13 hours ago
Broken Hill teenager Molly Molloy selected for NASA program in Texas
Outback New South Wales teenager Molly Molloy is no stranger to the vast, glittering expanse of the night sky and next month she will pursue that interest on the other side of the world.
The 17-year-old from Broken Hill is one of two Australian students selected to take part in an annual education program at the United Space School (USS) in Houston, Texas.
Run by the Houston Association for Space and Science Education (HASSE) and operated in partnership with several international education organisations and NASA's Johnson Space Centre, the program immerses students in a NASA-like environment to plan a simulated mission to Mars.
Molly, who learnt of the program in early primary school, said she was thrilled to find out her application was successful.
"I was very, very excited," she said.
"It came at a good time to hear some good news — I'd just lost my grandfather earlier that day.
"It's such a great opportunity, especially to go to America … to learn so much."
Molly's interest in the stars began at an early age and has also been motivated by local amateur astronomer Trevor Barry, who has worked with NASA.
"She heard his story when he won the Australia Day Award [in 2021] … he really inspired her," Molly's mother Kellie Molloy said.
Mr Barry, a former mine worker, swapped underground darkness for planets and galaxies decades ago and built an observatory in his backyard.
His research, particularly his observations of gas giant Saturn, is used by NASA, has been published in peer-reviewed science journals and has earnt him the highest national and international awards achievable by a non-professional.
But the 73-year-old said his various accolades paled in comparison to seeing young people develop an interest in astronomy.
"I always make the point that 90 per cent of the population or more never look up, aren't interested," Mr Barry said.
"It's a goal in my life to inspire young people to actually head towards the sciences, particularly space astronomy.
"There's going to be so many opportunities going for [Molly] and it's great to see this young lass embrace that."
Molly is not sure what awaits her in America, but she is looking forward to learning new skills that she hopes will help with her long-term goals.
"At the moment, I'm looking at a career in engineering — I'd like to be an electrician," she said.
"When [the program] accepted me, they asked what career path I wanted to take and they were very surprised [but] excited that someone wanted to be an engineer."
Ms Molloy said there was a chance her daughter would come back home with a new dream.
"This is something that will be an eye opener for [Molly]," she said.
