THE Parkers are over the moon. And, their family photo will soon be a lot closer to it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Merriwa astronomy enthusiasts entered National Broadband Network (NBN) competition Blast Your Face Into Space.
Adrian Parker saw the competition advertised and decided it would be a fun thing for his family to enter.
Successful applicants have their photo printed on the next NBN satellite to be launched from French Guiana in South America.
“I was quite excited and wanted to do it for the kids,” Mr Parker said. “I thought it was the closest any of us are going to get to being astronauts.”
The French-built rocket will feature the faces of 1200 Australians – including the Parkers.
Those who entered were required to send a photo, along with a sentence or two about why they should be chosen.
Mr Parker took a selfie with his wife Mel, and their daughters Helena, 9, and Arlia, 7, and sent it off with the caption “we love each other to the moon and back”.
To the delight of the whole family, the Parkers’ photo was accepted.
“We found out [on] Friday, June 10, and we have all been on cloud nine ever since,” Mr Parker said. “It really made my weekend.”
The Upper Hunter dad said the family will be following the project closely, and they hope to be able to watch their photo leave the atmosphere when the rocket is launched.
This isn’t the first time the Parkers have been interested in outer space.
They often pull out the telescope and view stars and planets.
Mr Parker said they have recently been looking at Mars, which has been at its lowest for the next 11 years, and rising in opposition to the sun.
“As the sun sets, Mars is rising,” Mr Parker said.
The Sky Muster 2 is expected to supply up to 400,000 rural Australian properties with the NBN network, after its launch later this year.