7 mins read
20 Oct 2021
Two years of Space storytelling from Space Australia - we're turning Two!
From satellites to supermassive black holes, ASKAP to DIY radio telescopes, SpaceAustralia.com is celebrating two years of storytelling from our region's space communities and inspiring the next generation in pursuing a future in our growing space-related sectors.
Here at SpaceAustralia.com, we're celebrating two years of writing and sharing stories related to the amazing space-related work and activities from our region's space communities. Our team decided to share their favourite stories from the last two years, and one thing is clear - all of us are very much inspired by innovative thinking, whether it’s within a massive program of work such as the wonderful science coming from groundbreaking Australian instruments like CSIRO's ASKAP, STEM-based topics that young women across the region are leading in that aim to inspire the next generation or the passionate people who share their voices through their podcasts, bringing us the wonderfully diverse range of topics, interests and people.
What started off as a little bit of an experimental idea has now grown into a team that spans across the entire nation, and features contributing writers directly from the Australian and New Zealand space communities - all of whom share their own experiences, passions and hard work with us.
And to all of our contributors, supporters and followers - a big shout out thank you for being part of this journey with us so far - your support is very much appreciated and we can't wait to share more stories in the future with you all too.
We hope you enjoy our favourite stories from the past two years.
Here's our Favourite SpaceAustralia.com Stories
Vaness Chapman, SpaceAus Reporter based in Perth
My favourite story: LEARNING TO LIVE WITH MY ADHD IN ACADEMIA
Why I love it: I absolutely adore this story from Kat Ross, an Aussie PhD student studying black holes, because it highlights that work being done in the fields of astrophysics and astronomy is coming from a diverse group of people, including the neurodiverse. Although it really isn't space-based, this is my favourite story from SpaceAustralia.com (so far) because it shows how intrinsically human researchers are, which contrasts so much with how inhuman space is.
Twitter: @astronessie1
Vi Tran, SpaceAus Reporter based in Adelaide
My favourite story: FLEET WINS GRANT TO HELP EXPLORE SITES ON EARTH AND BEYOND
Why I love it: This is my favourite because it was the first interview I did as a SpaceAus writer. Flavia’s enthusiasm was palpable. On top of that, it’s a prime example of how local Australian space companies are working together with end-users to solve important, nationally significant issues, keeping environmental sustainability in mind.
Twitter: @vistronaut
Daniel Lambeth, SpaceAus Reporter based in Melbourne
My favourite story: SPACE SEEDS ARE HEADING TO SCHOOLS
Why I love it: I think engagement is so important in STEM education, and this story really captured my attention. School kids around the country received packets of seeds that had been to space and back! Now they get to use their incredible imaginations to ask and answer real science questions... There's so much scope here for both teachers and students to look at many different branches of science. All because we have a laboratory orbiting the Earth 400-km above our heads!
Twitter: @dhlambeth
Kim Gosschalk, SpaceAus Reporter based in Sydney
My favourite story: WHO CODED A NASA ROBOT ON THE ISS? GALEN VEX DID!
Why I love it: This story had it all. An international programming competition to control NASA’s Astrobee with the finale played out on the ISS, Team Galen Vex, the underdogs from a small secondary school in Wangaratta, and a final reprieve after everyone thought their code had failed. Galen Vex was so excited and inspired at every step of this competition. To see them come in as one of only three teams to successfully complete the mission was inspiring to say the least. Watching the video of the Astrobee running their code was strangely compelling and emotional. They proved that working within the space industry was within reach. For anyone. Anywhere.
Twitter: @kimgosscha
Ruth Harrison, SpaceAus Reporter based in Brisbane
My favourite story: MEGAN BADGER TALKS STELLAR STEM
Why I love it: I loved talking to someone who is so passionate about bringing space to different people. It was also the first story I wrote actually after meeting someone in person after all the ones done remotely! But I will admit it was really hard to pick one! There are so many amazing space stories happening right now...... I do love a bit of Hypersonic flight......
Twitter: @rocketwomanaus
Clare Fletcher, SpaceAus Reporter based in Sydney
My favourite story: INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPACECRAFT BUILDERS AND EXPLORERS
Why I love it: This is my favourite story because it was the first story that I wrote for SpaceAus! I’m also really passionate about STEM education and inspiring future generations of scientists. It’s a program that I wish I could have done when I was a kid. I think it’s so inspiring to see kids get opportunities that I didn’t get, and watch Australia’s space sector grow bigger and bigger.
Twitter: @clarefletcher42
Cameron Furlong, SpaceAus Reporter based in Sydney
My favourite story: AUSTRALIA'S VERY OWN LITTLE EYE IN THE SKY - A DEEP DIVE INTO SKYHOPPER
Why I love it: This is my favourite story. I love satellites, and this plucky little thing is going to do so much good for Australia's standing as a space-faring nation, and for space exploration in general.
Twitter: @Cam_Furl
Shanika Galaudage, Social Media Manager based in Melbourne
My favourite story: THE FIRST NEUTRON STAR-BLACK HOLE MERGERS CONFIRMED
Why I love it: It is a fantastic story that highlights some of the amazing work in gravitational wave astrophysics happening right here in Australia, from instrumentation to detection to analysis, each step needed to make this awesome discovery. Also, I love this because neutron stars and black holes are cool!
Twitter: @astronerdika
Kirsten Banks, Resident Tik Toker
My Favourite Story: THE WHEELIE BIN RADIO TELESCOPE
Why I Love it: The story I love the most is about the DIY radio telescope being made with an everyday item. It's the most Aussie thing you could do in backyard astronomy, turning your wheelie bin into a radio telescope that detects the giant neutral hydrogen gas clouds across the Milky Way, what more could you ask for?! Space beaming into your own backyard via a wheelie bin!
Twitter: @AstroKirsten
Rami Mandow, Founding Director, Editor and Writer
My Favourite story: WE FOUND IT!” – FAST RADIO BURSTS SHED LIGHT ON MISSING MATTER
Why I Love It: I really think this is a fantastic story that showed how Australian-led science is remarkably changing our understanding of the Universe. What our astronomers were able to achieve, using ASKAP, was to find a portion of the missing baryonic matter in the Universe - they literally weighed the Universe - and did it using these milliseconds blasts of radio light from really distant galaxies.
But if I am to be completely honest, I think this is my fav story - seeing the team share their favs and all of them together in the one article!
Twitter: @CosmicRami
SpaceAustralia.com - By The Numbers
Over the last two years, we've also reached a lot of folks from the Australia / New Zealand region and even a few more from around the world. We've adopted new social media communications mediums (like Tik Tok) to help get the message out there far and wide, and absolutely love it when we get questions from our audience, in which we go and research to find and share the answers.
Here's a few snapshots of our stats so far ....
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