of their placements, students will take part in a three-day Space Boot Camp at Monash University’s Clayton Campus from 1–3 September. The camp will feature sessions with professor of space innovation Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Larry James, presentations from past NISA participants, and hands-on activities with Monash’s Nova Rover and High Powered Rocketry team.
Australian Space Agency head, Enrico Palermo, said NISA reflects a broader national effort to elevate Indigenous knowledge in science and research.
“The Australian Space Agency is proud to be a founding supporter of NISA, which is creating unique opportunities for First Nations students to contribute to some of the world’s most advanced space projects,” Palermo said.
“Programs like NISA not only open doors for talented students but help integrate important perspectives into the Australian and global space sectors.”
For Mitchell Cooper, one of the students heading to RAL Space, the placement is a dream come true.
“As a proud Boandik man, I am excited to travel to the UK and gain hands-on experience at a world-class research laboratory,” he said.
“This is an opportunity I never imagined, and I hope my journey shows other young Indigenous people that there are no limits to what we can achieve in STEM, both in Australia and around the world.”
Leaders at RAL Space, CSIRO and the Australian Space Agency said they hoped the program would inspire many more First Nations students to pursue science and engineering careers, with long-term plans to grow NISA, support Indigenous-led space enterprises and expand international collaborations.