About

Register for the 2025 challenge here

You can join the AVA Challenge at any time throughout the year!

Register now!

Join the Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge!

Choose from several 9-step STEM design sprints based on challenges facing Artemis & the Australian space industry Scenarios

  • Earth Observation: Milo Institute – Arizona State University
  • Robotics: AROSE Lunar Rover
  • Home on the Moon: Aldrin Family Foundation
  • Growing Food in Space: Magnitude.io
  • AI in Space
  • Telecommunications in Space

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.

FAQs

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

Submission FAQ’s here

Planned Webinars

Throughout the year are special webinars with space industry experts.
Registration is free and proudly supported by AWS in Communities.

Dates for webinars (12pm Sydney time for most times):

  • Feb 20 – Introduction (11am AEDT)
  • Mar 20 – Growing Food in Space: Magnitude.io
  • Apr 10 – Robotics: AROSE Lunar Rover Challenge
  • May 22 – Home on the Moon: Aldrin Family Foundation
  • June 5 – Earth Observation: Milo Institute – ASU
  • June 19 – AI in Space
  • July 24  – Telecommunications in Space: Optus
  • July 31 – FAQ’s for submissions
  • Aug 8 – Submissions due at 11:59pm AEDT
  • Aug 28 – Finalist pitches

Register now

Proudly partnered with the NSW Department of Education

Executive Committee

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

Ben Newsome CF
Churchill Fellow
AMP Tomorrow Maker
UTS Chancellor’s Award for Excellence
Founder of Fizzics Education

Ted Tagami

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

Jim Christensen
Executive Director of ShareSpace Education, the education arm of the Aldrin Family Foundation

Ian Preston headshot

Ian Preston

Deputy Principal NSW Virtual STEM Academy
NSW Department of Education
Global Teacher Ambassador
Wendy Bode

Wendy Bode
Deputy Principal – Global Tropics Future Project
Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow
QLD Virtual STEM Academy

Lori Waters

Lori Waters
Space Instructor | Analog Astronaut | Astrobotany Researcher

Kylie & Glenn

Kylie Burrett & Glenn Lawrence
GOLD Good Design Award Winner
Founders of Design Nuts

Dr Ken Hudson

Dr Ken Hudson
Lecturer at UTS
Speaker & Founder of Ideas Blitz

Dr Adrian John Brown

Dr Adrian Brown
Planetary Science Researcher
NASA

Allan Ryan

Allan Ryan
Adjunct Professor at UTS Business School
Founder of Hargraves Institute

Mani Thiru

Head of AWS Aerospace & Satellite Solutions for Asia Pacific and Japan

Jasminder Hayer
AWS Solutions Architect for Aerospace & Satellite Solutions
Asia Pacific Japan

Alice Fairey
Senior Programs and Operations Officer
Australian Space Discovery Centre

David Thomas
Executive Director
Milo Space Science Institute 

Edward Robinson
Founder
Robinson Aerospace.

Dr Sara Webb
Astrophysicist
Swinburne University of Technology

Harrison Verrios
Engineer
Nominal Systems

Prof. Russell Boyce
Chair for Intelligent Space Systems
Director of UNSW Canberra Space 

Sofia McLeod
PhD Candidate
Australian Institute for Machine Learning

Keira Crystal
Lead
Macquarie Orbital

Darcey Watson
Executive Officer
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation

Dr Chris Kemp
Engineer
Fleet Space Technologies

Dwayne Fernandes
Ambassador
AstroAccess

Donna Lawler
Principal
Azimuth Advisory

Carey Furze
Founder
eBookform

Michelle Keegan
Director Resources & Space
AROSE

Dr Newton Campbell
Director – Space Programs
AROSE

Dr Andrew Barton
SmartSat Research Program Manager
SmartSat CRC

Dr Leo Lymburner
Director of Earth Observation Product Development
AquaWatch, CSIRO

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

Dr James Allworth
Machine learning engineer
HEO

Dr Lewis Carter
Lead Product Designer
Raytracer

 

Andreas Antoniades
Director
Saber Astronautics Australia

Mandi Dimitriadis
Head of Education
Makers Empire

Trish Tatel
Satellite Controller
Optus Satellite & Space Systems

Sharmila Fernando
Head of Marketing
Space Machines Company

Jon McLean
Undergraduate Engineer
Space Machines Company

Olivia Heaton
Electronics Intern
Space Machines Company

 

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;

Email: support@fizzicseducation.com.au