Getting creative to fight climate change

The Design a Satellite Mission competition is for Years 7–10 students and is an opportunity to learn more about satellites and data, develop their reading and writing skills, and start exploring new and exciting ways to help fight climate change.

The competition is inspired by MethaneSAT, New Zealand’s first space mission in partnership with international agencies such as the Environmental Defense Fund.

MethaneSAT is a satellite that collects information about methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The data will help New Zealand work with the rest of the world to reduce methane emissions and fight climate change.

Thinking about MethaneSAT as an example, students will come up with their own satellite mission and write an essay outlining what their mission will aim to achieve, the features of their satellite, and how it will help humans fight climate change.

All ideas are welcome, for example a satellite mission to track wild-fires, floods or droughts; or animals affected by climate change, like polar bears.
Students can stretch their imagination and think creatively on what their satellite can do to save Earth.

Winning students will receive an International Space Station Lego set and have their essays published on the New Zealand Space Agency website.

Find out more

• About MethaneS
  (external link)
• Competition is open to all schools and kura. Essays can be in English or te reo Māori.
  
  
• Teachers of participating students should email essays to nzspaceagency@mbie.govt.nz by 5pm, Friday 30 September 2022.
  
  
• Visit the NZ Space Agency website(external link) for more information
  
  
• Check for updates by following twitter.com/nzspacegovt(external link)