The VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize offers an Australian university student the opportunity to attend one of three NASA Academies or participate in a NASA affiliated summer program.

These programs are normally only available to US citizens. Through the awarding of this prize, an Australian university student will work directly with NASA scientists and engineers. These programs provide students with direct contact with 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.

The VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize is open to all Australian undergraduate students completing their final or honors year at an Australian University. In the first year of the competition, theses from 2008 and 2009 will be accepted.

The competition will be judged based on the student’s final year thesis or honours thesis and a completed application form. If the student’s thesis is not on a space related topic, an additional paper will be required detailing the space application of the thesis. Application close 7th December 2009.

The competition is divided into five categories:

The overall winner will attend one of the NASA Academy programs at Ames, Goddard or Marshall or participate in a NASA affiliated summer program in 2010. The other category winners will each receive a $1000 cash prize.

The winner will be required to work with VSSEC and its education partners to develop an education package based on their research and their experience at the NASA Academy.