Space Scholarships For Seven University Students
Press Release – New Zealand Government
Minister for Space
Seven university students have been awarded New Zealand Space Scholarships to intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today.
'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these incredibly capable students. They will gain invaluable experience working on projects alongside scientists and engineers who are part of world-leading NASA missions,' Ms Collins says.
'These three-month internships will equip them with real-world skills to kick-startexciting careers in New Zealand's fast-growing space industry.'
The students, Asif Rasha (Auckland University of Technology), Shivam Desai (University of Auckland), Felix Goddard, Jack Patterson (University of Canterbury), Mark Bishop, Sofie Claridge and Taran John (Victoria University of Wellington), received their scholarships at a ceremony today.
The students will work on projects across the space spectrum, from deep space communication, the Big Bang and the early universe, to mission analysis.
'These scholarships, along with the Prime Minister's Space Prizes, help us encourage the next generation of talent to ensure we have an aerospace-capable workforce. This is a key part of our plan to double the size of our space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030,' Ms Collins says.
'Last month I released an economic report that shows New Zealand's space and advanced aviation sectors are thriving – growing by 53 percent in the five years to 2024. The space sector contributed $2.47b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year, while the advanced aviation sector, which overlaps with the space sector, contributed $480 million.'
More information about the 2025 NZ Space Scholarship recipients and the projects they'll work on is available on the MBIE website.
Applications are open now for the 2025 Prime Minister's Space Prizes, which recognise and encourage innovative expertise through the Professional Excellence category and the Student Endeavour category.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
8 hours ago
- 1News
Musk threatens to withdraw Dragon spacecraft, a key link for NASA
As US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk argued on social media today, the world's richest man threatened to decommission a space capsule used to take astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. After Trump threatened to cut government contracts given to Musk's SpaceX rocket company and his Starlink internet satellite services, Musk responded via X that SpaceX "will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately'. It's unclear how serious Musk's threat was. But the capsule, developed with the help of government contracts, is an important part of keeping the space station running. NASA also relied heavily on SpaceX for other programmes including launching science missions and, later this decade, returning astronauts to the surface of the moon. The Dragon capsule SpaceX is the only US company capable right now of transporting crews to and from the space station, using its four-person Dragon capsules. ADVERTISEMENT Boeing's Starliner capsule has flown astronauts only once; last year's test flight went so badly that the two NASA astronauts had to hitch a ride back to Earth via SpaceX in March, more than nine months after launching last June. Starliner remains grounded as NASA decides whether to go with another test flight with cargo, rather than a crew. SpaceX also uses a Dragon capsule for its own privately run missions. The next one of those is due to fly next week on a trip chartered by Axiom Space, a Houston company. Cargo versions of the Dragon capsule are also used to ferry food and other supplies to the orbiting lab. NASA's other option: Russia Russia's Soyuz capsules are the only other means of getting crews to the space station right now. The Soyuz capsules hold three people at a time. For now, each Soyuz launch carries two Russians and one NASA astronaut, and each SpaceX launch has one Russian on board under a barter system. That way, in an emergency requiring a capsule to return, there is always someone from the US and Russian on board. ADVERTISEMENT With its first crew launch for NASA in 2020 — the first orbital flight of a crew by a private company — SpaceX enabled NASA to reduce its reliance on Russia for crew transport. The Russian flights had been costing the US tens of millions of dollars per seat, for years. NASA has also used Russian spacecraft for cargo, along with US contractor Northrup Grumman. SpaceX's other government launches The company has used its rockets to launch several science missions for NASA as well as military equipment. Last year, SpaceX also won a NASA contract to help bring the space station out of orbit when it is no longer usable. SpaceX's Starship mega rocket is what NASA has picked to get astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon, at least for the first two landing missions. Starship made its ninth test flight last week from Texas, but tumbled out of control and broke apart.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Politicians across political spectrum open to investigating law changes after press secretary's 'disturbing' allegations
