Queensland, AUSTRALIA, 19 January 2022 - Gilmour Space Technologies and Griffith University are pleased to announce the winners of a mission patch design competition for ‘Joey’ – a small satellite bus demonstrator jointly developed by Gilmour Space and Griffith, that is due to be launched to space in 2022.
The winners are 16-year-old Wypaan Ambrum, a Kuku Djungan woman from Trinity Bay State High School, Far North Queensland; and 17-year-old Kate Deane, a Trawlwoolway woman from Marist Regional College in lutruwita (Tasmania). The students are members of CSIRO’s Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy, which runs Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) programs for First Nations female students across Australia.
“We received some fantastic design submissions to represent the launch of our first 100-kilogram Australian made G-class satellites to space,” said Shaun Kenyon, Program Manager for Satellites at Gilmour Space. “Australia’s First Nations people have long been described as the world’s first astronomers, and it is only fitting that these designs by First Nations young women Wypaan and Kate will represent the two iterations of Joey that will be launched from Australia,” he added.
Explaining her design, Ms Wypaan Ambrum said, “I wanted Indigenous art to be the focus in my patch design so non-Indigenous people can see we are still here. We are the longest living continuous culture in the world. I am a part of the Kuku Djungan tribe, and a part of the Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy.
“The figure at the top of the triangle is an Aboriginal symbol to represent a star. On the base of the triangle, you can see multiple circles representing different landforms which the satellite will monitor."
For Ms Kate Deane: “I love science, mainly biology and chemistry, and I also love art. I am gradually incorporating my Indigenous identity into these endeavours. My design depicts a hexagonal patch, in the shape of the spacecraft.
“It features the spacecraft travelling through the night sky, and land and waterways below. I wanted to incorporate the richness of Country, with bold earthy red hues of ochre deposits and strong blue water, sustaining life. I incorporated styles and patterns similar to those found in petroglyphs throughout Tasmania."
Susan Burchill, CSIRO’s Director of Education and Outreach said, “This has been an amazing experience for the members of our Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy, exemplifying why CSIRO runs programs like this. It all started with a virtual STEM experience for our Brisbane West students in September, including a tour of Gilmour Space, which the young women found very inspiring. That led to the mission patch competition, and the opportunity for the winners now to learn more about space technology from Griffith Uni and to visit Gilmour Space in person.”
The winners will have the opportunity to join a new Griffith University STEM program related to Space in 2022.
“Griffith University is pleased to offer this exciting experience to such talented and passionate students,” said Professor Paulo de Souza, head of Griffith University’s School of Information and Communication Technology. “Our partnership with Gilmour Space Technologies is the first of its kind in Australia."
“These students will come on board as part of our satellite development team, where, jointly with Gilmour, we will develop the largest satellite ever built in Australia. We look forward to sharing more news about this terrific initiative in 2022.”
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Gilmour Space Technologies
Queensland-based Gilmour Space is Australia's leading launch services company, developing and launching Australian Made rockets and satellites to orbit from 2022. Find out more at gspacetech.com.
Griffith University
Griffith University was created to be a different kind of university—challenging conventions, creating bold new trends and pioneering solutions. Ranking in the top 2% of universities worldwide, its future-focused degrees are developed in consultation with industry, based on cutting-edge research, and taught by Australia’s most awarded teachers.
Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy
The Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy (the Academy) aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women undertaking studies and careers in STEM. The Academy does this through targeted, long-term support to help overcome the barriers that discourage Indigenous women from pursuing STEM careers.
The Academy is delivered by CSIRO in partnership with CareerTrackers and the National Indigenous Australians Agency. CSIRO is Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst. We solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology.