Students chance to design space suit patch

WA students are invited to design mission patches that will feature on astronaut suits.

The Western Australian Space Science Education Centre (WASSEC), located at Joseph Banks Secondary College, is the state’s only specialised centre that provides learning opportunities that link to space sciences and related STEM industries.

The competition invites all public school students to design a unique mission patch for the Mission to Mars program for 2025 and 2026. The winning design will be used on the astronauts’ suits. 

Phil Wass, Director of the WASSEC, is excited about providing all students with the chance to be involved with this program 

“We officially launch in 2025 and are open for bookings and feel it is important to involve students in designing a special part of our journey,” he said. 

“The patch is a symbol that recognises each mission into space and identifies each astronaut with their space flight. Our patch will identify every student that takes part in our Mission to Mars programs in 2025 and 2026.” 

Each student who attends the Mission to Mars program will receive a sticker version of the winning patch.  

Not only will the winner have their design used on the space suits, they will receive a class pass to the centre to be an astronaut for the day, with a remote learning experience available for regional schools.

The state-of-the-art facility includes resources such as a simulated Mars surface, Mission to Mars learning experience, access to technology that simulates a Mission Control and cybersecurity learning spaces. 

“During the Mission to Mars Program, students will work in teams to ascertain if the Mars surface is suitable for Human habitats,” Mr Wass said. 

“In one instance a student will be communicating via headsets to mission control, whilst using thermal cameras to test for “hot spots” on the Mars surface, and in another they will be leading a team of experts in Mission Control to watch for high radiation from a solar flare.” 

The competition closes 28 March. 

Find out more about their competition and enter your design on their website¹.