VSSEC is proud to announce that the 2012 VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize is open!

As of the 26th September 2012 the VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize is open to Australian Honours and 4th year project submissions!

This is the fourth annual VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize, previous Space Prize winners included Elizabeth Blaber, a Biologist from UNSW, Emily Bathgate, a Geologist from University of Technology Sydney and Lyle Roberts, an Engineer from ANU!  The quality of submissions in past years has been very high and we are excited to see what this year’s Honors and 4th year students have been working on.

The VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize offers an Australian university student the opportunity to attend the NASA Academy programs at NASA Ames Research Center, and work with a lead scientist or engineer on a current NASA project. The NASA Academy is an  intensive select entry program that provides recent graduates with access to advanced science and engineering R&D, and an awareness of the complex managerial, political, financial, social, and human issues faced by the current and future aerospace programs.

Through the awarding of this prize, an Australian university student will:

• participate in a ten week academy program
• work directly with scientists and engineers on a current NASA project related to their thesis topic
• visit JPL, Space X, Virgin Galactic, Kennedy Space Center and more
• create a network for future collaboration and become part of the Academy Alumni

The prize includes:

• the Academy program
• flights and local transport
• meals and accommodation
• visa expenses

Please visit the VSSEC website http://www.vssec.vic.edu.au/tertiary/vssec-nasa-australian-space-prize/ for more information including competition guidelines and submission instructions.  Submissions for the Space Prize close midnight on the 3rd of December 2012. Good Luck!