THE ANDY THOMAS SPACE FOUNDATION
Mars Challenge Program
Delivered in partnership with Hamilton Secondary College, the Andy Thomas Space Foundation Mars Challenge Program aims to enhance engagement with STEM and Space Education among students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.
THE ANDY THOMAS SPACE FOUNDATION
Mars Challenge Program
Delivered in partnership with Hamilton Secondary College, the Andy Thomas Space Foundation Mars Challenge Program aims to enhance engagement with STEM and Space Education among students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.
OVERVIEW
Are you a South Australian High School Teacher with a passion for space education, and a brilliant idea for a teaching and learning project?
Bring your project to life through our 2025 Mars Challenge Program!
Open to all South Australian Secondary Schools (including R-12 Schools), teachers and school leaders are invited to submit project proposals that align the Australian Curriculum with space technology, the future of space travel and exploration, and the educational opportunities provided by the Buzz Aldrin Foundation’s Giant Mars Map.
Ten prizes of $4,000 are available through this year’s Mars Challenge Program, with successful schools utilising their prize to deliver their projects in either Term 2 or Term 3, 2025 before presenting their project outcomes through a student-led project showcase at the Australian Space Discovery Centre on Tuesday 4 November 2025.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
With acceleration in technology and an ever-growing global space industry, further exploration of Mars through rovers and other equipment is returning out of this world findings back to Earth, enabling a future where maybe humans too, could go and explore Mars
The Mars Challenge Program provides an opportunity to develop a project that explores this concept – drawing students into creative and critical thinking about life beyond our atmosphere – and to pitch for funding from the Andy Thomas Space Foundation that will facilitate delivery of the project in their school or classroom.
The Mars Challenge Program is open to all South Australian Secondary Schools, including Combined R-12 Schools.
Projects submitted for the Mars Challenge Program must be delivered to students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Participant groups may span multiple year levels.
As part of their participation in the Mars Challenge Program, successful schools will be expected to:
- Arrange a visit to either the Australian Space Discovery Centre (ASDC), Hamilton Secondary College (to participate in either the Mission To Mars or Planetarium Program), or both;
- Schedule a two-week block within their project to host and make use of the Buzz Aldrin Foundation’s Giant Mars Map;
- Attend and participate in the Mars Challenge Project Showcase event at the ASDC on Tuesday 4 November 2025;
- Share and make available any relevant teaching and resources, curriculum materials, assessment tasks or lesson plans developed through participating in the program.
Each application for the Mars Challenge Program needs to be accompanied by a Project Outline.
Project Outlines should be a maximum of 1200 words, and are required to include:
- A description of the project, the core problem to be addressed by participants through the project, and its proposed learning outcomes;
- How the project will align the concepts of space technology and future space exploration (with a specific focus on the exploration of Mars) to the Australian Curriculum;
- How the project will utilise the Buzz Aldrin Foundation’s Giant Mars Map to support/enhance student learning within the project.
- How and when the project will be delivered across either Term 2, Term 3, or both (up to 8 weeks total).
- An outline for use of the budget to facilitate the project, including equipment and resources, and any costs associated with travel to the Australian Space Discovery Centre, Hamilton Secondary College and attendance of teachers and students at the Project Showcase event in Term 4.
Applications for the 2025 Mars Challenge Program must be submitted via the online application form no later than 5:00pm ACDT on Friday 28 March, 2025.
All applications must be accompanied by a Project Outline.
Preparing your Project Outline as a separate Word Document or PDF File prior to beginning the online application form is highly recommended.
A selection committee, comprising representatives from the Andy Thomas Space Foundation and Hamilton Secondary College will select the successful schools.
When evaluating the applications received from schools wishing to participate in the 2025 Mars Challenge program, the selection criteria will give preference to applications that meet the following criteria:
- Schools that have not previously participated in the Mars Challenge Program;
- Schools located in regional, rural and remote areas;
- Schools located in low socio-economic areas or communities.
Preferences are weighted in conjunction with other factors that allow for the successful delivery of the Mars Challenge Program, and the selection committee retains sole discretion over the selection process.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
With acceleration in technology and an ever-growing global space industry, the first human to set foot on the surface of Mars may very well occur inside the lifespan of the current generation of Australian school students.
