Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge
Mission 1 | Introduction
Welcome to AVA!
Hear from space industry representatives and design experts from Australia and around the world. Learn about the Australian Virtual Astronaut (AVA) challenge structure and opportunities for students.
Register for the 2025 challenge here
2025 AVA Challenge
Are you up to the challenge?
February 20 at 12:00 pm AEDT, we will introduce the challenge and our five exciting scenarios that have been developed to engage students in an authentic design challenge.
- learn about how you can engage your students using the free resources available from the AVA website
- be introduced to the challenge and find out how students can work in teams to solve a range of authentic space-related challenges
- learn more about our five unique scenarios that will provide student agency and choice
- find out about the amazing people contributing to the AVA challenge
- hear about potential mentoring opportunities for your students
- learn more about the Young Space Explores event scheduled for December this year.
The Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge is held over 9 steps and is designed to be run at your own pace. In this time students are to develop a design solution from one of our five exciting scenarios.
Students are to produce either a 90-second video or a poster outlining their design solution. Each week the AVA team will publish helpful videos, worksheets and provide resources to assist students on their journey into space design.
Part 1 – The Big Picture
Special guest speaker Keegan Buzza (Director of Communications) Australian Space Agency discusses the big picture for the Australian space industry. Ted Tagami (User Advisory Committee – Past Education Chair at ISS US National Lab) provides background on the international space industry and the concept of producing food in space. (20:58 Minutes)
Part 2 – Welcome to AVA – Ted Tagami
Ted Tagami (User Advisory Committee – Past Education Chair at ISS US National Lab & CoFounder of Magnitude) sets the broad picture for the AVA challenge. (2:11 minutes)
Part 3 – National snapshot – Australian Space Agency
Kerrie Dougherty, Senior Heritage and Outreach Officer for the Australian Space Agency gives an overview of the space industry in Australia and opportunities for students across a broad range of fields over the coming years. (6:13 minutes)
Part 5 – The Australian Space Industry snapshot
Veronica Bainton, Deputy Chair of The Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) &- Director Satellite – Governance & Industry Engagement for Optus Satellite gives an overview of the wide array of organisations involved in the Australian Space Industry (2:36 minutes)
Part 5 – Andy Thomas Space Foundation
Darcey Watson, Executive Officer of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation (ATSF) describes how the goal of ATSF is to promote innovation and social well-being in Australia by advancing the cause of space and increasing awareness of its benefits for our nation. (3:20 minutes)
Part 6 – 2024 AVA FAQs (recording of the 2024 launch)
Ben Newsome (founder of Fizzics Education) covers some of the FAQs for the AVA challenge. (6:37 minutes)
MILO Mission Academy with David Thomas
David Thomas, Executive Director at the Milo Space Science Institute at Arizona State University describes the work done around the world to enable space science to be more economical (8:16 minutes)
Perspectives in Careers in the Space Industry
Learn from Shae Ingram, Andrew Murphy & Annie Handmer from Optus Satellite and Space Systems plus Astrophysicist Kirsten Banks talk about careers in space & their own journeys. (32:02 minutes)
2025 AVA Challenge Scenarios
Your students choose one of the following five scenarios that follow authentic space missions from the US and/or Australia.
1. Earth Observation: Milo Institute – Arizona State University
This earth observation mission is modelled on the Arizona State University, Milo Institutes ‘Mission Academy’ which was originally designed for university students. In this mission, teams will develop a satellite design concept that will meet the NASA Artemis science goal of understanding planetary processes and will meet one or more of NASA’s Decadal Survey objectives.
2. Robotics: AROSE Lunar Rover
In this mission, students will design a semi-autonomous lunar rover. The rover would be sent to the moon and controlled from earth to collect lunar soil (regolith) with the aim to extract oxygen from the oxides in the soil.
Closing date for submissions: Semester 1- Friday 28 June 2024; Semester 2 – To be confirmed
3. Home on the Moon: Aldrin Family Foundation
In this scenario, students have the mission to imagine a ‘Family Home Outpost’ on the moon. This project was originally developed by the Aldrin Family Foundation in the United States. The Family Home Outpost must provide a livable and sustainable habitat for a family and potential guests.
