SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SUMMER SPACE PROGRAM

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:47): Members may remember that last month the University of South Australia hosted the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program in collaboration with the International Space University. I understand that the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program this year involved some 40 high-level students from across the globe completing an intensive five-week space program. The students received presentations from 35 lecturers, including some from UniSA's Institute of Telecommunications Research.

Along with South Australia's Andy Thomas and Soyeon Yi of South Korea, Italian Paolo Nespoli travelled to South Australia to participate in the program. The three astronauts who joined the lecturers provided participants with an extra opportunity to be inspired and hear firsthand space experiences.

The work that UniSA undertakes to attract students to the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program is to be commended. I understand that this is the third year that this annual event has been run. Mr Michael Davis, the co-director of the program, is on record as saying that the majority of students from previous years are now engaged in space-related activities, with many of those students pursuing those careers as a result of the start they received at the University of South Australia. Mr Davis proudly went on to say that there are also a number in senior positions in the military and space programs across the world.

A whole week was scheduled for the International Astronaut Event which included a free forum hosted and organised by the Italo-Australian community at the Italian Centre for everyone who might be interested. The Italo-Australian community was naturally proud to be hosting one of its own and took the opportunity to introduce astronaut Paolo Nespoli to as many people as possible through community functions and visits as well as media outlets. Mr Nespoli's visit was made possible with the support of a group of Italo-Australians. I pay tribute to the four gentlemen: the effervescent Tony Simeone, Phillip Donato, Aggie Simeone and Christian Verdicchio.

I was pleased to join you, Mr President, in welcoming Mr Paolo Nespoli to our parliament. We spent some time showing him our parliament and naturally discussing politics but also talking about his experiences as an astronaut and the importance of space exploration. I should also thank Mr Chris Schwarz, our Black Rod and Deputy Clerk, who happened to be in the chamber that day, for sharing some important state parliamentary knowledge with the group as well. I know our visitors were very pleased to have met him.

As you heard during his visit, Mr President, Mr Nespoli's background is an interesting one. Following a successful career in the Italian military forces, he wanted to follow his passion to be an astronaut, so he launched himself into studying aerospace engineering, aeronautics and astronautics in the United States.

His online career details note that, in July 1998, he was selected as an astronaut for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and, in August 1998, he was assigned by the European Space Agency to train at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. Two space missions followed. First, he travelled into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery as a mission specialist of STS-120 and then, in December 2010, he again travelled into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft as an expedition 26/27 flight engineer. Mr Nespoli's contributions to the international space program range from flight engineer and intensive experiment and research programs to educational activities for children and as a respected photographer.

I am told that those who had the opportunity to hear Mr Nespoli's addresses in Adelaide were left in no doubt that it is possible with hard work to have a dream and to see and to be part of the 'final frontier'. Mr Nespoli's presence at the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program was an inspiration not just to those interested in the exciting field of spaceflight but to all those who came into contact with him. It was a great pleasure to have had the opportunity to have met Paolo Nespoli, and I thank you, Mr President, for welcoming him to our parliament. I particularly acknowledge Tony Simeone for taking the opportunity of promoting astronaut Paolo Nespoli's visit to South Australia.