Australian Space Discovery Centre
McEwin Building, Lot Fourteen, Adelaide SA
Inspiring the Australian community and the next generation of the space workforce through stories of opportunity, curiosity and technology.
General admission to the Australian Space Discovery Centre is free and does not require a special event ticket. Please visit space.gov.au/australian-space-discovery-centre for more info.
Operation: Plants in Space (ages 7-14)
Between Tuesday 23 April 2024 and Sunday 28 April 2024
As humans continue to explore space and go on longer missions, to the Moon and further to Mars, plants will come along with us. Astronauts have been nurturing space gardens on the International Space Station for decades, but we are still finding the best ways to grow plants in space. Plants in space are used for food and research, but they are also playing an important role for astronauts’ well-being and foster a connection to Earth.
What do we need for plants to thrive off-Earth? How can we produce enough food for the astronauts in this new environment and encourage sustainability?
Due to limited spaces, please only book tickets for participants. Adult caregivers will be counted separately at the door.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Online: Q&A with a Space Guest
Monday 29 April 2024
Connect online with us to hear about exciting pathways to a career in the space sector. From your classroom or your home, you can book into any of our digital sessions, each with a different Space Guest.
The sessions last 45 minutes each. We will be hosting our sessions on Microsoft Teams, however, you do not need a Microsoft Teams account to take part.
Online: It is Rocket Science: Powering Australia into Space
Saturday 4 May 2024 at 2pm ACST
Join us online for a special event as part of South Australia's History Festival 2024. The theme is POWER.
Rockets provide the power to send instruments, experiments, and people into space. Since the beginning of the Space Age, Australian engineers and scientists have been developing propulsion systems to power rockets, spacecraft and even spaceplanes, sometimes at the cutting edge of technology.
Join space historian Kerrie Dougherty as she explores South Australia’s crucial role in propulsion system development and the wider Australian space propulsion story.
This event will be hosted in-centre and streamed online so audiences across Australia can participate in the conversation.
Suggested ages: 12+, 1 hour duration.
It is Rocket Science: Powering Australia into Space
Saturday 4 May 2024
Join us at the Australian Space Discovery Centre for a special event as part of South Australia's History Festival 2024. The theme is POWER.
Rockets provide the power to send instruments, experiments, and people into space. Since the beginning of the Space Age, Australian engineers and scientists have been developing propulsion systems to power rockets, spacecraft and even spaceplanes, sometimes at the cutting edge of technology.
Join space historian Kerrie Dougherty as she explores South Australia’s crucial role in propulsion system development and the wider Australian space propulsion story.
This event will be hosted in-centre and streamed online to audiences Australia wide. Those in the centre will be invited to explore all the centre has to offer including our Space Gallery, special displays with plenty of opportunities to chat with our Space Communicators!
Suggested ages: 12+, talk is 1 hour duration.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Student Cadet Rocket Adventure Program (SCRAP) ages 7-14
Between Saturday 13 April 2024 and Sunday 28 April 2024
SCRAP challenge is designed to ignite your engineering and design creativity!
Participants will design, construct and launch their own paper model rockets with the goal of achieving the greatest distance.
Recommended for ages 7-14. Please note that all children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by someone over the age of 17.
Due to limited spaces, please only book tickets for participants. Adult caregivers will be counted separately at the door.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Robogals Presents: Robot Battle (ages 8-15)
Saturday 27 April 2024
Join our friends from Robogals Adelaide to program a battle robot!
All Young roboticists of all genders are welcome!
You will explore the basics of robotics and engineering, programming and sensors, before putting your robot to the test in the arena.
Robogals consists of local chapters around the globe run engineering and technology workshops free-of-charge in their local communities, focusing on encouraging girls from primary to secondary school to explore an interest, as well as cultivate self-confidence, in these areas.
Tickets: please book tickets for the child participant only. This ticket will include an adult caregiver to supervise. All children under the age of 12 must have an adult accompany them at all times.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
So Many Satellites! (ages 5-12)
Between Saturday 13 April 2024 and Saturday 27 April 2024
What is a satellite? What do they do? And why are there so many of them? Join us to explore the many different types of satellites orbiting our planet, and discover some of the different jobs they do to help us every day. What special job will your satellite do?
Due to limited spaces, please only book tickets for participants. Adult caregivers will be counted separately at the door.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Solar System Explorers (ages 5-12)
Between Monday 15 April 2024 and Friday 26 April 2024
Explore our Solar System, investigate what makes each planet unique, and find out why human-like life doesn’t thrive on planets other than Earth. Participants will then apply what they’ve discovered to invent a vehicle that they could use to explore a planet of their choice.
Due to limited spaces, please only book tickets for participants. Adult caregivers will be counted separately at the door.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Operation: Storytime (ages 3 – 8)
Between Monday 15 April 2024 and Tuesday 23 April 2024
The Australian Space Discovery Centre invite all little-astronauts to join us in-centre for space storytime. Each session will begin with a reading of a space book followed by an activity before attendees are invited to explore the Space Gallery.
Session Duration: 30 minute storytime, with up to 90 minutes to explore the centre
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Online: Yuri’s Night – Celebrate Human Spaceflight
Friday 12 April 2024 at 3.30pm ACST
Join us online for a spaceflight themed quiz afternoon to commemorate Yuri Gagarin's historic journey into space!
