A leading wind expert who has contributed to NASA missions is likely to provide analysis to an inquest into the deaths of six children in a jumping castle tragedy.
Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt and Zane Mellor died after the accident in December 2021 at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania.
They were enjoying end-of-year celebrations on the school's oval when a freak "dust devil" wind gust lifted the castle and other inflatable objects into the air.
A long-awaited inquest, which began on September 21, is probing the cause of their death and whether there were any deficiencies in safety processes.
Tests involving the reinflation of the castle have been delayed because of discussions with planetary scientist Ralph Lorenz, an administrative inquest hearing was told on Monday.
Dr Lorenz was yet to be formally engaged, but was expected to provide his opinion about air pressure drops, wind speed and the interaction between the dust devil and the castle, counsel assisting the coroner Maree Norton said.
Dr Lorenz has studied dust devils for more than two decades, including their effects on NASA spacecraft, and is regarded as a leading expert on dust devils on Earth and Mars.
His opinion may impact the testing on the castle, Ms Norton said.
Coroner Olivia McTaggart said Dr Lorenz's expertise would likely provide critical material that would directly help her understand how the deaths occurred.
The inquest will resume on November 3 and will hear from witnesses including a police officer who was at the scene on the day.
Zane Mellor's mother Georgie Burt previously told the inquest about her final words to her son and being provided inaccurate information about where he was in the aftermath.
Ms Burt was told to go to a nearby hospital but later found out he had died on the oval. She said she wasn't able to see his body for several days.
Tasmania Police assistant commissioner Adrian Bodnar apologised to Ms Burt because she didn't have the chance to be with her son, as other families did.
The inquest is also examining national safety standards and whether any reforms can be made to increase safety.
