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Satellite floating above Earth

Launching the IGNIS Mission Student Interns Program

Calling all WA high school students with an interest in space and engineering.

Come and join ECU's engineering experts and space industry professionals as part of the IGNIS Mission.

Help us design, build, and launch a satellite into Low Earth Orbit!

How will students benefit from the program?

The intern program is designed to provide students from Years 7 to 11 across Western Australia with real-world experience, encourage them to take risks, and demonstrate how exciting and rewarding STEM can be.

And they'll be learning about the growing aerospace industry.

The students will assist our scientists and engineers to assemble, test, deploy the sensors and analyse data collected from innovative ground stations and from the test flights.

How can your school get involved? 

We are seeking expressions of interest from schools and teachers to participate in the 2025 IGNIS Student Interns Program.

The program is free to schools and students.

Step 1: School teachers apply by responding to the expression of interest form.
Step 2: We select the schools to participate in the program.
Step 3: Selected schools nominate a group of 4-6 students from years 7 to 11 to participate.
Step 4: Activities will be conducted at ECU campuses with six full days of activities across the calendar year.

  • Dates will be determined in consultation with schools.
  • Between these experience days, students will receive activities to conduct at school with support from ECU academics.
  • Schools also get to keep satellites for one week to showcase to their community.

Note: If your school is unsuccessful for the 2025 program, you can reapply for 2026.

What is the IGNIS Mission?

IGNIS Mission is a collaborative effort involving Australian universities and NASA to better understand the relationship between lightning events and bush fire ignition. ECU is the only university in Western Australia to participate in the mission. The mission is over three phases, spanning 8 years.

Light aircraft on runway

2025-26

In phase 1, airborne flight campaigns will test the satellite instruments on Cessna aeroplanes from Bunbury to Esperance. ECU's Engineering staff and students will be involved, and NASA will be here too. Purpose is to track thunderstorms and lightning.

In phase 2 in 2026, we will launch a satellite to collect data from low Earth orbit.

Jupiter

2032

In phase 3, there will be a deep space mission to Jupiter to better understand its atmosphere and lightning events, and to one of its moons called Io to learn about its heat signatures.

Meet the project leader

Professor Paulo de Souza is ECU's Executive Dean of the School of Engineering.

He's also on a mission to teach students about all things extraterrestrial.

His passion for space has led him to being a Collaborating Scientist with NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover program, among other things.

Read Paulo's full profile
Paulo de Souza

Why study at ECU's School of Engineering?

Engineers are classic problem-solvers, always searching for ways to improve the lives of their fellow humans.

At ECU's School of Engineering, we'll develop your creative thinking skills, give you heaps of practical experience in our fantastic labs, and you’ll complete an extensive industry placement.

Explore Engineering courses

Kaidyn's first taste of engineering leaves first class impressions 

Kaidyn McLennan's interest in engineering was sparked building Lego and remote-controlled cars with his dad.

His first semester of uni gave him a huge sample of engineering fields to help him decide his future.

Kaidyn's story
Young man standing on campus at ECU

Contact us

If you would like to participate in this program, please contact us at seadmin@ecu.edu.au

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