Students reach for the stars and win big with national award
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Nothing evokes awe and curiosity like the wonders of space. Mary MacKillop College Year 8 students experienced exactly that when they participated in the Fleet Space LaunchBox Program, developed by Adelaide-based Fleet Space Technologies.
The program introduces students to career opportunities within the growing space industry and takes them through a series of hands-on challenges exploring satellite technology, engineering, business planning and problem-solving while working collaboratively in teams.
“I enjoyed learning about the many different careers in STEM and the opportunities available for young people in the future,” said Year 8 student Kaitlin.
The bright young minds were encouraged to design a satellite solution to address a real-world problem and develop a viable business model around their concept.
Teams created company names, logos and missions, assigned professional roles to team members, and pitched their ideas as emerging space start-ups. Students were required to consider how their innovation could be delivered, funded and promoted.
For their efforts, Mary MacKillop College students won the prestigious Mission Ready Award for excellence in satellite mission design and business innovation.
During the online presentation ceremony students heard from astronaut and 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
Kaitlin will never forget the thrill of asking Australia’s first astronaut trained under the Australian flag a question of her own.
She quizzed Ms Bennell-Pegg about the challenges faced on her journey to becoming an astronaut, how she overcame them, and what advice the astronaut has for young girls hoping to break new ground.
“Her answer was incredibly inspiring,” Kaitlin said. “She spoke about the importance of perseverance and believing in yourself, even when others tell you that you don’t belong or that your goals are too difficult to achieve. Her message reminded me that breaking new ground isn’t impossible if you are willing to work hard and stay focused on your dreams.”
Meanwhile, Year 8 student Isla also found the interaction uplifting.
“It was such an inspiring experience, and hearing Katherine Bennell-Pegg share her journey made us believe that anything is possible,” Isla said.
Careers and VET counsellor Sandra Mitchell said the school is incredibly proud of the students.
“This achievement reflects their creativity, teamwork and willingness to embrace new challenges,” Mrs Mitchell said.
“Opportunities like this inspire our young people to think boldly, solve real-world problems and see the exciting possibilities that STEM can offer.”
