Are you passionate about space and dream of being part of humanity’s exploration beyond Earth? Michelle Oldham is living proof that a career in the space industry is within reach, even if you start your journey looking up at the night sky.

As a volunteer astronomer at Perth Observatory, Michelle shares her love for space by guiding the public through the wonders of the universe. But her ambitions go far beyond stargazing—she’s pursuing a Double Degree in Science (Astronomy and Space Sciences) and Business (Emergent Leadership) at the University of Southern Queensland. For Michelle, the dream of a space career began in primary school and was cemented one night while floating on a lake, gazing up at the stars.

Her unique background as a qualified chef has shaped an ambitious goal: to find or grow vegetation suitable for human consumption on other planets or the Moon. With the future of space exploration focused on sustainable life away from Earth, Michelle is blending her skills in both science and the culinary arts to one day support space exploration.

Building a network for success

Networking has played a huge part in Michelle’s journey. “I’ve connected with many of my peers on LinkedIn, and they’re securing amazing opportunities as graduates,” she says. After completing her double degree, Michelle plans to dive deeper into research, pursuing an Honors degree, then a Master’s, and eventually a PhD. Her dream is to contribute to groundbreaking research in areas such as solar system exploration, satellite technology, or exoplanetary science.

“I’m excited to inspire future STEM ambassadors and share the journey I’ve had in STEM outreach,” Michelle adds. Her involvement in outreach is a testament to her commitment to encouraging young minds to explore STEM pathways—particularly those aimed at space.

Hands-on experience: The Milo Mission Academy for Lunar Exploration

Taking her space education to the next level, Michelle applied for and was accepted into the Australian Milo Mission Academy for Lunar Exploration, in partnership with AROSE. From March to June 2024, this academy provided Australian students with specialized training for the global space workforce. It was sponsored by iLAuNCH Trailblazer and aimed to equip students with the skills necessary to build and lead future space missions.

Michelle was drawn to the program by the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in lunar exploration and ask questions directly to NASA employees and managers. “The chance to gain valuable insights into a career in space exploration was a huge motivator for me,” she says.

During the academy, Michelle learned critical mission-building skills, engineering principles, and teamwork, all while remotely collaborating on a mission to explore the moon’s permanently shadowed polar regions. “Unfortunately, I can’t share the specific outcomes of our mission planning as it might be used in future missions!”

The program also offered exclusive talks from NASA experts, like Jim Rice and David Thomas, and introduced students to tools like J-Moon, a software used for planning lunar missions. Michelle’s favourite part? “Working with a great team and learning from mentors who know exactly what it takes to succeed in space missions.”

Why space?

For Michelle, it all started at the Indo Pacific Space and Earth Conference (IPSEC) in Perth, where she met David Thomas and heard about the Milo Mission Academy. “I was so excited to hear about the opportunity, I applied that day from my seat at the conference!” she recalls.

A word to aspiring space explorers

Michelle highly recommends the Milo Mission Academy to any student passionate about space exploration. “It’s the coolest, most engaging experience I’ve ever been a part of! You get real feedback from NASA mentors, learn how to structure missions, meet risk requirements, and even get documents ready for NASA approval.”

Programs like these are designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of space professionals. Whether you’re interested in engineering, mission planning, or planetary science, Michelle’s story proves that with hard work, passion, and the right opportunities, the stars really aren’t that far away.

What did you learn?

Skills in building a mission, System Requirements, Engineering, Heat Transfer, Teamwork, working Remotely, building a 250 page PDR document!

Our mission was to explore the permanently shadowed regions in the polar regions of the Moon.

About the program

Providing Australian students with access to space education is a key objective in the iLAuNCH Trailblazer. By facilitating career pathways into the space industry through programs like the Milo Mission Academy in partnership with AROSE, we will provide students with a hands-on, deep-dive understanding of the space mission life cycle, inspiring them to be involved in the space workforce of the future.

More information on the Milo Mission Academy for Lunar Exploration.