Interning with Equatorial Launch Australia

Exposure in Space
Written By Molly Faithfull

A recent publication from the Australian Space Agency on an economic snapshot of the Australian space sector when established in 2018 (Key Data | Australian Space Agency, 2017), found that from FY17 to FY19, there was an 11.3% increase in the number of organisations operating in the Australian space industry with over 1100 space-based jobs created during this period. According to a 2021 report from Deloitte Australia (Space Capability | Deloitte Australia, n.d.), the Australian Space sector is expected to grow by 7.1% per annum over the following five years with expectations to reach 20,000 new jobs by 2030 as stated by CSIRO in 2018 (anon, 2022), despite calls from industries for lack of government support and direction.

Involved in this surge was Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), starting with their 2022 launches with NASA from the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC). These rockets were the first NASA rockets to be launched from Australian soil since 1995, and the first ever for NASA to launch from a commercial spaceport outside America. With this exciting endeavour came the potential for an expansion in job opportunities, specifically for those in the Northern Territory (One Giant Leap for Australia’s Space Sector, 2021).

In 2023, ELA began its internship program with the aim to help grow the next generation of space professionals and provide pathways into the industry for graduates. This relationship was two-way, in that these graduates brought with them fresh perspectives and enthusiasm for the industry. Samuel Miller, ELA’s first intern, was studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Aerospace), before being employed as a Junior Engineer with the company. Miller, previously interested in “astrophysics and cosmology, as well as high-tech engineering,” pursued opportunities through club events at the University of Adelaide. Winning the Adelaide University Space Society’s (AUSS) annual Space and Innovation Hackathon was the major stepping stone that landed Miller the internship with ELA. The initial focus of his internship was on designing a rocket trolley which Miller found to be, “a very informative and enjoyable step into the industry.” ELA’s involvement in providing these opportunities, allows young people to help advance the growing sector as they bring new ideas and developing knowledge. Miller suggests that students out there who are interested in the pathway or who may not know much about the industry to “reach out to companies directly and head to events to get your face known,” as the freshness of the space industry makes “young, hardworking, enthusiastic minds more desirable.”

Following ELA’s initial step in 2023 into internships, the company took a big leap in its recruitment of interns in 2024, with the selection of another four students awarded internships from the partnered AUSS Hackathon. Two of these began mid-year; Thomas Frew and myself, Molly Faithfull, and two will commence at a later date, Nicole Jefferies and Arjun Sharma.

Features (from left to right), Thomas Frew, Arjun Sharma, Nicole Jefferies, and Molly Faithfull

Growing up, Frew was inspired by astronomy YouTubers, specifically “Kurzgesagt was a significant influence” which led to his engagement with the Astronomical Society of South Australia. Later, Frew enrolled in a Bachelor of Computer Science, and although intrigued by the involvement of computer science in space, did not enrol with the intention of exploring it through a professional pathway. Frew had not heard of ELA prior to receiving his internship, believing this to be because “space companies don’t have much of a presence in career fairs and job boards.” It’s so important for industries to provide opportunities such as those that ELA is offering, so that students can experience a career in the industry. Frew mentioned working for ELA through “developing telemetry visualisation software for ELA’s clients” was not only “incredibly rewarding, but it’s been super diverse” and had given him an “even greater appreciation for space, particularly regarding the complexities of rocket physics,” something he previously hadn’t considered. ELA’s contribution to expanding the job market by providing this internship has guided Frew through the space pathway, just as it can for other students, and hence added to the developing minds that can rapidly advance the industry.

Jefferies and Sharma are also both currently studying a Bachelor of Computer Science, Jefferies is studying the (Advanced) degree, and both have some prior awareness of ELA.
Jefferies, whose curiosity in space was originally “spurred by Wall-E,” the beloved film, developed an understanding of ELA’s missions after participating in the AUSS Hackathon event. Although previously mistaking the company for developing payloads, she has since had the realisation of the company as a “smaller, more specialised team,” relative to other organisations, with a “greater focus on creating and retaining partnerships” as they provide spaceport infrastructure and launch services. This perspective of a smaller team has proven to be enjoyable, as Miller mentioned,

“being with a small start-up definitely made it more interesting than what I would expect from a larger, time-established company.”
— Samuel Miller

Evidently, many students may not seek out organisations directly for career opportunities due to a lack of understanding of the day-to-day work, which can be difficult to grasp when looking online. Sharma had heard of ELA prior to receiving his internship as being that “fancy spaceport company,” so was specifically interested in learning more of “what the most technically complex and challenging aspects are.” Jefferies on the other hand wanted to see more “behind the scenes of the work going into the launches.” Both of which these interests are able to be explored through an internship opportunity such as what they sought out and ELA had offered.

There is a huge perception that the space industry is just “rocket science,” which scares off a lot of talented minds from exploring the pathway. This is why it’s so important for organisations to involve the new generations through hiring interns such as ELA is doing, but also the whole industry could benefit from making students more aware of what the day-to-day work activities actually are and the multitude of professions that collaborate to achieve an overall mission. Whether that’s from graphic design, marketing and communications, to mechanical, civil, electrical and software engineering, to logistics, business, social science, and management.

With the expected increase in jobs over the coming years and the opportunities blooming, it’s a perfect time to turn towards a career in space to be able to contribute to shaping an industry that is only just developing. There are vast untapped minds available that can rapidly grow Australia’s involvement in the competitive space industry, and ELA is taking advantage of it. By taking this step forward, ELA is a part of the expanding knowledge that can advance Earth observation, establish deep space exploration, and further our abilities in various commercial space activities.

 

ELA’s internship program is growing as the company pivots its business model towards servicing smaller commercial rockets. The company calls for applications for internships early. For those interested in applying, keep an eye on the Careers page for upcoming rounds.



Molly Faithfull
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