25/08/2026
Last week, Queensland schools participating in The Andy Thomas Space Foundation's Kids in Space program attended a student showcase at Gordonvale State School to share their projects with industry judges.
The young and innovative students worked in teams, using 3D design to create their projects. Each team is tasked with using space technology to create solutions that either helps solve a problem on Earth or helps astronauts in space.
The Queensland Industry Award winners were Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart School, Thursday Island & Hammond Island (Team 1). Their design incorporated local Torres Strait Islander knowledge and practices, along with satellite and sensor technologies, to develop a tracking system for the turtle population on the Torres Strait. Their design studies nesting practices, habitats, and tracks turtle movements. This is designed to help Indigenous rangers monitor and move turtle eggs when nests are threatened, ensuring the species survives and thrives.
There were also two Peer Prize winners:
Peer Prize Winner: El Arish State School
Team 2 from El Arish State School designed a multi-stage filtration system to provide astronauts with safe drinking water, without needing to transport large quantities from Earth. The system incorporates pre-filters to remove debris, reverse osmosis to remove salt, and a solar-powered UV disinfection chamber to target microorganisms and bacteria.
Peer Prize Winner: Team 1 from Daintree State School
Inspired by a movie that explored growing food in space, the students designed a dome for growing plants in space, experimenting with fertilisers and local animal faeces to enhance growth. Their design also incorporates a vacuum system for watering.
This November, the Industry Award winners from each state and territory will meet in Adelaide to compete in the national Kids in Space showcase at the Australian Space Discovery Centre. The winning team from this showcase will be crowned the national winner of Kids in Space 2026 by judges!