Photo: LinkedIn/Michael Forbes The minister who a government press secretary was working for when police investigated him over claims made by sex workers told reporters today that her feelings are irrelevant. Michael Forbes quit on Wednesday from his position of deputy chief press secretary to the Prime Minister, and has apologised after accusations he recorded audio of sessions with sex workers, had intrusive photos of women in public and footage of women shot through windows at night. Forbes was working for Social Development Minister Louise Upston in July last year when police investigated but did not pursue charges. He didn't disclose the investigation to the minister, or his employer Ministerial Services, and didn't raise it with the Prime Minister's office when he moved to work there in February. Upston told media on Thursday afternoon she's more concerned about the women affected by his actions, than her own feelings. She said questions should be directed to Forbes about why he didn't disclose the fact police were investigating him to his employer. "That's a matter for him to answer to, that is absolutely a matter for him to answer to - not me," Upston said. "It was on him, and he didn't disclose that information." Upston said she's had substantial conversations with her team and acknowledges there's been a range of emotions from those who worked with Forbes. Natonal Party Minister Louise Upston. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Senior Minister Judith Collins said she had never heard complaints about Forbes behaviour, and was shocked to hear the allegations against him. He worked for Collins when she was the National Party opposition leader. She said questions about whether he should have been more thoroughly vetted or whether he posed a security risk were not for her to answer. "I think it's a matter that's being dealt with now by Internal Affairs, DIA, and so I think I'll leave it at that - but yeah I was pretty shocked," Collins said. On Thursday morning, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters he was open to looking at privacy laws after a call for a law change by the madam of the brothel at the centre of the accusations against Forbes. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said making audio recording illegal would be a significant change, and it's currently a well-settled law. "We can ask some questions about that but I wouldn't underestimate that that's a big change," he said. Goldsmith said no conversations about a change have started. New Zealand First's leader Winston Peters has not yet taken a position on whether privacy laws should change. While the madam of the Wellington brothel who confronted Forbes wants law changes to prevent people being recorded without their knowledge, Peters was not rushing to do so. "You've asked the right person and you're asking the right party, but I'm not in charge of the National Party," Peters said. "If you dissect the background of this, it may be this question would arise, but I don't know at this point in time because I haven't seen any information." ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden said she's open to a conversation about privacy laws, but not right now. She said people at Parliament will still be grappling with the news, calling them "very shocking" and "quite disturbing" allegations. "I also want to ensure we give the women who have complained and made this known the respect that they deserve without muddying this with a law change conversation," van Velden said. She said her thoughts go out to the women who are affected by Forbes' actions, adding the women were "quite brave" for going public. She said she's had conversations with sex workers about the type of work they do, and the "dangerous elements" involved in that work which she called eye-opening. Van Velden had also had conversations with cabinet colleagues about how sex workers could be more safe, but it's not a priority at this stage. ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said, like all workers, sex workers deserved to feel safe in their workplace. She was supportive of changes to privacy laws. "In my time as a former prevention of violence minister, these sorts of issues around privacy and consent across public spheres as well, have long been a conversation from this sector and from advocates. So, I think that's something we should all look at," Davidson said. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Senior Labour MP Barbara Edmonds said Labour was open to law changes, but it needed to discuss it as a caucus. "I think there was a lot of surprises into the different elements of all these allegations. So, we need to have a good look at it, see what the reports and reviews come out with, and make a decision as a caucus as to where we need to see areas of the law be tightened," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Space Scholarships For Seven University Students
Press Release – New Zealand Government Minister for Space Seven university students have been awarded New Zealand Space Scholarships to intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these incredibly capable students. They will gain invaluable experience working on projects alongside scientists and engineers who are part of world-leading NASA missions,' Ms Collins says. 'These three-month internships will equip them with real-world skills to kick-startexciting careers in New Zealand's fast-growing space industry.' The students, Asif Rasha (Auckland University of Technology), Shivam Desai (University of Auckland), Felix Goddard, Jack Patterson (University of Canterbury), Mark Bishop, Sofie Claridge and Taran John (Victoria University of Wellington), received their scholarships at a ceremony today. The students will work on projects across the space spectrum, from deep space communication, the Big Bang and the early universe, to mission analysis. 'These scholarships, along with the Prime Minister's Space Prizes, help us encourage the next generation of talent to ensure we have an aerospace-capable workforce. This is a key part of our plan to double the size of our space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030,' Ms Collins says. 'Last month I released an economic report that shows New Zealand's space and advanced aviation sectors are thriving – growing by 53 percent in the five years to 2024. The space sector contributed $2.47b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year, while the advanced aviation sector, which overlaps with the space sector, contributed $480 million.' More information about the 2025 NZ Space Scholarship recipients and the projects they'll work on is available on the MBIE website. Applications are open now for the 2025 Prime Minister's Space Prizes, which recognise and encourage innovative expertise through the Professional Excellence category and the Student Endeavour category.
