University launches national space challenge for students

University of Auckland students will soon be joined by peers from across New Zealand to help tackle one of the world's biggest frontiers – space.

On 30 July, the Faculty of Engineering and Design will launch the New Zealand Undergraduate Space Challenge, a new national programme that gives undergraduate students the opportunity to take part in real space missions.

Working in multidisciplinary teams, students will gain hands-on experience planning missions, solving complex problems and collaborating across the academic spectrum – from engineering and science to business, law, medicine and the humanities.

The first universities taking part in the challenge are the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury and Auckland University of Technology.

Dean of Engineering and Design, Dr Richard Clarke, says education and collaboration are at the heart of the initiative.

"The best way to prepare students for the future is to give them opportunities to apply their knowledge to real challenges, and there are few better examples of complex problem-solving than a space mission," he says.

"As New Zealand's space sector continues to grow and build momentum, this initiative will give students an authentic taste of what it is like to work in this exciting industry and help to build New Zealand's future of space talent and capability."

Over three semesters, teams will take an idea from concept to reality.

They'll start by identifying a problem to solve, before building and testing a prototype. Teams will compete to have the strongest concept developed into flight-ready hardware for integration into a shared CubeSat – a miniature satellite about the size of a loaf of bread – built and operated by the University of Auckland.

To make that possible, the University is providing the shared satellite platform, mission control facilities and testing infrastructure, alongside technical expertise from Te Pūnaha Ātea, Space Institute, and support from student-led initiatives such as the Auckland Programme for Space Systems.

The model allows participating universities to take part in real space missions without the cost of building and operating their own satellite.

Rocket Lab has offered a launch pathway for the student-built satellite.

"For the Faculty of Engineering and Design, this initiative aligns with our strong desire that the University of Auckland be seen as a national space capability platform for the whole country," says Clarke.

"A world-class platform that has already seen great success with the launch of our homegrown satellite TPA-1, and the upcoming TPA-2 mission that includes a Schools Education payload."