Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School has always been a place where dreams take flight, so it is no surprise that our alumni includes two extraordinary individuals whose paths might lead us to the very edge of the cosmos.
Justin Kruger (09) and Anne Bettens (10) are former students who pursued their passions for space exploration with unwavering determination, showing us the key is not the limit – it is just the beginning! We spoke to both of them about the drive, determination and “right place, right time” moments that saw them make the transition from neighbourhood kids to NASA – the home of innovation for space exploration and travel!
Justin Kruger :: cool space stuff
Think space exploration is just for the movies? Think again! Justin Kruger is living the dream as an aerospace engineer in San Francisco. “Kind of a dream come true for me,” says Justin. “‘Cool space stuff’ unfortunately was not the most practical career choice when I left Grammar.”
But Justin did not let that stop him. He studied Mechatronics and Physics at the University of Western Australia (UWA) before landing a space internship at Australian National University (ANU), then jetting off to Stanford University in California – first for a Masters, then for a PhD, and now as a post-doctoral researcher. He is part of the Space Rendezvous Laboratory, working on the NASA Starling mission, four small, intelligent, co-operative satellites that would help us improve space sustainability around Earth and better explore the solar system. Specifically, Justin leads an exciting experiment called StarFOX, an advanced navigation system using cameras.
Keen to find out more about Justin’s work? Visit his blog here.
Anne Bettens :: shoot for the stars
Ever dreamed of exploring the cosmos? Anne Bettens did, and she has turned that dream into reality. After studying Mechanical Engineering at UWA, Anne pursued her passion for space with a master’s degree at the University of Sydney and a PhD in vision-based navigation. From Bunbury Grammar to research facilities in France, to NASA’s world-leading Jet Propulsion Lab in Los Angeles, Anne’s journey has taken her across continents as she works on technology that will help us explore beyond Earth’s borders – including working on a lunar rover mission!
Fast forward to the present, she finds herself lecturing at the University of Sydney in the engineering faculty, and the boundary pushing CEO and co-founder of Deneb Space, a startup on a mission to revolutionise satellite autonomy. She was recently nominated as Female Space Leader of the Year and Rising Star of the Year at the Australian Space Awards, and Deneb nominated as Startup of the Year – we wish her the best of luck in this great honour.
Keen to find out more about Anne’s work? Visit the Deneb Space site here.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Justin and Anne’s stories remind us all that the universe is full of possibilities – and it is up to us to reach for them. How and what did they reach for? Justin emphasises that “always wanting to be proud of your work is a good start” and that it is important to have “confidence and faith in the things you are good at, but also maintain some healthy uncertainties and an open mind.” Anne puts a point on passion and drive, saying “hard work and dedication have been my guiding principles from the outset. I have never been one to shy away from putting in the hours and going the extra mile to achieve my goals.”
They also note wonderful experiences and connections made during their years at Grammar as inspiring great foundations for learning and creativity.
“I loved spending time in Ann Osborne’s English and English Literature classes,” Justin reminisces. “She was able to fuel that interest in a fun, supportive way, and teach us to look at fiction from new perspectives.” Anne echoes the sentiment, noting, “Mr Cowan stands out as an exceptionally inspiring figure, particularly since he was my Physics teacher, and is someone whom I have a lot of respect for.” Mrs Smith, her Maths teacher, also played a crucial role in shaping her academic journey.
So, if you have ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what lies beyond, remember Justin and Anne. They started right where you are, dreaming of the stars – and now, they are metaphorically living among them. Who knows where your dreams might take you?!
