Like many children, Giovanni D’Urso used to dream of becoming an astronaut. But now it’s not such an unrealistic career prospect.

The 27-year-old is one of two students from the University of Technology Sydney who have recently completed a three-month stint at NASA’s prestigious Jet Propulsion Lab in California, as part of an ambitious program to recruit talented Indigenous students to work in the space industry.

UTS students Giovanni D'Urso and Tui Nolan have just returned from a stint with NASA in the US. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Growing up in Mt Druitt as one of seven children, Mr D’Urso developed an early fascination with science and robotics, constantly “taking things apart and building silly projects”.

His curiosity led him to study mechatronic engineering, which earned him a work experience placement at NASA JPL, a world leader in robotic exploration of the solar system.