This year’s inaugural Melbourne International Space Festival (‘SpaceFest 2023‘) marks an exciting new collaboration between several leading Melbourne ‘space’ universities, international space agencies, and a number of other Australian organisations involved with space and STEAM education initiatives.
SpaceFest 2023 will include a wide variety of events over the week from Monday 04 December to Sunday 10 December. While most events will be held in-person at La Trobe University and Swinburne University of Technology, there will also be a concluding fully virtual International Humans in Space Summit. Several events will be open to the public, whilst others will focus on students, industry, and academia.
The listing of events appears below, together with key details about who can attend, any cost involved, and how to register and find out more information. Links are provided for events that have their own registration page or website.
Microgravity Workshop
Monday 03 December to Wednesday 06 December
- Duration: 3 days (9am – 5pm)
- Location: La Trobe University, Bundoora, The Learning Commons, Level 1
- Cost: Students $20; Others $50 (lunch provided)
- Who can register: Open (maximum of 25 participants)
- Where to register and find more information: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2nd-annual-lims-dlr-microgravity-workshop-tickets-755175920507.
- Organiser: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS).
FARLabs/JAXA e-space project
Wednesday afternoon, 06 December
- Duration: 0.5 days
- Location: La Trobe University, Bundoora
- STEAM education invitational event (limited capacity)
- Contact for more information: B.Abbey@latrobe.edu.au, D.Hoxley@latrobe.edu.au.
“Life in Space” Symposium
Thursday 07 December
- Duration: 1.0 day (9am – 5pm)
- Location: La Trobe University, Bundoora, WLT1
- No cost to participants (catering included)
- Who can register: Open (maximum of 250 participants)
- Where to register and find more information: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-in-space-symposium-tickets-755191356677.
- Organiser: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS).
Space Technology and Industry Institute (STII) Industry Day
Friday 08 December
- Duration: 9am to 5pm AEDT
- Location: Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn
- No cost to participants (catering included)
- Who can register: By invitation (limited capacity)
- To submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ in attending or to obtain more information, please email spaceinstitute@swinburne.edu.au
- Organiser: Swinburne Space Technology and Industry Institute.
Space Industry Student Networking Event
Friday 08 December
- Duration: 5pm to 6:30pm AEDT
- Location: Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn
- No cost to participants (catering included)
- Invitational event for students (limited capacity)
- Organiser: Swinburne Space Technology and Industry Institute.
Austronaut – Human Spaceflight Fundamentals Workshop
Saturday 09 December
- Duration: 10am to 5:30pm AEDT
- Location: Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn
- Cost: Students – $20, Others – $45 (catering included)
- Who can register: Open (maximum of 30 participants)
- Where to register and find more information: https://www.austronaut.com.au/human-spaceflight-fundamentals-workshop.
- Organiser: Thomas Mueller.
International Humans in Space Summit 2023
Sunday 10 December
- Duration: 9:20am – 4:30pm AEDT
- Location: Online via Zoom (register to receive the Zoom link)
- No cost to participants
- Who can register: Open
- Where to register and find more information: https://adastravita.com/international-humans-in-space-summit-2023/.
- Organiser: Dr Rowena Christiansen.
Thank you to all our 2023 participating organisations
La Trobe University and LIMS
Swinburne University of Technology
Austronaut
The ad astra vita project
Deakin University
RMIT University
The University of Melbourne
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
(German Aerospace Center)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
FarLabs/JAXA eSpace Project
German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Plants for Space
Thank you to our 2023 Organising Committee
Professor Patrick Humbert,
La Trobe University and LIMS
Professor Virginia Kilborn,
Swinburne University of Technology
Dr Rebecca Allen,
Swinburne University of Technology
Dr Rowena Christiansen,
The University of Melbourne and the ad astra vita project
Thomas Mueller,
Austronaut and the German-Australian Chamber of Commerce
Dr Kaja Antlej,
Deakin University
Dr Gail Iles,
RMIT University
Dr Harry Banyard,
Swinburne University of Technology
Renee Alford,
La Trobe University and LIMS
Dr Andrew Woolnough
The University of Melbourne
How to get involved
- Share our poster with others who might be interested
- Register for events and come along
- Let us know if you would like to volunteer to help wth next year’s SpaceFest or host an event
- Any questions? Email the team via: contactus@adastravita.com.
SpaceFest posters
Feel free to share the SpaceFest 2023 poster or website with colleagues and friends who might be interested in attending any of the events. You can download the poster below.
the ad astra vita project 