Register an EOI for the 2026 challenge!
This is a FREE School Challenge!
Missions at your own pace
Use the content on this site to deliver the program at your pace. A number of special events will also be made exclusively available to participants (dates tbc). There will also be a celebration event known as the Young Space Explorers held in Sydney Australia.
Mission 1: Introduction
Mission 2: Define the challenge
Mission 3: Identify the challenge
Mission 4: Brainstorm the solution
Mission 5: Design the solution
Mission 6: Prototype creation
Mission 7: Evaluate the design
Mission 8: Iterate your design
Mission 9: Communicate the Pitch
Planned Webinars
Throughout the year are special webinars with space industry experts.
Dates for webinars are still being planned!
Key Information to Teachers on Delivery
This program has been designed to be delivered flexibly. Therefore teachers can use as much or as little of the materials as they wish. It could be finished in a couple of lessons or over a number of weeks. FAQs
Register your class
Be quick to register and secure your young astronauts’ place in this exciting challenge
2025 Winner
Winner
Sydney Grammar School, Darlinghurst, NSW
– ARISEN
– Grade 8
2025 Finalists
2nd Place
Foxwell State Secondary College, Coomera, QLD
– Plants on Mars
– Grade 10
3rd Place
Epping Public School, Epping, NSW
– L.U.N.A
– Grade 5 & 6
2025 Highly Commended
Highly Commended
St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, QLD
– Lunar Rover
– Grade 7
Highly Commended
Samuel Gilbert Public School, Castle Hill, NSW
– Telecommunications Relay Satellite
– Grade 5
Highly Commended
Home School, Lillian Rock, NSW
– Lunar Rover
– Grade 5
Executive
Keira Chrystal
Team Manager & Lead – Macquarie Orbital
Associate – Moonshot
Co-President of the Space Research Student Committee (SRSC)
Khushi Daga
X-Ray Scientist – CSIRO
Host – Sydney Observatory
Co-President of the Space Research Student Committee (SRSC)
Ben Newsome CF
Churchill Fellow
AMP Tomorrow Maker
UTS Chancellor’s Award for Excellence
Founder of Fizzics Education
Advisors
Dr Scott Sleap CF
STEM Enrichment Coordinator| Curriculum Secondary Learners
NSW Department of Education
Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence for Secondary Science Teaching
Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow
Ted Tagami
Past User Advisory Committee – Education Chair at ISS US National Lab
CoFounder of Magnitude
Contact Us
For enquiries regarding partnering with the AVA Challenge, please direct enquires to Ben Newsome
Email: support@fizzicseducation.com.au
Contributors
Jim Christensen
Executive Director of ShareSpace Education, the education arm of the Aldrin Family Foundation
Ian Preston
Wendy Bode
Deputy Principal – Global Tropics Future Project
Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow
QLD Virtual STEM Academy
Lori Waters
Space Instructor | Analog Astronaut | Astrobotany Researcher
Dr Frazer Thorpe
Plants for Space Education and Engagement Manager
Plants For Space – ARC Centre of Excellence
Dr Lieke van der Hulst
Plants for Space Engagement & Communications Officer
Plants For Space – ARC Centre of Excellence
Tully Mahr
NASA JPL Intern 2023
MILO Mission Academy for Lunar Exploration
Contact Us
For enquiries regarding about the AVA Challenge, please email us below;