Students connect directly with International Space Station
Mountain Creek State High School students will be taking part in an exciting program designed to inspire the space explorers of tomorrow.
The project allows students worldwide to experience the excitement of talking directly with crew members of the International Space Station (ISS), inspiring them to pursue interests in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and engaging them with radio science technology.
The “Telebridge” event, which takes place on June 9, is a collaboration between Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) and space education organisation One Giant Leap Australia.
Students will speak directly with Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi who was selected for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2009. He has previously spent four months on board the ISS in 2016.
The ISS itself is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 400km and at a speed of almost 8km per second. The space station has been in operation for the duration of the school students’ lives, having begun in 1998.
Sunshine Coast Council Resilient Economy Portfolio Councillor Joe Natoli congratulated Mountain Creek State High School on this extraordinary opportunity to connect directly with the International Space Station.
"This initiative not only inspires our young people to dream big but also aligns with Council’s commitment to nurturing new and emerging technologies, fostering innovation and future-focused careers,” Cr Natoli said.
"Sunshine Coast Council is proud to be working in collaboration with industry leaders to advance geospatial intelligence including the Space to Sea accelerator program with UniSC.
“Space-based innovation is an emerging field that is driving new employment pathways and positioning our region as a hub for smart technologies.”
Mountain Creek State High School has an excellent reputation for outstanding achievements in academic, cultural, leadership, community and sporting programs.
The school's digital innovation faculty constantly source opportunities for students to engage with new and emerging technologies and contexts, from day trips to Google Sydney to involvement in global collaborative projects.
ARISS program facilitator Shane Lynd said each event is unique and rewarding for the students.
“To date I have completed 82 Telebridge events over the past 19 years, all have been highly successful, and it is just gratifying to see how much the student participants are touched by and enjoy the unique experience.”
One Giant Leap managing director Jackie Carpenter said engaging with astronauts aboard the International Space Station is a transformative experience that broadens young minds, ignites dreams and reaffirms that the sky is never the limit.
"I’m incredibly proud that One Giant Leap Australia is collaborating with Mountain Creek State School, Sunshine Coast Council and the ARISS team to give students a direct connection to space – an opportunity that will inspire the next generation of explorers, engineers and innovators.
Learn more about Council’s initiatives and register for the upcoming Sunshine Coast Geospatial Intelligence “Ideation to Action” workshop on July 23 in Maroochydore at invest.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.