4. Growing Food in Space: Magnitude.io
This mission is brought to you by our partners Magnitude.io. In this scenario, you are a developer of the next ExoLab space mission onto the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon or Mars. The ExoLab program is an annual mission run by Magnitude.io to the ISS, which will be a living case study for this mission scenario.
5. AI in Space
This mission looks at how artificial intelligence is being used in space missions. In this mission, teams will develop an AI concept that will meet the needs of the space industry
6. Telecommunications in Space
Telecommunications in space is critical to support space missions and ground operations. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission.
Use the AVA website to guide your class through a range of supportive resources that generally follow the NSW Department of Education’s iSTEM engineering design process. Challenge your students to design solutions that use resources effectively.
Students have to design a solution to one of the six scenarios and pitch their ideas in either poster or video format.
Teaching and Learning Resources
Below are some downloadable resources, custom videos, and websites links that will support teachers to deliver the Mission 1 content.
Suggested Learning Sequence
This is designed to be run at your class’s pace.
Our expert curriculum designers have developed a suggested Mission 1 learning sequence for teachers. The following is for the full set of AVA resources, however, teachers are encouraged to only use activities that are most suitable for their own class and school setting.
Sub Mission 1: Set The Scene Watch About Artemis and future habitation challenges video to provide context to the challenge around NASA’s Artemis Program.
Sub Mission 2: iSTEM Process Introduce the iSTEM Engineering Design process. Download the poster and place it around the classroom. Use the iSTEM Process guide to describe different activities.
Sub Mission 3: Select Teams Get students to select teams and roles. Watch AVA2021 video about the six characteristics of an effective team and get students to complete a skills audit and select their team with the help of our handy AVA worksheet.
Extension: Get students to complete the Multiple Intelligences (MI) survey. Students to determine their core characteristics as a learner using the guide. Students to select teams based on the results. Teams with the most diverse intelligences are the most likely to be successful. (Most suitable for grades 9 & 10).
Sub Mission 4: Select Your Scenario Now introduce the five possible AVA 2022 scenarios, Earth Observation, Robotics, Home on the Moon, Growing Food in Space, AI in Space & Telecommunications in Space. Get teams to use the Choose a Scenario worksheet to evaluate the scenarios by outlining the pros and cons for each. Once evaluated students are to select and justify their mission scenario selection.
Sub Mission 5: Research Scenarios Once the students have chosen their scenario, they can then complete some further research. The AVA team have curated a number of resources shown below to assist.
Sub Mission 6: Bitmoji Exercise High School students can create their own space-themed Bitmoji. Watch the video instructions from Dr Sleap and Lori and download the Bitmoji worksheet for more instructions.
Sub Mission 7: Team Identity Students to build team identity by designing their own mission patch. Students to view ISS Science video on ‘making your own mission patch’ and download the AVA Design a Mission Patch worksheet.
Downloadable Resources
Scenario 1: Earth Observation Design Brief
The earth observation scenario is based on the University of Arizona’s Milo Institute. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission.
Scenario 2: AROSE Lunar Rover Challenge Brief
The robotics scenario is based on the Australian Space Agencies and NASA’s Trailblazer program. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission. Closing date for submissions: Semester 1- Friday 28 June 2024; Semester 2 – To be confirmed
Scenario 3: Home on the Moon
The Home on the Moon scenario is based on the Aldrin Family Foundation program from the US. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission.
Scenario 4: Growing Food in Space
The Growing Food in Space scenario is based on the Mangnitude.io ExoLab program. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission.
Scenario 5: AI in Space
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence offers opportunities to explore to the adoption of AI in a wide array of fields relating to space. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission.
Scenario 6: Telecommunications in Space
Telecommunications in space is critical to support space missions and ground operations. This resource provides the context and brief for students to start their mission.
iSTEM Engineering Design Process
The iSTEM process developed by the NSW Department of Education is an industry-recognised engineering design process and scaffolds the understanding and application of design thinking.
iSTEM Process Guide
In this document, each stage/cog of the iSTEM process is outlined with key questions to ask students and possible actions your students would need to undertake when completing each stage of the process.
Selecting Your Team
In this document we discuss what makes a good team and students undertake a skills audit. Teachers may use the Multiple Intelligences survey to help inform the skills audit. Students then select their team and assign rolls based on skills.
