Seven postgraduate students have been awarded the 2026 New Zealand Space Scholarship, earning them each an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California.
Space Minister, Chris Penk said the Space Scholarship presents a career-defining opportunity to spend three months at JPL working alongside scientists and engineers on real-world missions.
“As part of their work, they will be contributing to cutting-edge space technology projects and gain experience right at the forefront of global space innovation,” said Mr Penk.
The students, Alexander Wiseman, Angela Xue, Laura Doyle and Zhen Hong Chai (Victoria University of Wellington), Laura Franssen (Auckland University of Technology), and Kyja McCabe and Thomas Phillips (University of Auckland), received their scholarships at a ceremony on Thursday.
The 2026 cohort’s studies span physics, electrical engineering, chemistry, microbiology and aerospace engineering. They will work across a range of projects including astrovirology, analysing gas reactions under vacuum ultraviolet (UV) light, developing power electronics systems, and end-to-end telemetry analysis.
Mr Penk says it is an exciting time for the space industry, both locally and overseas. In recent years, New Zealand’s space sector has grown rapidly, with revenue increasing an estimated 53% in the five years to 2024.
“That growth is delivering real economic benefit and cementing New Zealand’s position as a credible, active global player,” he said.
“Building and sustaining a highly skilled, future-ready space workforce is a key priority of New Zealand’s Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy – the Space Scholarship gives postgraduate students the opportunity to gain valuable international experience before bringing that expertise home.”
More information about the 2026 recipients and their projects is available on the MBIE website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/space/careers-scholarships-and-awards/new-zealand-space-scholarship.