The Mars Challenge Program provides an opportunity to develop a project that explores this concept – drawing students into creative and critical thinking about life beyond our atmosphere – and to pitch for funding from the Andy Thomas Space Foundation that will facilitate delivery of the project in their school or classroom.
The Mars Challenge Program is open to all South Australian Secondary Schools, including Combined R-12 Schools.
Projects submitted for the Mars Challenge Program must be delivered to students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Participant groups may span multiple year levels.
As part of their participation in the Mars Challenge Program, successful schools will be expected to:
- Arrange a visit to either the Australian Space Discovery Centre (ASDC), Hamilton Secondary College (to participate in either the Mission To Mars or Planetarium Program), or both;
- Schedule a two-week block within their project to host and make use of the Buzz Aldrin Foundation’s Giant Mars Map;
- Attend and participate in the Mars Challenge Project Showcase event at the ASDC in Term 4;
- Share and make available any relevant teaching and resources, curriculum materials, assessment tasks or lesson plans developed through participating in the program.
Each application for the Mars Challenge Program needs to be accompanied by a Project Outline.
Project Outlines should be a maximum of 1200 words, and are required to include:
- A description of the project, the core problem to be addressed by participants through the project, and its proposed learning outcomes;
- How the project will align the concepts of space technology and future space exploration (with a specific focus on the exploration of Mars) to the Australian Curriculum;
- How the project will utilise the Buzz Aldrin Foundation’s Giant Mars Map to support/enhance student learning within the project.
- How and when the project will be delivered across either Term 2, Term 3, or both (up to 8 weeks total).
- An outline for use of the budget to facilitate the project, including equipment and resources, and any costs associated with travel to the Australian Space Discovery Centre, Hamilton Secondary College and attendance of teachers and students at the Project Showcase event in Term 4.
Applications for the 2025 Mars Challenge Program must be submitted via the online application form no later than 5:00pm ACDT on Friday 14 March, 2025.
All applications must be accompanied by a Project Outline.
Preparing your Project Outline as a separate Word Document or PDF File prior to beginning the online application form is highly recommended.
A selection committee, comprising representatives from the Andy Thomas Space Foundation and Hamilton Secondary College will select the successful schools.
When evaluating the applications received from schools wishing to participate in the 2025 Mars Challenge program, the selection criteria will give preference to applications that meet the following criteria:
- Schools that have not previously participated in the Mars Challenge Program;
- Schools located in regional, rural and remote areas;
- Schools located in low socio-economic areas or communities.
Preferences are weighted in conjunction with other factors that allow for the successful delivery of the Mars Challenge Program, and the selection committee retains sole discretion over the selection process.
SUPPORT RESOURCES
Participation in the Mars Challenge Program offers an opportunity to connect with resources and opportunities facilitated by partners and supporters from across the space industry.
To help inform your Project Proposal, we highly recommend exploring the programs, resources and unique facilities available through the supporters of our Mars Challenge Program.
ARTICLES AND VIDEOS
Mars: NASA Science
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Video: 50 Years of Mars Exploration
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JPL: Education Plans and Resources
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Why Go To Mars?
European Space Agency (ESA)
COORDINATION PARTNER
Hamilton Secondary College
Hamilton Secondary College is a Year 7–12 South Australian Government school with a vision to be South Australia’s leader in Space Education. Through their innovative 'Mission To Mars' and 'Space Academy' programs, Hamilton Secondary College provides immersive opportunities for South Australian students to explore study and career pathways into the space industry.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Australian Space Discovery Centre
Located at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide, the Australian Space Discovery Centre (ASDC) offers students, teachers and members of the general public the opportunity to explore the latest innovations in space technologies. A visit to the ASDC is an excellent way to learn about Australia’s role in space and be inspired by stories of opportunity, curiosity and technology.
The Buzz Aldrin Foundation Giant Mars Map
The Giant Mars Map helps students to gain a detailed understanding of the planet Mars, including its geography, geology, atmosphere. An opportunity for schools to access a Giant Mars Map for a two-week period is part of the Mars Challenge Program.
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation (ATSF) is recognised as a leading national space not-for-profit, contributing to the education and outreach goals of the growing Australian space ecosystem.
With strong support from the Australian Space Agency, the South Australian Government and a number of start-up and established space industry partners, the ATSF provides invaluable education and engagement opportunities for students and individuals across Australia.