Multiple Intelligences Survey
This is a survey instrument that you can get students to complete which will help determine your students intelligence profile. The purpose is to identify different strengths to help inform team selections.
Multiple Intelligences Guide
The Multiple Intelligence guide is to assist students to determine their core characteristics as a learner. It provides strategies to support learning and suggests technologies that might stimulate their different intelligences.
Which Scenario
In this exercise, students analyse the mission scenarios to determine which mission would be the best for the team to solve. They look at the pro’s and con’s for each scenario using the worksheet provided. Finally the team will select the mission which best suits the student’s interest and skills.
Team Work – Bitmoji Exercise
Create a space themed Avatar using the Bitmoji app. Collate each of your Avatars into a team in this fun exercise. Note the are age restrictions of 13 for this app, so best used in High School setting only.
Team Work – AVA Mission Patch Exercise
Learn about the significance of mission patches from NASA astronaut Astronaut Randy Bresnik. Get the team together and create your own mission patch for the Australian Astronaut Challenge.
All Scenarios – Resources
General background information for teachers and students to support challenge activities
Artemis Prepares for Mars
In this informative video produced for AVA2021, space training program specialist for the US Navy and previous Vice President for Magnitude.io Lori Waters talks about the Artemis Mission. (9:26 Minutes)
BitMoji Instructions
In this video produced for AVA2021, Dr Sleap and Lori Waters explains how to introduce BitMoji into your lessons for a bit of fun and to build teamwork. Lori discusses how BitMoji found its way onto the International Space Station. (2:45 Minutes)
Indigenous Perspective – Australian Space Agency Logo
This animated video tells the story of the Australian Space Agency’s brand identity. At first glance, the logo appears as a satellite view of Australia. But hidden within the dots are several significant Indigenous constellations that can be seen if we look up across Australian skies. The brand captures Australia’s powerful cultural heritage and the spirit of the Agency—one that will look to space to provide real improvements for life on Earth. (01:03 Minutes)
Teamwork
In this video produced for AVA2021, Ben Newsome (Fizzics Education) and Wendy Bode (Australian and Queensland Virtual STEM Academy) discuss the six characteristics of an effective team. Wendy then describes the task on the downloaded sheet where students complete a skills audit and select team roles. (02:47 Minutes)
Create a Mission Patch
In this video, Ted Tagami (Magnitude) goes through mission patches used on missions to space and suggests creating your own. (3:06 minutes)
Website Resources
Artemis Accords
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_budget_charts_final_updated_pfp.pdf
NASA – Explore Moon to Mars
https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars
NASA – Track Artemis in Realtime
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/track-nasa-s-artemis-i-mission-in-real-time
Lunar science teaching ideas
https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/articles/lunar-science-teaching-ideas/
NASA Live
https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive
iSTEM Course Resources – NSW Department of Education
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/department-approved-courses/istem
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Scenario 1: Earth Observations
General background information for teachers and students to support the Earth Observation Scenario.
AWS for Aerospace and Satellite
Be inspired. Follow pioneer astronaut Peggy Whitson as she gains first-hand insights from Major Gen. Clint Crosier (Ret.) on how AWS helps space customers take research and discovery to the next level. Explore how NASA’s Mars Mission, Maxar Technologies, Fireball International, and Capella Space use AWS to help astronauts, scientists, and everyday heroes do their jobs better. (05:36 Minutes)
Optus Satellite: Come Take a Tour
Ever wondered what happens at a world renowned Satellite Teleport? Optus has been Australia’s leading satellite operator for over 30 years. Come take a tour with us through our Belrose Satellite Facility and meet some of our people responsible for our day-to-day operations. Optus will be supporting the AVA2022 program and will provide further content throughout the program. (05:40 Minutes)
SmartSat CRC Overview
Dr Andrew Barton is an aerospace engineer who works as Research Program Manager at SmartSat CRC, which helps universities, companies and government agencies around Australia work together to find new solutions to complex problems. The research projects focus on using satellites equipped with AI and other advanced methods to solve problems here on Earth. (15:11 Minutes)
Website Resources
CubeSats Overview
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cubesats/overview
M2 CubeSat – UNSW Canberra Space
https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/unsw-canberra-space/missions/m2
Space Australia – CubeSats
https://spaceaustralia.com/industry/cubesats?type=All&page=1
INSIRE-2: CubeSat
https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/physics/inspire-2-cubesat.html
SatelliteXplorer
https://geoxc-apps.bd.esri.com/space/satellite-explorer/
Every Satellite Orbiting Earth and Who Owns Them
https://dewesoft.com/daq/every-satellite-orbiting-earth-and-who-owns-them
Scenario 2: Robotics
Background information for teachers and students to support the Robotics scenario. Closing date for submissions: Semester 1- Friday 28 June 2024; Semester 2 – To be confirmed
Download the mission brief
AROSE – Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth
The AROSE consortium was founded in February 2020, borne from the vision of former astronaut Colonel Pamela Melroy (now Deputy Administrator of NASA) and Head of Intelligent and Autonomous Systems at Woodside, Russell Potapinski. Program Director Michelle Keegan covers the work AROSE is involved in while speaking with Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education (6:24 Minutes).
