Lachlan Carboon

Career profile

Lachlan Carboon’s lifelong passion for space led him from robotics competitions to a Mechatronics Engineering degree. After winning the ELO₂ Big Dipper Challenge, he joined Lunar Outpost Oceania, where he now designs electrical hardware for Roo-ver — the Australian lunar rover set to go to the Moon around the end of the decade.

Captivated by space

For as long as he can remember, Lachlan has been captivated by space.

“I still vividly recall the moment in primary school when I learned that humans had sent robotic rovers to explore Mars. That day changed everything.”

From visiting NASA to connecting with founders of emerging Australian space startups after the establishment of the Australian Space Agency, Lachlan quickly realised this was the future he wanted to help shape.

During high school, he represented Australia at the 2018 VEX Robotics World Championship in Kentucky, US. Building on that experience, he pursued a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronics at Deakin University. 

Alongside his studies, Lachlan honed his engineering skills through hands-on projects — winning the 2022 International Warman Design and Build Competition, competing in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and taking part in the Australian Rover Challenge. 

With limited opportunities in his local area, he sought out interstate workshops and space startup programs to grow his network and deepen his expertise.

From Robots to Rovers

In 2023, Lachlan won the ELO₂ Big Dipper Challenge, which invited everyday Australians to develop concepts for regolith collection technologies that could be integrated into Roo-ver — the Australian-made rover that is set to land on the Moon around the end of the decade as part of a NASA mission.

Lachlan collaborated with Lunar Outpost Oceania, the technical lead and co-lead of the ELO₂ consortium, transforming his concept into an Engineering Honours project that led to a summer internship.

“A major highlight was contributing to the design of a Lunar Terrain Vehicle prototype for NASA’s Artemis program. Supporting such an important project as an intern is something I won’t forget.”

That experience marked the beginning of his professional journey. Upon graduating, Lachlan accepted a full-time role as a Mechatronics Engineer at Lunar Outpost Oceania. 

Today, as part of the Roo-ver team, he is responsible for designing and building the rover’s electrical hardware.

“Building robots to explore space has been a lifelong dream of mine. Having the opportunity to contribute to this mission so early in my career is something I’ll always be proud of. It’s not only a personal achievement but also a chance to be part of Australian space history.”