Blasting off: the ANU club reaching for gender equality in space

On the flat plains of Mullaley, west of Tamworth in New South Wales, an excited group watches as a rocket bursts into the sky. A stream of smoke trails behind.

The observers are part of ANU Rocketry, and this is what they do in their spare time.

Mady Hall, a science, environment and sustainability student, is one of the group’s technical directors and executives.

“We find that for a lot of our members, being a part of the team is the first time they’ve really felt like they belonged,” she says. “It’s awesome to supply an opportunity like that.”

ANU Rocketry’s goal is to launch a liquid-fuelled rocket that passes the Kármán line – a boundary 100 kilometres above sea level defined as the place where Earth ends and space begins.

“We’re looking to design a liquid propulsion engine, and then successfully test and launch our current R&D projects to space,” Hall says.

To do this, the team has been looking for opportunities to learn from and share knowledge with other rocketry groups and organisations, including iLaunch and the Australian Rocket Systems Training Network. The local space industry is growing, with investment increasing to $2.88 billion in 2021, per the Australian Space Agency.

“Australia’s working towards creating a network of students, researchers and industry,” Hall explains.

“It means that there’s a way forward for students. You didn’t just build something cool in university and you don’t have to leave the country, there’s something for you to plan towards.”

While creating pathways to industry, ANU Rocketry has also made diversity and inclusion a major focus. Women comprise 42 per cent of membership, whereas research from the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership indicates the sector consists of 16-20 per cent women.

“With that gender split we’re seeing so many new ideas,” Hall says.

“I love it because I want a room full of unique ideas and people who are going to question me. That’s why I think gender diversity is going to ensure that this industry excels in Australia.”

In fostering a welcoming environment, the team considers barriers to inclusion such as access to bathrooms on launch trip campsites, representative marketing and the need to encourage women to apply for technical roles.

“We find a lot of women apply for the business side of the team, even when they do an engineering or science degree, and even more wait until second year to apply,” Hall says.

“One of my mentors said to me ‘this is your oxygen mask time’. We really need to have our oxygen mask on first to ensure there is gender inclusivity and that across this growing field of engineering, everyone is heard and seen.”