Robotics – Can robots take care of spacecraft?
NASA’s Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking, or ISAAC, is advancing new technology for robots to take care of spacecraft. Researchers recently demonstrated the tech aboard the International Space Station using Astrobee, NASA’s free-flying robotic assistant. Think on how this might be deployed in future space missions as you consider your options for solving the robotics in space challenge (1:23 Minutes).
Robotics – Mars 2020 Perseverance
Dr Adrian Brown planetary Science Researcher NASA discusses his work on the Mars2020 mission which landed the Perseverance Rover on Mars. This video was taken in 2021 and Dr Brown will be providing an update on this mission later in the AVA program. (23 Minutes)
Website Resources
Australian Space Agency
https://www.industry.gov.au/policies-and-initiatives/australian-space-agency
G’Day Moon: Australia’s boldest adventure yet
https://www.industry.gov.au/news/gday-moon-australias-boldest-adventure-yet
Headed to the moon: the Trailblazer program and NASA space act agreement
https://www.industry.gov.au/news/headed-to-the-moon-the-trailblazer-program-and-nasa-space-act-agreement
Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/
Monash Nova Rover
https://www.novarover.space/
Australian Rover Challenge
https://www.novarover.space/the-australian-rover-challenge
The University Rover Challenge
https://www.novarover.space/the-university-rover-challenge
Scenario 3: Home on the Moon Resources
Background information for teachers and students to support the Home on the Moon scenario.
Home on the Moon
Jim Christenson, Chief Innovation Officer of the Aldrin Family Foundation provides background on the Aldrin Family Foundation, Artemis, Apollo missions and Home on the Moon. (12 Minutes)
Challenges in building a home on the Moon
Jim Christenson, Chief Innovation Officer of the Aldrin Family Foundation discusses regolith, 1/6 gravity, lack of atmosphere, radiation and more as challenges to be solved when building a home on the Moon. (45:46 minutes)
Backstory – Home on the Moon
Jim Christenson, Chief Innovation Officer of the Aldrin Family Foundation provides the backstory for the Home on the Moon project. (4:46 Minutes)
Website Resources – The Backstory
NASA History
https://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/index.html
Kennedy Speeches
The Decision to Go to the Moon:
https://history.nasa.gov/moondec.html
President John F. Kennedy Speech to Congress On Space Exploration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ygoE2YiHCs
“Why go to the moon?” – John F. Kennedy at Rice University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXqlziZV63k
Apollo
What was the Apollo Program?
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-was-apollo-program-58.html
The Apollo Missions
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/index.html
Scenario 4: Growing Food in Space Resources
Background information for teachers and students to support the Growing Food on the Moon scenario.
