Register for the 2024 challenge here

This is a FREE school challenge.

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

AROSE Roving Around Challenge

Download the AROSE Lunar Challenge mission brief

This challenge emphasises the design of a rover’s mobility on the lunar surface. Your team may wish to consider:

 The lunar surface and adhering dust
 Wheel design and traction
 Gravity
 Navigation
 The lunar environment, temperature, and darkness
 Technology considerations related to the harsh lunar environment.

Teams will research and design a solution to one of these challenges and present it in the form of either a 90-second video pitch or poster.

For the AROSE Lunar Rover Challenge, we have two submission opportunities for students.

Students may submit their work and thinking in Semester 1 to receive feedback to refine and develop their pitch or poster for their Semester 2 submission.

The closing dates and details for submission are;

Semester 1

Friday 28 June 2024 at 11:59pm AEDT;
Semester 1 Submissions for the AROSE Lunar Rover Challenge should be emailed to STEM@arose.org.au

Semester 2

September 23 at 11:59pm AEDT

Submission FAQ’s here

Ask the AROSE Experts!

Excitingly, AROSE offers students the chance to Ask the Experts!
Students can fill out this online form to ask AROSE questions each month
regarding their research, their ideas, or their design.

All other scenarios
Submission date: September 23 at 11:59pm AEDT
Pitch Date – November date TBC

Submission FAQ’s here

Young Space Explorers Event

A number of primary & high school teams will be selected to pitch their ideas to renowned space industry representatives and venture capitalists. This will occur in November!

Finalists for the 2023 AVA Challenge

High Schools

Tara Anglican School for Girls
Birrong Girls High School
Catherine McAuley, Westmead

Primary Schools (for the first time in the 3 years of competition!)

Epping Public School
Methodist Ladies’ College

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):

Feb 26 – Launch
Apr 4 – Leadership in Space
Apr 11 – Robotics
May 9 – Earth Observation
May 16 – Growing Food in Space
May 23 – Home on the Moon
May 30 – AI in Space
June 6 – Telecommunications in Space
June 13 – Space Tech
June 20 – What is an internship like at NASA JPL through the Milo Mission Academy?
Sept 3 – FAQs for submissions

Proudly supported by AWS InCommunities

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committed to making a positive difference around the world. Whether it’s using technology to solve the world’s most pressing issues, or through our employees donating their time to support causes they care about, AWS is dedicated to building a world where every person has the opportunity to live a life of dignity on a healthy planet.

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