Swinburne student presents lunar research at the 75th International Astronautical Congress

Swinburne Bachelor of Science student Erin Rose has recently presented her research at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan. Her research focuses on lunar lava tubes, which have the potential to serve as natural shelters for future space habitats. 

Erin’s passion for space and her impressive research achievements led to her selection for this prestigious event, a rarity for undergraduate students. The trip was made possible through the CAS Alumni Fund, which supports students in astrophysics and supercomputing.

From passion to profession

Growing up, Erin has always had a keen interest in space but thought that a career in space exploration was out of reach in Australia. However, everything changed when she watched the SpaceX Crew-2 Dragon launch to the International Space Station during the pandemic lockdown.

“I imagined being able to contribute to space exploration in some way would be a rewarding and exciting challenge and started researching what Australia was doing in the space sector. I discovered that Swinburne offered a co-major in Space Technology, and I enrolled in the next semester!” 

From day one, Erin found the teaching staff in the program incredibly supportive, creating opportunities to gain experience outside the classroom. She was able to contribute to experiments sent to the International Space Station through programs like SHINE and the Youth Space Innovation Challenge. 

A defining moment at the IAC

Every year, the IAC brings together leaders, innovators, and scientists from around the world for five days of presentations and discussions on space exploration. The event offered an amazing opportunity for Erin to share her work with an international audience and receive valuable feedback. 

“Presenting my research helped me gain confidence in communicating complex ideas effectively, and hearing feedback deepened my understanding of my field. I also came to appreciate how interdisciplinary work - integrating biology, geology, and engineering - is essential for addressing challenges in space exploration.”