Dreaming about building a satellite or going to space? This is your first step into the world of astronautical engineering! The introductory workshop marks the official start of our satellite programme. We are hosting the workshop in the facilities owned by the Space Institute, located within the Auckland University’s engineering building. Come and see the state of art satellite labs you can work in and work as a group to solve your first real-world space problem onsite! Track a satellite (TPA-1) built by the university of Auckland and see the next satellite in construction!

As for now, this workshop is available on Saturday 14th March only! Don’t miss your chance.

What’s included in each introductory workshop:

• Lab tour into:
  • Mission Operation Control Center (Where we track TPA-1 and other satellites.)
  • Fabrication and Assembly Facility (Where we develop and build satellites.)
  • National Satellite Testing Facility (Where you test the satellites with heat, vibration and vacuum.)
• Problem-solving challenge
• Photo Opportunity

Imagine you are the satellite commanding team or the engineering team, gathered within the Mission Operation Control Centre because of an urgent call. A report of the situation is already waiting for you on the desk. You and your talented team members have exactly 30 minutes to save the space mission. Flip through any books, search up online, draw on the white board and think back to your science classes – be a hero and propose a solution to this open-ended problem taken from real space missions.

There are two options for the workshop themes:

1. Orbit and Surviving the Space Environment
2. Spacecraft Material and Mechanics

Astronautical engineering and research industry covers a board range of topics and goes very in depth in each. Therefore, each workshop focuses on one theme. You will tour the same labs in each session, but the conversation will be almost completely different. Different aspects and design considerations will be revealed in different sessions. The problem-solving challenge for the Orbit and Surviving the Space Environment session will involve more orbital physics and mathematics. The problem-solving challenge for the Spacecraft Material and Mechanics will be more hands-on and involves more hardware related knowledge. There are two sessions available for each theme, one session on the morning and another in the afternoon to suit your time.

The maximum number of students allowed in each session is 30. All students from year 7 to year 13 are welcome. The fee for one session is $75. Signing up for both sessions will have a discounted fee of $140 in total.