To infinity and beyond beckons for Indigenous engineer off to NASA
The dream of becoming an astronaut is a step closer for QUT engineering master’s student David Corporal thanks to an internship that will take him to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California later this month.
Announced as winner of the Engineer of the Year Award in the Australian Space Awards earlier this year, David will head to the United States courtesy of the Monash University-based National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA).
An Eastern Arrente man, he and four other Indigenous STEM students will first undertake a one-week Space Boot Camp run by Monash Faculty of IT covering aerodynamics, robotics, astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, computer and earth sciences, and NASA’s space exploration missions.
They will then head to JPL for ten weeks where they will be mentored by experts while working on unique projects such as space missions, rovers, robotics for unexplored ocean worlds, robot perception control, AI and path planning.
Led by Professor Christopher Lawrence, the NISA program is supported by the Australian Space Agency.
For 27-year-old David, it is the continuation of a journey towards space that began for him more than 10 years ago, after he was inspired by online videos of Chris Hadfield, the then-commander of the International Space Station (ISS).
Now he hopes to inspire others to reach for the stars through careers in science and engineering.
“Being immersed amongst, and learning from, some of the smartest people in the world at JPL is going to be an extraordinary experience and a great privilege for me,” David said.
“Space exploration is the ultimate frontier, and my passion is being able to push this frontier by helping overcome the engineering challenges we face. Throughout my journey, I have been grateful to have the support of my family and many others, and now NISA and QUT as well.”
The JPL internship has been enabled through contributions from QUT, specifically from the QUT Centre for Robotics and the School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics.
“When I look to the future, I want my engineering career to be based around the research and development of space technologies that help make it a safer place to live and work in,” David said.
“As a cherry on top, but not a marker of success, I’m preparing myself as best as possible to be an Australian astronaut, should the opportunity arise.
Now enrolled in a Master of Engineering at QUT, David completed his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical Engineering) at UQ and has been working for Boeing full time since early 2020.
There he works on a joint Boeing-and-UQ research project, developing an antimicrobial surface coating for application to spacecraft and aircraft. This project has seen him develop, amongst other things, two payloads testing the surface coating on the ISS.
For more information on the National Indigenous Space Academy and its 2024 interns, visit https://www.monash.edu/it/nisa
QUT will host Australia’s first Faculty of Indigenous Knowledges and Culture with the first courses to be offered in 2025.
The new faculty will expand current education and research programs in Indigenous Knowledges and Culture for all QUT students and partner organisations. This will build on the university’s strong foundations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, research and partnerships.
Main image: David Corporal. Photo: Anthony Weate, QUT
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
