The Astrogazers team had an incredibly productive session as we made significant strides toward our Mission Aspiration goals. One of the highlights was our work with MATLAB, the software application that will be key in analysing the data from our spectroscopy sensor. Currently, we are working on generating intricate graphs to interpret the data we’re collecting during tests on the roof of K-block.
We also continued our collaboration with Daniel Martin from Spirent and Dr. Robert Watson as we worked on the Raspberry Pi code, moving closer to perfecting the system for the mission. Plus, we wrapped up our Science Behind the Mission YouTube series, which will be released soon, offering an in-depth look at our project.
Filming our very first podcast episode was another exciting milestone! We had the honor of interviewing Professor Cathryn Mitchell and Dr. Robert Watson from the University of Bath, who shared their valuable insights into the importance of women in STEM, their personal inspirations, and a fascinating discussion regarding the issues of gender stereotypes in space science fields.
In addition to coding and research, we’ve been diving into cubesat prototype and component research as we prepare for the next mission phase. We also explored how to remotely monitor and control the cubesat post-deployment, with three radio modules on hand to test our communication systems.
And, of course, no mission session is complete without lunch! The responsibility of bringing back seven pizzas, three sides and two flat whites fell squarely on the two mission directors. It was a bumpy ride back, but we managed to carry everything safely, though we may have spilled some coffee along the sidewalks in the process… shh don’t tell anyone!
Finally, in celebration of International Women’s Day, our all-female team took part in activities honoring female inspirations. You can check out our short videos on Instagram! Needless to say, our Astrogazers sessions are always bounding with fun and laughter; we ended the day teaching Dr. Watson some TikTok dances (be warned: bright electric blue wig included). Stay tuned for the hilarious footage on our socials – Robert, we’re so sorry in advance!
The future of Mission Aspiration is looking bright!
Anaiya S
Year 10 and Astrogazers Mission Director
