NASA Astronaut and Western Sydney High School Students Connect at Powerhouse

In a rich STEM experience, former NASA astronaut Dr Mary Ellen Weber met with high school students from Western Sydney and regional NSW through the Powerhouse: Future Space program.

Weber was a NASA Astronaut for ten years, flying on two Space Shuttle flights including one to the International Space Station. She helped deliver a communications satellite to orbit and was responsible for checking the systems and sending it into its 22,000 mile orbit above the equator. 

Students from East Hills Girls Technology High School listened to Dr Weber’s recollections from an outstanding STEM career. Dr Weber also offered insights into the new era of commercial space travel, followed by a Q&A.

Regional schools Murrumbidgee Regional High School, Maitland Grossmann High School, Beelbangera Public School, Griffith East Public School, Yoogali Public School, Kalinda School, Rankin’s Springs Public School, Whitton Murrami Public School and Yenda Public School joined the presentation virtually.

The Powerhouse: Future Space program targets students from Western Sydney and regional areas giving them access to ground-breaking technologies, advanced educational opportunities, and exposure to international scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to spur the students’ interest in STEM.

“We are thrilled to be a participating school in the Powerhouse: Future Space program. This initiative provides Western Sydney students with world-class immersive STEM education experiences and learning opportunities directly from industry leaders,” said Jennifer Hardwick, Principal of East Hills Girls Technology High School.

As part of the Lang Walker Family Academy In-Schools Program, Powerhouse: Future Space was launched in April 2022 in collaboration with Magnitude.io and the NSW Department of Education.

Powerhouse: Future Space connects Stage 5 students from six Western Sydney local government areas to the International Space Station and a global network of learners through the ExoLab-10 mission. The program has been developed in partnership by Powerhouse, Magnitude.io and the NSW Department of Education, with support from Fizzics Education and presented as part of the Lang Walker Family Academy In-Schools Program.

Magnitude.io is an educational company based in Berkeley, California, that operates missions in microgravity aboard the International Space Station for schools, science centres and museums across the world.

The Walker Family Foundation donated $20 million to the Lang Walker Family Academy and associated programs, funding world-class immersive STEM education experiences at the Powerhouse for over 10,000 high school students from Western Sydney and regional NSW every year.