Australian Astronaut Eric Philips tells us what it is like to orbit the Earth!

"After nearly four days on-orbit, Dragon and the Fram2 crew safely splashed down at 9:19 a.m. PT off the coast of Oceanside, California, completing the first human spaceflight mission to explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over the Earth’s polar regions. This was also Dragon’s first West Coast recovery since 2019 and the first Dragon human spaceflight mission to splash down in the Pacific Ocean." - https://ericphilips.com

The Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (or ALEPH) mission, which will involve a number of firsts in space travel history, will place a carefully selected set of seeds and plants on the Moon. Once on the lunar surface, we aim to show plant growth within the first 3 days of landing. The motivation for such a mission comes from humanity’s passion to explore and see life thrive in barren landscapes. We see the ALEPH payload as the first step towards our eventual goal of providing plants for food, medicine, oxygen production and general wellbeing for future astronauts living on the Moon and beyond. One Giant Leap Australia is part of this incredible consortium and is providing a free workshop for students to learn about this initiative at RMIT University.

In this episode we learn more about Invertigro's incredible hydroponic system which will be used in this exciting mission.

In this episode, we speak to Jeff Xu from www.micropod.com.au about the ALEPH Mission: www.lunaria.one/aleph/ 

The Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (or ALEPH) mission, which will involve a number of firsts in space travel history, will place a carefully selected set of seeds and plants on the Moon.

Once on the lunar surface, we aim to show plant growth within the first 3 days of landing. The motivation for such a mission comes from humanity’s passion to explore and see life thrive in barren landscapes. We see the ALEPH payload as the first step towards our eventual goal of providing plants for food, medicine, oxygen production and general wellbeing for future astronauts living on the Moon and beyond.

One Giant Leap Australia is part of this incredible consortium and is providing a free workshop for students to learn about this initiative. We are looking for 32 young space explorers between the ages of 11 to 14 to participate. This event will be held at the RMIT Bundoona Campus on the 10th and 11th of May 2025. 

This free one day workshop includes:

• Learning about careers in space
• Talking to space / engineering experts
• ALEPH Mission Challenges
• Take home growing kits

…..and much more! Applications are open now and close on the 24th of April at 10pm AEST Apply here(a button with a link- https://forms.gle/u9shPVwmwCj6N7EG7 ) 

Eric is the founder and head guide at Icetrek Expeditions. With a history rooted in professional adventuring, Eric, from Australia, brings to guiding decades of personal experiences skiing to both the North and South Poles and across every major icecap in the world. In early 2025 he is scheduled to be the first Astronaut to fly under the Australian flag with Space X!

Visit Eric's website www.ericphilips.com

In this episode we speak with Communications and Media Professor, Brian Yecies about how creativity intersects with the space industry.

In this episode, we chat to Anne Bettens from www.denebspace.com.au about satellites. 

One Giant Leap Australia Foundation, Hylmpulse and Yuri have teamed up to give Australian school students the opportunity to send their very own postcard to space on board a rocket to be launched from South Australia this month! 

The postcards will be launched as part of a payload on the inaugural launch of a HyImpulse rocket. European company, HyImpulse are due to launch the SR75 launch vehicle from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range on the 29 April 2024. 


See the Lauch here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l__EVXk0pw4 

The ELO2 Big Dipper Regolith Acquisition Challenge is your chance to contribute to the design of Australia’s first lunar rover and win a share of $18,000! In this episode we talk to a winner from phase 1 and Education Outreach Coodinator, Lauren Fell from Lunar Outpost Oceania. Find out more at /www.elo2.au/big-dipper-challenge

The ELO₂ consortium (of which One Giant Leap Australia Foundation is part of) has created a challenge for young students to learn about lunar rovers and what they are used for in anticipation of Australia’s first lunar rover – part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Trailblazer Initiative.

Landing an Australian rover on the lunar surface will highlight the kind of space and STEM endeavours that children can aspire to, creating a ‘where were you’ moment that hasn’t been seen since Australia played a crucial role in helping NASA bring TV images of the first Moonwalk to the world in 1969.

ELO₂ Little Dipper Challenge invites children aged 5-12 years old to experiment with common materials found at home or school in a creative project about space. The mission is to build and test a scoop, like the one that will be on the Australian lunar rover, to collect soil from the Moon.

FInd out more at; www.elo2.au

One Giant Leap Australia Foundation, the Australian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are excited to announce the selection of an Australian student experiment to be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). Shingo Nishimoto, a student studying Aerospace Engineering at The Australian National University, will have his experiment conducted on the ISS after entering the Asian Try Zero-G competition.

https://onegiantleapfoundation.com.au/asian-try-zero-g/

In this episode, we chat to Jennie Anderson, Education Program Manager at the Space Foundation, about the recent Space Symposium in Colorado. Our very own Shannon McConnell also joins us to tell us about her experience at the event.

To find out more about the Space Foundation visit; https://www.spacefoundation.org

You can also learn more about the work of One Giant Leaps Austtralia Foundation at; https://onegiantleapfoundation.com.au

In this episode, we speak to Justin Thomas from DYW Dumfries&Galloway in Scotland. We learn about what is required to succeed in the workforce of the 21st Century.

https://www.dywdg.co.uk
Twitter @dyw_dg
Facebook: DYW Dumfries and Galloway
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@dywdumfriesgallowaydywflix4373

It's time for an update on the International Space Station with Liam Kennedy from www.issabove.com - To order an "ISS Above" visit www.onegiantleapaustralia.com/iss-above/

We speak to some of the participants of the Australian International Airshow. For more visit; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwt4u4VOPjI

Something a little different in this episode, what if William Shakespeare wrote the film 'Aliens'? If you are in Adelaide during the Fringe Festival, you can find out!

We talk to Actor and Director, Rob Lloyd about this re telling of a science fiction classic!

https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/shakespeare-aliens-af2023

It was with immense sorrow and heartache we announced the sudden passing of Robert (Bob) Carpenter OAM, Co-Director of One Giant Leap Australia on Saturday 18 February 2023.

This brief episode acknowledges his passing. Rest in Peace.

In this episode we are joined by Jeremy Repetto from Geospatial Intelligence to discuss satellites and remote sensing.

On Instagram
@geospatial_intel
www.geoint.com.au

Follow Jeremy
@jeremyrepetto

Christopher Mick joins us again to discuss his work as a space educator. Christopher is another key member of the One Giant Leap Australia Foundation USA Educator Advisory Board.

Christopher Mick is the Executive Director for the STEAM educational nonprofit, Space St. Croix, which brings free Space-themed STEAM programming and teacher support materials to all Hudson, Wisconsin area public and private schools.

https://onegiantleapfoundation.com.au/usa-educator-advisory-board/

Conitnuing with our discussions with our USA Educator Advisory Board, we speak to Pam Kraus. Pam is the Career Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator and STEM Consultant at Smoky Hill Education Service Center in Salina, Kansas. As CTE Coordinator Pam writes and administers the federal Perkins Grant for 42 rural Kansas districts in the Smoky Hill Carl Perkins Consortium.

https://onegiantleapfoundation.com.au/usa-educator-advisory-board/