This event will be hosted in-centre and streamed online so audiences across Australia can participate in the conversation.
Suggested ages: 12+, 1 hour duration.
Yuri’s Night – Celebrate Human Spaceflight
Friday 12 April 2024
Join us at the Australian Space Discovery Centre for a Spaceflight themed Quiz afternoon to commemorate Yuri Gagarin's historic journey into space!
This event will be hosted in-centre and streamed online to audiences Australia wide. Those in the centre will be invited to explore all the centre has to offer including our Space Gallery, special displays with plenty of opportunities to chat with our Space Communicators!
Suggested ages: 12+, quiz will be 1 hour duration.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Adelaide Rover Team: Rover Launch Event!
Thursday 14 March 2024
Join us at the Australian Space Discovery Centre as the Adelaide Rover Team unveils their brand-new rover for the 2024 Australian Rover Challenge!
Come and meet the students behind South Australia's only competitive university rover team.
This event will be hosted in-centre and there will be an opportunity to explore all the centre has to offer including our Space Gallery, special displays with plenty of opportunities to chat with our Space Communicators!
Australian Space Discovery Centre
In-centre: International Women's Day Panel Event
Friday 8 March 2024
This year, to celebrate International Women's Day, The Australian Space Discovery Centre is hosting a panel event showcasing some inspiring female-identifying individuals that work in the space industry.
We will be hosting:
Lauren Springer (Australian Space Agency)
Lieke van der Hulst (ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space)
Zandria Farrell (AquaWatch Australia)
Alice Gorman (Flinders University)
The panel will explore some of the diverse experiences of women in the space industry, the career journeys of our panellists, as well as their personal insights into gender and the Australian workforce. All are welcome to attend.
This event will be hosted in-centre and streamed online to audiences Australia wide. Those in the centre will be invited to explore all the centre has to offer including our Space Gallery, special displays with plenty of opportunities to chat with our Space Communicators!
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Online: International Women's Day Panel Event
Friday 8 March 2024 at 2pm ACDT
This year, to celebrate International Women's Day, The Australian Space Discovery Centre is hosting a panel event showcasing some inspiring female-identifying individuals that work in the space industry.
We will be hosting:
Lauren Springer (Australian Space Agency)
Lieke van der Hulst (ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space)
Zandria Farrell (AquaWatch Australia)
Alice Gorman (Flinders University)
The panel will explore some of the diverse experiences of women in the space industry, the career journeys of our panellists, as well as their personal insights into gender and the Australian workforce. All are welcome to attend.
What Is: Space Operations
Wednesday 24 January 2024
Ever wondered what it's like to control a satellite in space? Join our School Holidays session with Tash Moy, a spacecraft operations engineer at Saber Astronautics.
Tash will share the joys and tribulations of controlling the BlueWalker-3, a 64 sqm communications satellite, and give insights into working in Australia's mission control, the Responsive Space Operations Centre.
Recommended for ages 12+
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Robogals Presents: Robot Battle (ages 8-15)
Saturday 20 January 2024
Join our friends from Robogals Adelaide to program a battle robot. You will explore the basics of robotics and engineering, programming and sensors, before putting your robot to the test in the arena
Robogals consists of local chapters around the globe run engineering and technology workshops free-of-charge in their local communities, focusing on encouraging girls from primary to secondary school to explore an interest, as well as cultivate self-confidence, in these areas. Young roboticists of all genders are welcome!
Australian Space Discovery Centre
What Is: Defence Space Command
Friday 19 January 2024
What is the Australian Defence Force doing in space? Join Major Tom Bittner from Defence Space Command to learn about the internationally collaborative No. 1 Space Surveillance Unit, the importance of space domain awareness, and how through Defence, he has found his pathway to space.
Recommended for ages 12+
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Navigating the Cosmos: a Glimpse into Spacecraft Operations
Wednesday 17 January 2024
Ever dreamt of navigating the cosmos, commanding spacecraft, and shaping the future of space exploration? Then let's embark on a Galactic Journey! Take an exclusive peek behind the scenes of spacecraft control and operations. Discover the thrill of being a Flight Director for live space operations, explore pathways into the space industry, and ignite your passion for the cosmos.
Recommended for ages 12+
Australian Space Discovery Centre
What Is: Space Weather
Tuesday 16 January 2024
Join Dr Tom Grace, a Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Forecaster, to discover what drives space weather, why it matters to us here on Earth, and how we can measure and predict it.
Recommended for ages 12+
Australian Space Discovery Centre
What Is: Mission Ops
Saturday 13 January 2024
There are thousands of satellites in space, but only two regularly have a human crew on board. So how do the rest of them function? Join Hannah to discover what mission operations actually looks like, both with respect to the whole mission and day-to-day level. Because you can't just throw a computer into space and expect to talk to it, they will discuss why you need to operate spacecraft in space, how to make sure you can actually control them, and some of the challenges you might encounter in doing so. Then, to give any potential future spacecraft operators an idea of what their future potentially holds, Hannah will talk a little about what the day in the life of a mission operations engineer looks like and how they got to where they are today.
Recommended for ages 12+
Australian Space Discovery Centre