Two of Logan’s brightest minds won an international space competition at Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre – where man first left Earth for the moon.
Windaroo Valley State High School Year 12 students Lucas Meager and Daniel Bryde were two of 11 students who flew to the USA for the competition last week, after the school won the Australian competition earlier this year.
Their task was to design a space settlement on the moon.
Mr Meager and Mr Bryde, who teamed up with students from across the world, worked as a fictional company they called Vulture Aviation.
“The competition at its most fundamental is about students working tirelessly to send their ideas into space,” Mr Meager said.
A judging panel of industry experts determined Vulture Aviation’s settlement the best.
The team’s coach, Windaroo Valley teacher Stephen Thrum, said he was incredibly proud of the students.
“After 16 years of coaching Space Design teams across seven schools, this is the ultimate achievement and a reflection on how a teacher’s belief in their students can take them to the top of the world,” Mr Thrum said.
School principal Tracey Hopper said the competition was a “truly memorable experience”, with the students able to witness two rocket launches during the visit.
“And one I hope inspires all student to strive academically,” she said.
“This is a great example of STEM Excellence and the incredible opportunities for our students.”
Deputy principal Kim Leamon said it “wasn’t about winning for the students”.
“It was so much more,” Ms Leamon said.
“It was a privilege to see the student grow in confidence and take on the challenge while working as part of an international team.
“This trip is life changing for these students.”
The other students in the competition, although not winners, said it was an opportunity to speak with “diverse and talented minds who share the same aspirations”.
“Broadening my knowledge and gaining insights into the space industry… meeting the most incredible people and sharing our culture,” one student said.
The Windaroo Valley crew qualified for the International Space Settlement Design Competition in January after scoring first prize at the Australian Space Design Competition.
Students from Windaroo Valley, the only regular public school in the competition, were required to design a space settlement for approximately 9000 people, set 35 years in the future.
