VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize

The Academy programs at Ames Research Centre, Goddard Flight Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, are intensive select entry programs that  provide 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 and work directly with scientists and engineers on a current NASA project related to their thesis topic.

2011 Winner Announced

2011 Category Winners Announced 

2012 NASA Ames Academy Program

The VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize is open to all Australian undergraduate students completing their final or honors year at an Australian University in 2010.

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. Category winners will then be required to submit a separate application to NASA who will select the final winner.

The competition is divided into five categories:

	ENGINEERING Structural design, orbital dynamics, materials, power systems, rocketry, robotics, etc. *This category incorporates the EA Undergraduate Prize in Space Engineering.
	GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY GEOLOGY Geology and planetary science, astrobiology, etc.
	BIOLOGY AND HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY Human physiology, astrobiology, microbiology, etc.
	DATA PROCESSING AND ELECTRONICS Data processing systems, data management, electronics, control systems, instrument and sensor design, etc.
	SPACE PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS Space physics, astronomy, astrophysics, theoretical physics, mathematical modeling, space weather, atmospheric science, etc.

The overall winner will attend one of the NASA Academy programs at Ames Research Center, Goddard Flight Center or Marshall Flight Center, or participate in a NASA affiliated summer program in mid 2011. The other category winners will each receive a $1000 cash prize.

The winner of the VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize 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.

2010 Winner Announced

2010 Category Winners Announced 

Read the 2010 winner’s blog

2009 Winner Announcement

2009 Category Winners Announcement

 Read the 2009 winner’s blog

Read the 2009 Winner’s Report