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Lockheed Martin Australia and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have agreed to work together on a new space education program.
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The pair announced on Tuesday that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of a comprehensive space education program.
The program will be delivered by UNSW Canberra Space, located at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
For their part, LMA will provide support and significant educational resources to the program from their space training institute.
David Ball, the regional director for space of LMA, spoke about the company’s history in the space industry and how it would enable students develop key skills.
“Lockheed Martin Australia has a long and enduring history in space,” he said.
“With our expertise and resources, we are uniquely positioned to help students develop essential skills in space and space innovation.”
Included in the program will be separate research and development (R&D) and industry engagement pathways.
The two-year agreement will foster ongoing collaboration between LMA and UNSW Canberra Space, which is a leader in the field of AI systems suitable for use in space as well as intelligent satellite systems.
As part of the agreement, LMA will provide students access to lectures, potential scholarships and tutoring from Lockheed Martin Australia Fellows. In addition to this, LMA will provide access to their testing facilities and equipment for research and development purposes.
The agreement is part of a larger, industry-wide drive to increase the capabilities of Australia’s sovereign space and defence workforce.
“Building the capability of the nation’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is an absolute priority for Lockheed Martin Australia,” said Ball.
Russell Boyce, the director of UNSW Canberra Space, also commented on the agreement.
“UNSW is excited to build on its already established relationship with Lockheed Martin Australia to take our space curriculum to the next level,” he said.
“With its existing infrastructure, dedicated space capabilities and significant investment in future growth, Lockheed Martin Australia will assist with providing our students with unparalleled learning opportunities.”
Boyce emphasised the importance of the hands-on experience that students would gain and the industry connections available to them.
“We will take this program beyond the textbook and create an environment where students can pursue R&D projects and gain real-world industry experience that will best prepare them to enter the space workforce.”