Plants for Space – ARC Centre of Excellence
Dr Frazer Thorpe and Dr Lieke Van Der Hulst from the Plants for Space – ARC Centre of Excellence speak with Ted Tagami about the considerations made for plants in space and future research direction (40:23 Minutes)
Simulating G-Force in Plants
On Earth, plants use gravity and light to orient their roots and shoots, but in space, microgravity is too weak to provide a growth cue. The Gravity Perception Systems investigation germinates normal and variant forms of thale cress, a model research plant, to study the plants’ gravity and light perception. Results provide new information about plants’ ability to detect gravity and adapt to an environment without it. The investigation continues efforts to grow plants for food on future missions. (2:01 Minutes)
Food in Space
Ted Tagami User Advisory Committee – Education Chair at ISS US National Lab and co-founder of Magnitude.io discusses the International Space Station, the Moon, Mars and the Exolab program. (8:48 Minutes)
Cultivating Plant Growth in Space
NASA Commentator Lori Meggs at the Marshall Space Flight Center speaks to researchers Robert Ferl and Anna-Lisa Paul of the University of Florida about their Advanced Plant experiments on the International Space Station, in which they have already learned a great deal—and gotten some interesting surprises—about how plants grow in space. The ability to grow food in space will be very important to support future missions beyond low Earth orbit into deep space. (5:08 Minutes)
StationLIFE: Biology
Every month on StationLIFE, we’ll focus on a scientific area where the International Space Station is conducting groundbreaking research. This month, astronaut Tracy Dyson talks the station’s role as a platform for biological research. (22:50 Minutes)
Website Resources
Magnitude.io
https://magnitude.io/
Exolab-10: Carbon Farmer
https://magnitude.io/exolab-10/
NSW Department of Education iSTEM Design For Space Learning Sequence
https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/elective-courses/media/documents/istem-s5-ls-design-for-space-critical-problem-solving.DOCX
Growing alfalfa in Martian-like soil and filtering water using bacteria and Martian basalt
https://phys-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/phys.org/news/2022-08-alfalfa-martian-like-soil-filtering-bacteria.amp
Powerhouse Museum’s Future Space program
This innovative partnership delivers a world-class STEM program to students across Western Sydney. Students use NASA-inspired design thinking strategies to grow alfalfa seeds and monitor them in an amazing ExoLab system, in preparation for a real-life space mission on the international space station. Students will conduct ground trials, compare their seedlings and think about how we can one day take plants to Mars.
Watch ‘Powerhouse Future Space’ (08:09)
Scenario 5 : AI in Space Resources
Background information for teachers and students to support the AI in Space scenario.
Artificial Intelligence At NASA – Interview with Steve Chien, Head of AI, NASA-JPL
Steve Chien, Head of AI at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory talks about the variety of uses that AI has for space programs into the future (4:16 Minutes)
AI test to detect damage to Astronaut Equipment onboard ISS with NASA, HPE, Microsoft
How AI Is Revolutionizing the Space Industry
Using AI to image spacecraft from orbit
Using AI to land a rocket on the moon
Website resources
Artificial intelligence in space – European Space Agency
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/
Discovery_and_Preparation/Artificial_intelligence_in_space
Artificial Intelligence for Space – UNSW
https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/our-research/ai-space
CIMON, the world’s first free-flying AI astronaut assistant – IBM
https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/innovation-explanations/cimon-ai-in-space
AI Algorithms Streamline Data Processing for Space-based Instruments – NASA
https://science.nasa.gov/technology/technology-highlights/new-ai-algorithms-streamline-data-processing-for-space-based-instruments
Using AI to avoid space junk – European Space Agency
https://www.space.com/AI-autonomous-space-debris-avoidance-esa
Artificial Intelligence for Earth observation – European Space Agency
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Ph-sat/Artificial_Intelligence_for_Earth_observation
Scenario 6 : Telecommunications in Space Resources
Background information for teachers and students to support the Telecommunications in Space scenario.
Careers – Optus Graduate Program
Joanna Shepherd, explains the careers available to students via the Optus Graduate Program (1:01 Minutes)
How Do We Communicate with Faraway Spacecraft?
A NASA expert explains communicating with spacecraft
Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 4.0
Testing Space Lasers for Deep Space Optical Communications (Mission Overview NASA JPL)
Website resources
ESA – Telecommunications satellites
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Telecommunications_satellites
Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex
https://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/Pages/cdscc_history.html
Optical Communications – NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/communicating-with-missions/lasercomms/#:~:text=With%20laser%20communications%2C%20NASA%20can,than%20current%20radio%20frequency%20systems.
Laser Communications
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/12/laser-communication/
Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN)
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/space-operations/space-communications-and-navigation-scan-program/
Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge
Next Mission | Define
The Problem
Describe the problem or need in detail to gain understanding. Think about and discuss your initial thoughts.
