Space Qualified
Space Qualified is a Foundation formed to facilitate international collaboration in space science research and education. Our goal is excellence in scientific space research and we encourage careers in science by engaging students in the process.
Space Qualified provides the infrastructure and project management for a range of space related research projects through international partnerships and programs. We are specifically focused on innovative hands-on education programs that allow students to participate in current real life space programs and research connected to major space agencies.
Space Qualified is the major fund raising vehicle for Science Education Centres, including the Victorian Space Science Education centre (VSSEC) and the Environment Education Centre (Ecolinc).
Space Qualified has an Honorary Executive Board of Directors with prior experience in the design and management of space education programs. Space Qualified is using its experience to inspire young Australians and youth around the world to understand the importance of science and to see the value of a scientific career.
Space Qualified Limited is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, registered with the Australian Taxation Office. It is also registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient Organisation.
Space Qualified projects
Sputnik 50th Anniversary
Space
Qualified, in partnership with Orbit Research UK, is managing the launch
of a sputnik replica on 4 October 2007. This event will involve 28
million Scouts and 12 million Girl guides to communicate in an
International Space Jamboree celebrating the birth of Space exploration.
International Space Olympics 2006 and 2007
In
collaboration with Scouts Australia and the Victorian Space Science
Education Centre, Space Qualified is assisting the first Australian Team
to the International Space Olympics (ISO) for Venturer Scouts and Ranger
Guides. This is the 13th year of the ISO and in 2006 will be held in
Korolev City, Russia, home of the Russian space industry.
The Hague International Model of the United Nations
In 2008, Space Qualified will present the first full model of the United
Nations to Australia. Over 2500 secondary students will participate in
the five day replica of the UN. Students will participate in the General
assembly, International Justice Court, Security Council, ECOSOC and for
the first time in COPUOS, the UNCOmmittee of the Peaceful Use of Outer
Space formed in 1958.
1st International Space Camp for Scouts 2007, Tidbinbilla
Space Week October 1st to 5th 2007. The event will be attended by over
1080 scouts and Guides and 300 Leaders from many European Space Agency
member states including Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Sweden, Greece,
Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The theme for the camp is the
celebration of the launch of Sputnik on October 4th 1957. This 50th
Anniversary coincides with the 100th Anniversary of Scouts, of which
there are 28 Million
world wide.
Space Qualified
Directors
The Directors of Space Qualified come from fields as diverse as aeronautics, space research, zoology, education, launch qualification and finance. Supported by a network of industry specialists and scientists, the Directors’ expertise combines uniquely in space education and biological research programs.
Assoc. Prof. Lachlan Thompson, BEng(Aero), MEng,
FIEAust CPE: Chairman
Lachlan Thompson is a senior lecturer at RMIT University where he has
headed
the Spacecraft Structures and Spacecraft Design courses for the last 15
years.
Lachlan was the Principle Investigator on the STARS Spiders in Space
program
launched on STS-107, Columbia. Lachlan was the Principle Design Engineer
for the Mars Surface Laboratory at the new Victorian Space Science
Education
Centre.
Lachlan’s sporting research includes the design of the world’s fastest Olympic bicycle. The bicycle was ridden by the Australian Cycling Team including Shane Kelly and Kathy Watt and assisted in winning 26 World UCI Championship Titles from 1994 to present. Lachlan holds a patent on the super bike frame and three registered designs on the super bike and bicycle helmet, as well as a number of provisional patents on the super bike, bicycle helmet and an innovative canoe paddle. Lachlan and his team also assisted the Australian sailing team in their quest for gold at the 2000 Olympics. He is an active Scout Leader who designs and runs major Adventure Camps including the first Space Camp for Australian Scouts in 1999.
Patrick Honan, BSc.: Chair, Technical Advisory Board
Patrick Honan has been the Invertebrate Specialist at Melbourne Zoo for
the last
eight years and was responsible for spider breeding and husbandry when
Australian Garden Orbweaving spiders were launched on the Space Shuttle
Columbia in 2003.
Patrick has presented
papers and posters at national and international
conferences, published papers in refereed journals and given dozens of
talks to
community groups, schools and the media. He was involved in freshwater
ecology research in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
at Monash University and was Team Leader of the Invertebrate Pest
Research Unit at the Keith Turnbull Research Institute.
Patrick currently leads the captive breeding project for Lord Howe Island Stick Insects, the rarest insect in the world. He is an honorary member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Invertebrate Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, and is the inaugural convener of the Australasian Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group for all zoos in Australasia.
Ian Spencer, B Eng(Aero): Secretary
Ian is an Aerospace Engineer currently serving in the Royal Australian
Navy
having recently graduated from RMIT University. He is one of the founding
members of Space Qualified and has been passionately involved with
educational outreach programs for several years. He volunteers as a
mentor in
primary as well as secondary school space science programs and has helped
develop a program that saw students design and launch a rocket experiment
in
the Australian desert.
Ian fills the role as secretary on the board as well as providing expertise in the area of launch qualification. Ian has spent considerable time researching space flight systems and developing procedures for qualifying experiments for space flight. This research has led Ian to the United States where he developed networks with organisations such as NASA, SpaceHab and Astrotech.
Simon Jones, CPA: Treasurer
Simon Jones joins the team at Space Qualified as treasurer and a
director. He
has over 15 years experience as a registered Tax Agent, CPA and business
advisor, the last 12 years as a principal in his accounting practice,
Simon Jones
& Co. He brings a wealth of business administration, budgeting and
reporting
experience to the Company to ensure it complies with statutory
requirements,
and members and contributor's reporting objectives.
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