Lockheed Martin Australia has announced that it is sponsoring the Melbourne Space Program (MSP), a non-profit organisation dedicated to producing Australia’s future space leaders.
The 12-month sponsorship is part of the defence company’s commitment to nurturing and empowering the next generation of engineers, researchers, and scientists who will shape the country’s defence and space sectors.
MSP collaborates with tertiary students from various disciplines, including engineering, business, and law, to provide them with cutting-edge educational experiences in complex technology projects.
The program aims to engage students in every lifecycle phase of a space project. Students are equipped with technology that they can use as a catalyst to bolster their passion, build real-world experience, and develop innovative solutions aligned with industry trends.
“We are proud to be sponsoring the Melbourne Space Program, an organisation whose groundbreaking work closely aligns with Lockheed Martin Australia’s values of innovation and excellence,” said David Ball, Lockheed Martin Space Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand.
“As a steward of Australia’s space industry and the preferred tenderer for JP9102, this is one of many investments we have made in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) as we focus on building a skilled workforce capable of meeting Australia’s future economic and national security needs.”
Maxwell Jones, CEO of the Melbourne Space Program, said Lockheed Martin’s sponsorship will enable the program to scale its initiatives and ensure more students can make valuable contributions to space. In turn, Lockheed Martin will be able to establish relationships with future industry leaders.
“By offering our members challenges beyond the scope of a typical university curriculum, we aim to develop individuals who will drive significant positive change in technology sectors around the globe,” Jones said.
Lockheed Martin Australia’s sponsorship of MSP is aligned with the company’s extensive investments in STEM education initiatives aimed at primary school, high school, and tertiary students, as well as early-career professionals.
The company recently partnered with the Victorian government to bolster the state’s position as the engineering and technical hub for the company’s proposed JP9102 solution.
