Milo Mission Academy & Interning at NASA JPL
In this session, Tully Mahr, a Gamilaraay woman and aerospace engineering student, shares her extraordinary journey from flying solo on her 15th birthday to interning at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She discusses the importance of diverse perspectives in space exploration and how programs like the Milo Mission Academy are preparing the next generation of Australian space leaders.
[00:00:20] Tully Mahr grew up in Gundungurra country in the town of Joadja. Her journey into STEM was inspired by a family passion for aviation—she flew solo for the first time on her 15th birthday. This unique perspective from the air made her curious about what the Earth looks like from even higher up, fueling a lifelong dream to become an astronaut.
A Life-Changing Internship at NASA JPL
[00:03:13] Last year, Tully was part of the first cohort of the National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA), which provides indigenous Australians with exposure to the global space industry. She spent several months interning at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.
[00:04:43] Working in the Origins and Habitability Lab, Tully conducted research on hydrothermal chimneys—structures found on the ocean floor that are critical to studying the emergence of life. Because these vents also exist on moons like Enceladus (which orbits Saturn), studying them in a lab helps scientists understand how life might emerge on other planets.
The Milo Mission Academy
[00:06:05] Back in Australia, Tully joined the Milo Mission Academy, a 12-week program where interdisciplinary teams develop a complete space mission following the NASA mission lifecycle. Tully’s team is currently designing a robotic rover to explore the southern lunar region to look for water ice in permanently shadowed regions.
[00:13:48] The Academy mirrors real-world industry by splitting teams into three disciplines:
- Science: Deriving objectives and deciding what data to collect.
- Engineering: Developing the method of investigation and hardware.
- Programmatics: Managing the personnel, budget, and mission schedule.
Creativity in STEM
[00:09:16] Tully emphasizes that STEM is a gateway to exploring interests and being creative. She recalls a pumpkin carving competition at JPL where one team carved a functioning guitar out of a pumpkin. “That creativity and innovative nature is so critical,” Tully notes, “and STEM is such a great way to explore that.”
Advice for Students: Believe in Yourself
[00:08:01] The space industry needs every profession, from space doctors and lawyers to game developers who design VR simulations for astronaut training. Tully’s biggest piece of advice is to believe in yourself and embrace the freedom to investigate what you love. “STEM has the capability to change the world,” she says, “and by extension, you have the capability to change the world.”
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