Real Space Science • Real Scientists • Real Classrooms
Spaceward Bound New Zealand brings real space science into schools through immersive, hands-on experiences led by specialist science educators. Founded by astrobiologist Haritina Mogoșanu and astrophysicist Samuel Leske, the programme has reached more than 50,000 students across Aotearoa, taking astronomy, astrobiology, planetary exploration and space technology directly to learners wherever they are.
At the heart of Spaceward Bound is the Mars Blueberry, a 5.5-metre portable digital planetarium where students take live journeys through the Solar System and Universe using professional astronomy visualisation tools. Unlike a pre-recorded planetarium show, every journey is guided live, allowing students to ask questions, change direction and follow their curiosity.
Outside the dome, students investigate rocks and fossils, explore the search for life beyond Earth, observe the Sun when conditions allow, and tackle the challenges of robotic planetary exploration. In Mission Control: Mars, students plan and operate a Mars rover mission using working rover models, learning how scientists navigate, communicate and make decisions while exploring another world.
Spaceward Bound combines specialist knowledge with objects students can touch, experiments they can investigate and questions they can pursue. The programme is designed to complement classroom science while giving students direct access to educators who work across astronomy, astrophysics and astrobiology.
We take real space science and make it work in real classrooms.
