Space Junk: Salvaging Satellites

Junior space scientists will delve into the international challenge of managing space debris. How do we preserve the space environment for future exploration missions? The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that there are some 900,000 objects over one centimetre in size that have no use orbiting the Earth. Participating students will gain an appreciation of this significant global issue before engaging in hands-on trials that apply scientific principles to the design of practical solutions.

Source: Scientists salvage insights from lost satellite, Symmetry Magazine
Date: Monday 15th May 2023
Time: Session 1: 10.00 am – 12.00pm
OR
Session 2: 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Year Level: 5-6
Venue: Video Conference
Note: Only ONE ticket of up to 25 high ability students per school.

Program
Two identical sessions are run on the day. Select either the morning or afternoon session.
Morning Session
10.00am – 10.45am Space Junk: a waste threat. Presentation by Associate Professor Brett Carter with Q & A session
10.45am – 11.00am Break time
11.00am – 12.00pm Salvaging Satellites an interactive hands-on session
Afternoon Session
1.00pm – 1.45pm Space Junk: a waste threat. Presentation by Associate Professor Brett Carter with Q & A session
1.45pm – 2.00pm Break time
2.00pm – 3.00pm Salvaging Satellites an interactive hands-on session

Note on Materials: A STEM-in-a-box kit of materials will be sent free of charge and a student handout will be sent prior to the event.

Featured Experts

Associate Professor Brett Carter

Associate Professor Brett Carter is a Space Scientist who grew up in Altona, Victoria. He went to Altona Primary School and then Williamstown High School before studying space science at La trobe University in Bundoora. He then became a research scientist at RMIT University in Melbourne. He also spent 2 years working on space science in Boston in the United States, but he’s now back in Australia and works at RMIT University as an Associate Professor, teaching space science to university students and doing research on space weather and satellite/space junk tracking.